Wire Management Wireways & Troughs

More Information about Wire Management Wireways and Troughs

Cable Tray

Cable tray is a mechanical support system used to securely fasten or support cables and raceways. They are a great alternative to electrical conduit or open cable management systems. Cable trays are used to distribute data and power cables overhead or under-floor and come in many shapes, sizes and materials depending on the application. Some of the types of cable tray are: ladder tray, solid bottom tray and channel tray.

Ladder Cable Trays

Ladder cable trays have two side rails connected by cross bars or “rungs” which allow air circulation around the cables, dissipating heat that may be produced by the cable's conductors. The rungs of the ladder cable tray provide anchors for attaching and tying down cables. Ladder cable trays are generally used in applications with intermediate to long support spans and can have covers installed to keep cables well protected from falling water, dust or debris.

Solid Bottom Cable Trays

Solid bottom cable trays are designed to provide continuous support for delicate cables. Fiber optic cable installations frequently use solid bottom cable trays to prevent drooping of fiber optic cables, which can degrade system performance. Hinged or removable covers can reduce radio frequency and electromagnetic interference.

Channel Cable Trays

Channel cable trays are used as a cost-effective support for branch cable runs and cable drops from the backbone cable tray system. It is ideal for small cable installations.

Wireways

Wireways are a metallic or non-metallic trough with a hinged or removable covers that are designed to protect cables from contaminants such as dirt, dust, moisture and oil found in hazardous locations. They can be mounted to ceilings, walls or secured under-floor. The high cost of manufacturing and installing wireways limits their use to small sections of cable management systems.

Cable Trough

A cable trough, or wiring trough, are similar to wireways, but instead of being open-ended, the troughs are factory fabricated and cut to length with two end caps installed.  

FAQs

What is a cable management system?

A cable management system is a set of components, tools, and techniques used to organize and protect cables and wires in a structured and efficient manner. Cable management systems primarily consist of various devices such as cable trays, cable ties, cable wraps, cable sleeves, raceways, and conduits.

Is a wiring trough the same thing as a wiring duct?

A wiring trough is a type of cable tray that is typically made from metal or plastic and designed to protect and manage cables and wires in industrial and commercial settings. A wiring duct, on the other hand, is a narrow and shallow channel made from plastic or PVC material used to organize and protect smaller groups of cables or wires, and is often used in residential or office settings.

Tips for Exceptional Wire Management

Be Consistent

This is one of the most overlooked aspects of great wire management. Consistency should apply to everything including the length of wire that is being used, the bend radius of the wire, the wire placement within the bundles and the label positions.

Don't Always Take the Shortest Path

When routing wires and trying to achieve a clean and organized look, it is important to not always take the shortest route to land the wires. For example, when wiring hardware on the door of an electrical enclosure it is important to consider all of the wires that are going to be at that location and bundle these wires whenever possible. Instead of just running the wires directly to the place that they need to be connected, route the wires in a way that will pass other devices or connection points near the wire and pick up any other wires along the way that are related to those other connection points.

Wire Tie Everything that is Not Concealed

When wiring in a control panel, the wires are often concealed by the wire ducting. However, there are times when wires are not concealed and are difficult to control in such a way that will result in a clean and organized look. To assist with this problem, it is important to use wire ties and wire tie anchors. Make sure that the same size wire tie and the same color is used throughout the install process.