
Cable Tray Wire

Cable tray wires are protected by a plastic jacket or metal armor over individual conductors. They can be rated for indoor, outdoor, corrosive areas, hazardous locations or high electrical noise areas. Many cable tray wires pass stringent crush and impact tests per 1569 and should be UL listed indicating that they have been tested for ratings relative to mechanical resistance, flammability resistance and temperature limitations.
Type TC TFN shielded tray cables are used in 600 V applications for process and control signals. The shielding protects the signal from electrostatic noise. The cables are moisture resistant and can be installed in trays, ducts, conduit or direct buried. They are rated Class1, Div 2 for hazardous locations and meet current NEC guidelines and are verified by UL.
Type PLTC (Power Limited Tray Cable) cables are used in 300 V applications. They can be routed in the same tray as 600 V power and control tray cables when separated by a divider. Type ITC (Instrument Tray Cable) cables are the most common type of PLTC cable. They are used in 300 V direct burial applications.
Thermoplastic, High Heat resistant, Nylon jacket insulation (THHN) wire is used in conduit or in cable trays due to its rigidity and tough insulation characteristics. THHN can be stranded (several small strands of wire grouped together), allowing for more flexibility and less chance of breakage, or solid (one wire), which is more durable and rigid. THHN wire is suitable for use in dry locations with temperatures that do not exceed 90 degrees Celsius.
Cross-linked polyethylene, High Heat-resistant, Water-resistant (XHHW) wire is very similar to THHN. The difference is that XHHW wire is overall a more durable wire that can withstand higher temperatures and is water resistant. XHHW wire can also be found in both stranded and solid wire options.
Machine Tool Wire (MTW) wire is much more flexible than THHN wire with insulation that is not as durable, making it a poor choice to run through conduit. The flexibility makes it ideal for winding through tight areas, such as wire ducting in an industrial control cabinet. MTW wire is almost exclusively found in stranded wire, which allows for much of the flexibility and reduces the chances of the wire breaking. MTW wire is intended for use in dry locations that do not exceed 90 degrees Celsius or wet locations that do not to exceed 60 degrees Celsius.
FAQ
What is tray cable?
Tray cables are versatile cables that can be used indoors or outdoors, dry or wet locations, covered or out in the open. The power they provide can support applications of any size.
What is tray cable used for?
Tray cables are used in various industries for control, instrumentation, power and lighting. They are a great asset in particular to the utility and construction industries.