Cable Genius

8th October 2008

Read the headlines and you could be mistaken for thinking the world has gone off cable. Take Intel, for example, who only last month revealed we are now one step closer to being able to power computers and electronic gadgets wirelessly. Its research into magnetic induction technology does suggest we might one day be able work in an office free from the tangle of wires. What it doesn’t say, however, is that if we lived in a world without cables, we wouldn’t get a whole lot done.

As a cable supplier, we obviously have a soft spot for anything with a conductor, a bit of insulation and a protective sheath. And that’s because, for us, cable isn’t so much about the spaghetti junction quietly forming under our desks. It’s about problem solving and working with materials that are actually rather clever.

One such cable is SWA or Steel Wire Armoured Cable. Ok, so you won’t find this robust mains electricity cable with copper conductors, XLPE insulation, steel wire armour and a PVC sheath under your desk. It also won’t light up Glastonbury or allow you to watch the UEFA Champions League final. But we think it’s pretty special – and tough.

The mechanical protection provided by its steel wire armour (aluminium wire armour if single core) makes it particularly handy in external or underground projects. Building and construction companies like it, the rail industry likes it and automation and process control systems can’t seem to get enough of it.

Of course, you don’t just have to take our word for it. In fact, over the last three years we have supplied 11,215,622m of the stuff all over the world. This includes 11,270m to the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works for the construction of a multi-million dollar water treatment plant in Iraq. The cables, ranging in size from 1.5mm to 240mm are being used for mains power and pump supply in the Al Afak – Al Badire Water Project, which is due for completion early next year. 

So next time you wish for a world without cables, spare a thought for SWA – underground, underestimated and available now. 

11270m in real life

End to end the amount of SWA Cable used in the water treatment plant:

1)    would stretch higher than 34 Eiffel Towers.

2)    would run the length of more than 112 football pitches.

3)    would work out longer than 339 double decker buses.

And over three years we’ve sold enough cable to circle the Earth 280 times

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13th May 2008

Longer days, the odd glimmer of sunshine – not to mention the desire to squeeze into the shorts that no longer fit – can mean only one thing, summer is finally here. It won’t be long before every patch of grass across the world is covered with a marquee, stage or ice cream van, waiting to kick-off a season of outdoor weddings, sporting events, theatrical productions and music festivals. And it certainly won’t be long before everyone – from the crowds, bands and backstage crews to the wedding DJs and over-excited guests – starts heading for the fields in the hope that, for just one day, the soundtrack to their summer is not interrupted.

Behind every great event is a trail of hard-wearing cable. Choosing the right cable for your outdoor occasion can mean the difference between a great day out and a waste of time. Would Glastonbury revellers camp in a field for four days if it were just about getting caked in mud? (A festival without resilient lighting and sound systems is not really a festival.) And would the bride and groom really be as keen to take to the floor with a first dance without the cheesy music or mood lighting? I think not.

Wherever you are in the world, outdoor events mean unpredictable weather, extremes of temperature, exposure to sunlight and lots of feet. For a cable to do the hard work under these conditions it needs to be robust, flexible, and resistant to sunlight, cold and excessive trampling.
At Eland Cables we’ve got just the thing – heavy-duty Rubber Trailing Cables.

If you’re looking for a suitable cable to supply temporary power to audio-visual and lighting systems together with on site electrical distribution equipment, we suggest H07RNF Cable. Its Ethylene Propylene Rubber insulation, Polychloroprene sheath and Class 5 flexible plain copper conductor ensures that even in the most stressful of working environments, it won’t let you down. When using cable in particular to connect pumps and generators, we can also offer H07BN4F (6381TQ) Cable in addition to HO7RNF cable. With flexible copper conductors, Ethylene Propylene Rubber insulation and an oil resistant and flame retardant sheath it’s an ideal cable to brave the elements and help you dance the night away.
With so much to organise ahead of the big event, getting the right cable early on will certainly give you one less thing to worry about.

Let Eland Cables help you welcome in the summer in style. To find out more about the types of rubber trailing cables call us on 020 7241 8787.

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29th April 2008

A life without Coaxial Cable, is a life without entertainment. Why, you ask? Well, for many of us, it’s the reason we can watch the latest football match or simply relax with the latest episode of Lost or with the sound of Wentworth Miller planning another prison break. It’s the reason the unmissable is now unmissable – with You Tube and internet playback channels. And it’s also the reason why, wherever we are, we always seem to have some way to communicate.

Whether it’s through radio, telecoms or TV, if you are looking to transmit even high-frequency data, a Coaxial Cable is the way to do it. In simple terms, the cable consists of an inner conductor (solid wire or stranded), an insulating layer, a grounded shield (usually of braided wire) and a protective outer layer, often PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The conductor and the shield share the same axis (hence the name Coaxial) and the signal is usually carried between them. The shield is important in minimising the energy released from the signal and helping prevent interference from other electromagnetic fields.

No two Coaxial Cables are the same so it is vital to note the differences. Choice of conductor, the size of the conductor, the type of insulation and shielding materials can all affect the performance of the cable (such as loss of data and signal strength). And certain types are better for some jobs than others. There is also a variation in price, so research in the early stages can make all the difference to overall project costs.

We, at Eland Cables, supply three ranges to help you make the right decision. RG, URM, and Composite Cables use a variety of conductors – from TCW (Tinned Copper Wire) in the RG11, to CCS (Copper Clad Steel) in the RG59 cables. They have an impedance of between 50 and 75ohms and a capacitance of up to 100pF/m, and are useful for low loss video and video signal connections.

BT3002 and RA7000 cables have been manufactured to BT specifications, and are suitable for the interconnecting of data and telecoms equipment. These white cables have a solid copper conductor (although in the case of the BT Cable a number of cores), PE (Polyethylene) insulation, two screens (or shields) of braided tinned copper wire (and bonded aluminium in the case of the RA7000) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) sheaths. With an impedance of 75ohms and a capacitance of between 57 and 70pF/m they can carry more data than standard telephone wire and are less likely to suffer from interference.

Finally, the CT range of Coaxial Cable (read more about CT type Coaxial Cable here) has been designed with professional TV and CCTV systems in mind. It uses a solid copper conductor and foam or Cell Polyethylene insulation, and is wrapped in two shields of copper (one braided and one with overlapping copper tape) before being covered in a range of different materials – from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) to PE (Polyethylene) and LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen). This type of cable has a capacitance of between 52 and 58pF/m and an impedance of 75ohms.

With so much to choose from, Eland is here to help you get it right.
To find out more about the individual cables and what they can do for your communications visit: www.eland.co.uk/electrical-cables/coaxial

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28th April 2008

Choosing the right cable for the job is like finding the perfect partner. Make the wrong choice and it won’t take long before a fuzzy picture, interrupted broadcasts and broken conversations make the relationship start to look a little rocky.

Once you’ve decided which range of coaxial cable fits the needs of your company (CT, BT/RA or RG/URM/Composite), it is worth spending the time to investigate the different types of cable available to you. For those looking to install commercial TV and CCTV systems – including digital satellite, terrestrial and Cable TV – the CT range of coaxial cable is the most suitable.

If you are trying to decide between the CT100, CT125, CT167 and CT233, it is worth noting that all these cables have an impedance of 75ohms, a capacitance of around 52pF/m (up to 58pF/m for the CT167) and a velocity rating of between 80 and 82%. This would seem to suggest that there really isn’t that much to separate the cables in question. The difference, however, concerns the central conductor, which carries the signal.

The size of the conductor affects the amount of DC resistance in the cable – the larger the conductor, the lower the resistance. (The CT conductors vary from 1.0mm to 2.33mm in diameter.) Cables such as the CT233 make it easier to transmit data over a longer distance – with better clarity – or carry more data across the same distance. The thicker conductor makes the cable less flexible and harder to work with, but is a cable less susceptible to interference.

To discuss the options available to you, please contact our sales team on sales@eland.co.uk or 020 7241 8787.

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