What Is a Control Cable?
A control cable is a specialized cable designed for controlling mechanical equipment. It is commonly used in various industrial settings due to its efficiency and effectiveness.
Control cables typically feature low current, which prevents significant temperature rises in the cable and allows for a reduced sheath heat resistance temperature.
With thinner core wire thicknesses, these cables use less copper wire, leading to cost-effectiveness.
In industrial applications, control cables are utilized extensively, ranging from process plants to discrete manufacturing facilities.
Uses of Control Cables
Control cables are integral in factories with machinery and equipment, serving three primary functions: detection, control, and operation.
The detection component senses movements of workpieces or machines, often utilizing sensors or switches. These sensors typically operate on currents ranging from several mA to a few hundred mA, necessitating control cables with relatively thin core wires.
The control segment transmits signals from the detection part to the operating section. Similar to the detection component, this segment uses cables with thin core wires for efficient signal transmission between controllers and detectors.
The operating section, which handles machine operations, often uses devices driven by AC voltage. This necessitates the use of control cables with comparatively thicker cores.
Principle of Control Cables
The structure of control cables is determined by the type of signal they transmit.
Digital signals, which transmit simple ON or OFF states, offer reliability and resistance to induced voltage due to their higher operating voltages. However, a single-core wire can only transmit two states, leading to the use of multi-core cables for transmitting multiple signals simultaneously.
Analog signals, characterized by continuous fluctuations, enable more nuanced control but are more vulnerable to induced voltages. To mitigate this, a shielding layer is often added beneath the sheath.
Network signals, like Ethernet or serial, combine the benefits of digital and analog signals. While varying in structure based on the signal type, these cables commonly feature a shielding layer for voltage suppression, similar to analog signals.