By nature, cables are usually the weakest part of any measurement system. Because they are somewhat fragile, they must be handled with care. The weakest point on the cable assembly is the intersection of the wire and the cable connector, so excess stress at this point must be minimized. Sharp bends here can overstress conductors and insulation causing cable failure.

It is very important to anchor cables properly, especially when using accelerometers for high shock and vibration measurements or any time excessive motion is involved. Figure 1 illustrates the preferred methods of cable tie-down for several styles of accelerometers. The idea is to cause the flexure to occur away from the cable connector to avoid stressing this weak point.