Page 25 - Blog

Coax cables are capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals and have served as the backbone of communications technology for decades. From radios to telephones to televisions to computers, coax cable has seen continued use even as the technology it supports continues to evolve. Stretching back over 100 years, the origins of coax cables begin towards the end of the 19th century.

Oliver Heaviside, the grandfather of modern coax cable

1880: The original coax cable was created by English inventor Oliver Heaviside. Heaviside studied telegraph lines and discovered wrapping the lines with insulation reduced signal loss and made cables more durable. With this discovery, he created and patented the world’s first coax cable.

1884: A second coax cable is patented in Germany by the electrical engineering company Siemens & Halske (later merged with the company Siemens).

1894: Nikola Tesla files the first American patent on electrical conductors, which later become a key component in the birth

Coax cables are fairly simple to assemble, but there are a few different ways to go about doing so. Having a good coax signal is heavily dependant on installing a connector correctly. If you are unsure about how to install a coax connector, see our installation guide here.

Whether crimp, solder, compression, and twist-on is the best option will depend on the exact setting the cable will be used in. Consider questions such as:

• Is the cable low- or high-voltage?
• Will it be used for field-work or factory-work?
• How experienced are the individuals working with the cable?
• How long is the cable expected to last?
• What is the budget?
• Will the cable be in a hazardous environment (extreme temperatures, exposure to chemicals, vibrating machinery, etc.)?

The details below cover the different options with general, overall performance in mind. If other factors come into play, a type of connector not normally considered “the best” could be your best option.

Crimp

Crimp connectors are the most popular

Null modem, also called crossover, is a term associated with serial (RS-232) cables. A standard serial cable, also called an AT cable, has the wires inside the cable running straight through. Take a DB9 cable as an example. Pin 1 on one end of the cable would be connected to Pin 1 on the other end. Then Pin 2 to 2, 3 to 3, and so on. Null modem cables are serial cables that use an alternative pinout for different functionality.

A standard DB9 AT cable pinout (non-null modem)

Originally, all serial cables were AT cables and could not connect two devices (such as two computers) directly. They required a modem or similar equipment as a go-between. Null modem cables changed that old standard, allowing devices to be linked up directly with no middleman equipment. This allows older computers and other machines with serial ports to transfer data between each other directly, similar to more modern ethernet crossover cables.

Null modem cables work by switching around wire pairs when going

NEMA and IEC are the two most common standards for power cords used in North America. NEMA connectors are on the side of the power cord that plugs into an AC wall outlet. IEC connectors are the side that plugs into devices like computers or TVs. By and large, NEMA and IEC are compatible with each other. There are many similarities between NEMA and IEC standards, but they are not quite the same.

NEMA Connectors

NEMA is an acronym for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Established in 1926, NEMA is an American organization focused on creating, establishing, and promoting safety standards for electrical equipment. Power cords are one of many items that fall under their jurisdiction. Despite being an American organization, NEMA standards are also primarily used in Canada and Mexico as well as parts of Central and South America, nearby small island nations such as Cuba, and some larger countries across the sea like Japan.

NEMA connectors are labeled as two numbers separated

Cables are the backbone of most modern technology. From simple ethernet cables keeping office computers online to heavy-duty power cables running hospital equipment, cables are involved with every aspect of technology. Even wireless devices like cell phones and tablets can only work by connecting to other devices like modems and routers that use cables themselves.

With cables being so critical, it is important to think economically when making purchases. However, once prices get too low it should set off a red flag. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Where cables are concerned, that can mean counterfeit cables that do not meet industry standards. These cables are unsafe and can damage themselves, the equipment they are connected to, and people unfortunate enough to be handling them.

Identifying Counterfeit Cables

Simply put, a counterfeit cable is any cable that does not meet industry standards. This often means using subpar materials to make the cable. Many counterfeit

In North America and Japan, special power cords are required for use with any equipment in a hospital or medical setting. Some other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark use similar recommendations, but they are not technically required by law. This article will focus on power cords required for medical equipment in North America, most notably the United States and Canada.

In Technical Terms

Under regulatory and safety committees in the US and Canada, hospital-grade power cord requirements are highlighted under the following sections:

• UL 60601-1 and CAN/CSA C22.2 no. 21 (medical equipment standards)
• UL 817 and CAN/CSA 22.2 no. 21 (power supply cord standards)
• UL 498 and CAN/CSA 22.2 no. 42 (attachment plug and receptacle standards)

Additionally, they must conform to NEMA WD-6 and UL 817 by meeting the following requirements:

1. The blade plugs must be made of solid brass, not folded brass.
2. The blade plugs are nickel-plated.
3. The plug includes a strain relief or similar device

Ensuring an organized workspace and knowing the functions provided by a specific colored cable are critically important in any electrical setting. Putting the effort into planning out cable management ahead of time is always a good idea. A neat, organized structure makes it much easier to find the cable you are looking for whenever something needs to be unplugged or when trying to simplify knowing which cables perform what operations. Color coding your power cords can ease a complex situation and help you keep your peace of mind when trying to figure out a problem.

Color Coding Methodology

Keeping cords untangled is one thing, but color coding can ensure you always know which cables go where. Using different colors can be as simple as telling the new guy, “Do not unplug the grey one, that powers your computer.” A simple color coding system can ensure everyone knows which cable goes where with a simple glance. An ideal system will be simple, intuitive, and easy to manage.  

It is important

In the age of the Internet, it is easier than ever before to be a thrifty shopper and find a bargain. When shopping around for any product, after a while you start to get a sense of what kind of price that particular item usually goes for. But as you dig around the Internet a bit more, you may stumble across an even better price. One that blows those other prices away. Something that seems too good to be true. And as the old saying goes: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

A power cord may seem simple at a glance, but there is a lot that goes into making one. A proper power cable is made of various materials in a specific fashion according to industry and government standards. However, there are many websites online that sell cables cheaply because their products do not meet those regulations. Sub-par cables are likely to burn out (literally as well as figuratively) quickly and can damage any connected equipment. A worst-case scenario could result in an electrical fire,

Power cords, simply put, can be dangerous. Now when you think of the word “dangerous”, a power cord is probably not the first image that jumps into your head. And granted, a regular power cord is not as dangerous as something like a high voltage line at a substation. But while you may not need to be a licensed electrician to plug something into a wall outlet, it is important to remember that accidents do happen.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), roughly 4,000 people treated in emergency rooms are injured each year by power cords. Half of these injuries alone include fractures, contusions, lacerations, and sprains from people tripping over power cords. It is also estimated that roughly 3,300 home fires start each year due to power cords, with an estimated 270 people injured and 50 killed from the fires. Be safe, not a statistic.

Tripping Hazards

The number one cause of injury for power cords is tripping. A power cord should never be stretched across a room

Product certifications are as important for cabling as for any other industry. No one wants to run the risk of winding up with sub-par products that do not work or, worse, cause damage to other devices (or people). With so many different certifications spread across just as many different industries, it can be hard to keep them straight. For cables, there are a few key certifications to keep an eye out for:

• UL-Listed
• ETL-Listed
• RoHS
• WEEE
• REACH
• Prop 65

Each of these certifications has different definitions covered below. Some or even all of them may not apply to an item depending on what kind of item is in question. For example, certifications for an ethernet cable will not be the same as ones for a patch panel. Other certifications will only apply in certain geographical areas, such as stipulations set in Europe versus ones in the North America. Keep in mind that just because a product does not list a specific certification does not make it “bad”.

UL-Listed

UL-Listed is a certification