Cable

From Free net encyclopedia

For other uses, see Cable (disambiguation).

A cable is two or more wires or optical fibers bound together, typically in a common protective jacket or sheath. The individual wires or fibers inside the jacket may be bare, covered or insulated. Combination cables may contain both electrical wires and optical fibers.

Electrical cables may be made more flexible by stranding the wires. In this process, smaller individual wires are twisted or braided together to produce larger wires that are more flexible than solid wires of similar size. Bunching small wires before concentric stranding adds the most flexibility. A thin coat of tin on the individual wires provides lubrication for longest life. Tight lays during stranding makes the cable extensible (CBA - as in telephone handset cords).

Cables can be securely fastened and organized, such as using cable trees with the aid of cable ties.

In 2004 some of the leading global producers of cable products included Nexans, Prysmian, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric, Southwire, Draka, LS Cable, Fujikura, Walsin Lihwa and General Cable.

Types of cable

• arresting cable
• bowden cable, a type of flexible sheathed cable used to transmit mechanical force.
• communications cable
• coaxial cable
• fiber optic cable
• heliax cable
• insulated cable
• mechanical cable
• shielded cable
• twinax cable
• twisted pair cable
• wire cable (also known as wire rope)

See also

• extension cable
• rope
• cable modem
• DOCSIS
• Submarine communications cable
• MF
• cable length in maritime usage
• cable spaghettibg:Кабел

cs:Kabel da:Elektrisk kabel de:Kabel es:Cable fr:Câble id:Kabel nl:Kabel ja:ケーブル ru:Кабель sv:Kabel tr:Kablo