Cable Reels
A cable reel is an adaptable piece of equipment used to hold, move, and dispense several types of cables. Familiar in industries like construction, entertainment, and telecommunications, a cable reel is one of the fundamental tools that allow crews to rapidly achieve wiring goals. They can be manual or motorized, and work done by either tends to be much faster than if the same tasks were done without a cable reel.
Cable reels are normally designed with strong materials such as steel, aluminum, or plastic. As a result, they are ideal for standing up to a wide range of tough conditions—anything from extreme heat and cold to chemical exposure. Depending on the required application, a range of sizes and configurations is available. For instance, there might be a need to contain a few meters or up to a kilometer of heavy-duty power cables, or a whole host of much shorter fiber-optic cables; cable reels can handle both extremes. The end purpose, of course, is to let us use the power or the signal contained in the cable or cables in a very convenient and efficient manner.
Products
FAQs
What features and options does a cable reel have that makes it a perfect product for easy access to cables?
A cable reel features options such as manual or motorized winding, locking mechanisms, adjustable tension control, guide arms, and durable construction, all of which ensure easy access, organized storage, and efficient deployment of cables.
What diameter of cable do most cable reels hold?
Most cable reels hold cables with diameters ranging from 1/4 inch to 1 inch, accommodating a variety of cable types and sizes.
Industrial Wire Types: Part 2
Twisted Pair Wire
Twisted pair wire is most commonly seen in scenarios where data is being transfer to and from certain locations. It uses two separate conductors, twisted together, for a single circuit. The two conductors are twisted together to reduce electromagnetic interference or “cross talk” between the two wires. It is common to use twisted pairs in place of a coax cable for data transfer. Coax can be fairly expensive and can be more difficult to run whereas twisted wire is not as thick or rigid and can easily be maneuvered in tough to reach locations. Twisted wire will always come in pairs, but there are no limits to how many pairs can be included in a single cable. For instance, CAT5 or CAT6 cable, which is commonly used in home and office networks, uses twisted pair wire. This type of cable has four different pairs of communication lines.
Shielded Wire
Shielded wire is different from regular wire insulation in that it is made of a conductive material. This conductive material includes, braided strands of copper (or other types of metal), non-braided aluminum and copper tape. The purpose of this shielding is to protect the signal passing through the wire from any outside interference. Unlike twisted cable, which is trying to eliminate interference among wire being used in the same circuit, shielded wire needs protection from outside interference and from other electrical circuits in the area.
Tray Cable
Tray Cable is a factory assembly of two or more insulated conductors, with or without associated bare or covered grounding conductors under a nonmetallic sheath, for installation in cable trays, in raceways, or where supported by a messenger wire. It is common to see tray cable that has many different conductors that can be used for control wiring, instrumentation and signal wiring as well as many other applications. Tray cable is often rated for use in direct sunlight applications, as well as direct burial applications. Because of the potential weight of tray cable when suspended, it will need to be supported properly to avoid hazardous environments.