Control and Connection Cables

Control cables and connection cables have two or more cores and are suitable for many applications. These types of cables are used in many sectors, including industrial mechanical engineering and plant construction, drive and automation technology, control cabinet construction, and robotics. They are also found in electronic household appliances and tools, as well as in the transportation, infrastructure, and energy sectors.

Control cables transmit signals within a control circuit that governs the different components. They are used in both the internal and external wiring for components ranging from machines and facilities to sensors and actuators. Control signals instruct the receiver of the signal to perform a specific action.

Control cables are available with anywhere from 2 to 100 colour-coded or numbered cores. In most cases, each core has a cross section ranging from 0.5 and 2.5mm², and the sheath is typically made of PVC or PUR.

They are responsible for transmitting electrical energy in machines, facilities, and appliances. They are used to supply energy to buildings and to distribute energy in power plants and transformer stations. Connection cables are also commonly referred to as energy cables, electricity cables, supply cables, or power cables.

They typically consist of 2 to 5 colour-coded cores, and in most cases, each core has a cross section of 2.5mm² or larger. Usually PUR and PVC are also the most common sheath materials.

Some of the most common challenges faced by control and connection cables are dynamic movements, tensile loads, bending, and torsion, for instance when used in drag chains or on industrial robots. The cables must therefore be both flexible and resilient to oils, chemicals, weather, and UV radiation. In many applications, screened control and connection cables are required to avoid disruptions related to the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

Due to the wide range of applications and requirements, many different variations of control and connection cables are available with different numbers of cores and nominal cross sections: