Monthly Archives: October 2018

A little cable prep can go a long way towards keeping your work area tidy. Anytime you use more than a few cables, they can quickly become a tangled, jumbled mess. Using a few cable prep tools can keep cables safe, secure, and neat.

Cable Labels

When lots of different cables are all hooked up right next to each other, it can be hard to remember where each cable goes. One of the simplest ways to keep track of each cable is with some simple labels. These labels come with templates and are on sheets the size of a standard piece of paper, allowing them to be printed on any standard printer and you may even use a USB 2.0 A to B cable or some other cable to do the printing. The individual labels are also available in multiple sizes to ensure a fit regardless of how thick or thin of a cable you have.

Electrical Tape

Electrical tape is another simple way to keep cables labeled. Some types of cables are available in multiple colors, but others might only be available in black or white

What is American Wire Gauge (AWG)?

American Wire Gauge (AWG, sometimes called the Brown & Sharpe wire gauge) is the standardized wire gauge system used to measure the size of electric conducting wire in the United States since 1857. AWG refers to wire made with a solid metal core. It is represented as a simple number that is calculated by finding the radius of the wire, squaring that number, and multiplying it by pi (AWG = πr²). The smaller the number is, the thicker the cable will be.

Stranded wire is also commonly referred to using AWG, but it a little more complex. Because standard cables are made using multiple wires instead of a single solid core, they can be given multiple numbers. For example, a cable called “24 AWG (7x32)” means that the overall outer diameter is 24 AWG but on the inside, the cable has seven 32 AWG wires.

Key Takeaways

• AWG stands for American Wire Gauge.
• AWG is commonly used to describe the size of electrical conductors.
• A lower AWG number means a larger

Speaker wire is one of the most common types of audio cable. While it looks simple at a glance, there are a fair number of factors that come into play. Some speaker cables have connectors while others are blunt (ending with bare wire). The AWG (American Wire Gauge) of speaker wire comes in a few different varieties with different types having advantages and disadvantages depending on the application.

Speaker Wire Connectors (or Bare Wire)

Most speakers (and some similar equipment) do not come with the speaker wire they need. The first step in selecting one is deciding how you the wire will be connected to the speaker. Many speakers have the option to insert the bare wire, eliminating the need for a connector. Bare wire does provide the best sound quality since there is nothing between the wire and speaker but comes with a few downsides. Since the wire is out in the open it can be frayed or otherwise damaged over time, which can lower the signal quality or even break the cable. If the cable

Power cables are incredibly varied, with different types of cables and standards being set by their use and the country they are used in. In the United States alone, there are over a dozen types that are commonly used. Each type of power cable connector has its own name, so most power cables will have two names associated with them. There are two main standards for power cables in the US, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

Key Takeaways

• Power cables are available in many configurations for different equipment and applications.
• Common categories include standard, angled, locking, hospital-grade, international, splitter, AC, and DC power cables.
• Always match the cable's connector to the equipment.
• Verify voltage and current ratings before selecting a replacement cable.
• Consider cable length and routing requirements when planning an installation.
• Locking cables can help reduce accidental disconnections.
• Hospital-grade

Fiber optic cable is the newer, faster way to transmit data. These send data signals using light (lasers) instead of electricity. Light signals can travel faster for higher bandwidth, suffer from less signal loss, and degrade less from electrical interference. Fiber optic cables come in a few different varieties with multiple types of cable as well as multiple connectors.

Types of cable include:

• Single-mode
• Multi-mode
• OM1
• OM2
• OM3
• OM4

Types of connectors include:

• FC
• LC
• SC
• ST
• MTP/MPO
• MTRJ

Fiber Cables

Single-mode

Single-mode fiber optic contains a very thin core, making it ideal for long-range transmissions. These cables can be incredibly long, with a single line potentially running for miles. The light transmitted by single-mode cable is between 1,300 and 1,550 μm, a frequency range that almost puts it into the infrared wavelength. This version of fiber optic cable is mainly used for telecommunications.

The name “single-mode” comes from the cable only transmitting a single mode of light

Along with the many types of coax cables there are to pick from, there is also an assortment of different types of RF coax connectors. When selecting a connector, you need to make sure you select one rated for the cable you are assembling. The back end of the RF connector that attaches to the coax cable needs to be the right size for installation. If the connector is too small, it will not fit. If it is too big, the connector will not secure properly and can be pulled off or even just fall off.

Key Takeaways

• Coaxial connectors are used to connect coaxial cables to electronic equipment, antennas, RF systems, video equipment, and other devices.
• Coax connectors are available in many configurations, including BNC, SMA, N-type, F-type, TNC, and others.
• Connector selection depends on factors such as frequency, impedance, application, cable type, environmental conditions, and mechanical requirements.
• 50-ohm and 75-ohm coaxial systems are common, so the connector and cable should be selected

Coax (coaxial) cable is one of the oldest types of cables, having been in use for over 100 years. Like ethernet, coax cables come in both solid and stranded versions, although they are usually solid. Only a few types of coax, namely RG58 and RG8, are available as stranded.

Most coax cables fall into one of two categories, RG (Radio Guide) and LMR. No one is 100% sure what LMR actually stands for. It could stand for a term, someone’s name, or just be random letters. There are many rumors and theories for what LMR may mean but nobody really knows for sure.

RG cables are labeled “RG#” with the number formerly standing for the diameter of the cable. For example, RG59 cable originally had a diameter of .059”. While these measurements have changed over the years, the names of the cables have stuck. There are many types of RG cables and this article will only review the most common variants. Typically, RG cables have a 50 or 75 ohm impedance. Some off-shoot cables have different impedance,

Telephone cords are one of the more basic types of cables. Phone cables have remained mostly the same over the years with a few small changes here and there. There is a little terminology to know that will tell you a bit more about your phone lines, such as how they are wired and what type of plastic connector is on the end of the cable.

Key Takeaways

• Telephone cables are designed primarily for telephone and voice connections.
• RJ11-style connectors are commonly associated with traditional telephone applications.
• Telephone cables are available in different conductor and pair configurations.
• Always verify the connector, wiring configuration, conductor count, and cable length before purchasing.
• Telephone and Ethernet cables are not automatically interchangeable.
• A similar-looking modular connector does not guarantee compatibility.
• Choose cable construction according to the installation environment.
• Proper cable routing and management can make telephone systems easier to maintain.
• Test telephone

Audio and video cables go hand-in-hand, often being paired together. Some cables can even transmit audio and video on just one line. Over time a lot of new audio and video cables have been introduced, so the cable you need will often depend on the age of the equipment you are using. Most TVs, computers, and other devices can use multiple types of audio and video connections, so it is good to be able to identify them and know your options.

Key Takeaways

• Audio and video cables connect equipment and transmit analogue or digital sound and image signals.
• Common audio cables include XLR, RCA, 3.5mm, TRS, speaker, and digital audio cables.
• Common video cables include HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, composite, component, S-Video, and BNC cables.
• Some interfaces, such as HDMI, can transmit both audio and video.
• Always identify the connector and signal type before selecting a cable.
• Cable length, shielding, construction, and signal requirements can affect system performance.
• For video, consider