Tidy up that cable

01Mar

Cabinets provide protection and security for equipment, but can be inadequate when it comes to cable management. It is advisable to make sure there is plenty of capacity and that flexible routing of cables is accommodated advises Boris Sedacca

Cable management can be the most visible part of your panel once opened. Untidy cabling can spoil an
otherwise excellent design, even one produced on the most up-to-date CAD system. The following is a
round-up of various cable management systems and accessories available to panel builders.

Panduit has introduced a new palm-sized thermal transfer printer, which has been designed for fast and easy TIA/EIA-606A compliant labelling.

Panacea LS7’s print head produces professional looking labels, for use on both textured and curved surfaces, on cables, patch panels, outlets, pathways, wires, bins and terminal blocks.

The panel builder can line up legends on patch panel and faceplate labels without guessing how many spaces are needed. A repeat legend function eliminates repetitive typing for marking wires and cables, and file storage provides retrieval of frequently used labels.

Laminated tapes provide abrasion, chemical and UV resistance. Fast loading cassettes include both label
material and ribbon to make changing labels easy. Other features include barcoding, symbol library and an
integrated cutter.

Erico has launched a new two-pole and two new four-pole distribution blocks.

The two-pole distribution block has six to 14 terminals. It has a clip-in fixing within the DIN rail or plates and accepts cable to 25mm². The four-pole distribution blocks are available in six, ten or fourteen terminal options.

The four-pole 160A distribution block has capacity for large cable up to 50mm², easy to locate input connection on the outside and is available with 11 terminals.

In March 2002 Ravenscroft Plastics acquired the rights to the Betaduct electrical ducting system from Tyco
Electronics.

PVC Betaduct provides a lightweight self-extinguishing wire ducting with rigidity. Betaduct was initially created to meet the demands of the panel building market, and is used specifically within cabinets and
control panels.

Approval to industry standards such as UL, CSA and the Lloyds Register imply that the product is usable under extreme conditions and in areas of strictest safety regulations.

Toxic fumes and smoke generated from plastics in fire situations present a real danger. An increased awareness of this threat has led to a corresponding demand for limited fire hazard (LFH) products. Ravenscroft Plastics has responded with ducting made from Noryl, which is halogen free, highly flame retardant, and possesses low smoke and low toxic fume characteristics.

Betaduct is currently made in several formats:

• Open slot, with wide fingers giving additional cable support.

• Narrow slot, ideal for slimmer terminal blocks, where more access is required, ensuring the best position is available.

• Closed slot providing excellent cable retention, enhancing protection for installers.

• Solid wall system, ideal where no break-out points are required. Noryl Betaduct is available with open slot, closed slot and solid wall.

Accessories include riveters and rivets designed for quick installation. Dividers allow channels to separate
wiring within one trunking run. Installation washers provide location for dividers, secured by screws into wiring duct base, with side cutters allowing a clean professional removal of Betaduct slotted sides. Ravenscroft also provides additional lids, if required.

Thales Training & Simulation (TTS) has installed Olson Electronics power distribution panels as standard
equipment in both static and full-flight simulators.

The panels are subjected to vibration and high G forces imposed during pilot training on full-flight simulators. They have multiple socket outlets for onboard engineering services and come in different versions for specific national standards and operational demands.

They include panels with standard European IEC 320 and British BS1363 13 amp socket outlets, but can also be supplied to NEMA, UTE, VDE or CEI national standard specifications.

Specifications also include plug-retaining clips for additional mechanical security and indicator lights,
illuminated switches, circuit breaker protection or individually fused sockets.

Rittal’s new Bus enclosure addresses the well-known problems associated with bringing cables of differing
diameters and cables with connectors into enclosures for bus systems such as Field Bus.

Protection is to IP 65 and the enclosure features modular plates for individual cable entry. The housing has two rows of top hat rails for components such as input/output modules, and offers sufficient room for large motor starters.

The door has a polycarbonate-viewing window for LED displays.

The base has 18 cutouts for cable entry, which are closed off by a choice of gland plates. Six versions are
available, either zinc plated or spray finished. The bus enclosures are compatible with control gear from
Wago, Bechoff, Siemens, Wiedmuller, AEG Modicon, Bosch, Murretronik, Phoenix and Pilz.

Phoenix Contact has extended its Inline I/O system to allow its use with popular fieldbus systems from AS-i to Ethernet.

A new Ethernet coupler with an integrated web server enables deterministic Inline I/O systems to be linked directly to Ethernet networks. Couplers are also available to integrate with other fieldbus networks.

SES Sterling is launching new lightweight sleeve expanders for use with neoprene and silicone sleeves.

The bodies are made of a specially developed carbon fibre material with chrome plated hardened steel prongs. The design incorporates KY3, a device that will not allow over-expanding of the sleeves. The range of sleeves covered by this tool is 3-15mm.

A new battery-powered hydraulic crimping tool from Klauke weighing in at 1.6kg is suitable for one-handed
operation.

It crimps cable lugs and connectors up to 120mm² and accommodates the dies currently available on the market - existing dies operated mechanically, can be inserted into the fully power driven high-tech tools.

Klauke-mini provides more than 85 crimps per charge for 120mm² cable lugs in three basic models:

1. The EK15/50 features parallel guided crimping jaws

2. The EK15/50G offers an angled crimping head for tight working areas;

3. The EK35/4 accommodates dies currently available on the market. The EK 15 series offers a crimping
force of 13kN, while the EK 35/4 exerts 35kN.

Craig and Derricott uses Weidmuller terminals for hazardous area electrical control and distribution equipment.

Ray Maybury, Craig and Derricott’s head of engineering, comments: “We make a wide range of electrical
equipment, performing essential power shut-off, power control, signalling and communication functions in hazardous areas such as in petrochemical and off-shore.

“Hazardous area electrical engineering must be resistant to a number of difficult environmental conditions, from heat and dirt to vibration and extremes of temperature, so we are careful whom we specify. Weidmuller’s information and application support are excellent as is the product availability.”

When designing a work environment, a primary consideration is how to prevent fire from spreading through cabling apertures.

Spelsberg’s new WD90 and TW90 cable transit systems feature side panels that expand instantly when
exposed to excessive heat or fire, sealing the units to prevent smoke and flames travelling between rooms.

The flexible units are fire-resistant to DIN 4102 Part 9 S90, which guarantees 90 minutes of protection, and are suitable for retrofitting in walls or ceilings and in light partition types using angled mountings.

The transit systems consist of tough galvanised boxes to protect lighting, sprinkler and shutdown systems. The front covers can modified to fit cables using a knife or a soldering iron and then fixed in place using a long-life flexible sealant.

The WD90 series are supplied with four different internal profiles including squares, hexagon section and low profile rectangles. The units fit walls depths from 10cm to 15cm and accept cables of almost any
diameter as well as armoured conduits up to M63 (or Pg 48).

The narrower TW90 model takes cables up to 20mm in diameter and conduits up to M32. Its elongated rectangular profile is designed for use in walls from 12.5cm and, similarly to the WD90 series, lends itself to vertical installation in pairs or with up to three units side by side.