Low-Voltage 101Plus more…

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Common Terms Tossed Around• CM, CMR, CMP, CMX• FPL, FPLR, FPLP• Riser-Rated and Plenum• CL2 and CL3• UL Listed• AWG and Conductors• CCA, CCS, and BC• Reel, Reel-in-box (RIB), Spool• Shielded or Unshielded• Solid or Stranded• Cat5e, CAT6, RG6, and others

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Cable Ratings? • CM – A general purpose Communications cable rating. Complies with UL-1581. • CMR – CM cable rating with valuable extras built in. Complies with UL-1666• CMP – Includes traits of the CM and CMR cable ratings plus the ability to run inside

air plenums and ducts. Complies with NFPA-262 and UL-910.• CMX – Basically the same as the CM rating with the exception of being UV rated.

Complies with UL-1581.• FPL – A general purpose Fire Alarm cable rating. Complies with UL-1424 and UL-

1581.• FPLR – Similar to CMR Communications cable rating but for use with Fire Alarm

systems. Complies with UL-1424 and UL-1666.• FPLP – Shares the same traits as CMP Communications cable rating. Complies with

UL-1424 and UL-910

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Riser-Rated (CMR) vs. Plenum (CMP)• Riser-Rated: Cable that can be ran between floors and not

in duct work

• Plenum: Cable that can be ran through plenum spaces of buildings.

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Non-Plenum Airspace

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Plenum Airspace

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CL2 vs CL3

• CL2 (Class 2 Circuit wire): Rated for up to 150 volts. • CL3 (Class 3 Circuit wire): Rated for up to 300 volts.• Both are types of multi-purpose wire used for

security systems, speaker wire, intercom systems, and more.

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Who or what is UL?• UL is short for Underwriters Laboratories• Testing and approving products for safety since 1894• 182 service centers in 70 countries• Performs safety testing on 18,750 categories of electrical, mechanical, and

chemical products

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ETL – Extraterrestrial Life???• ETL – Electrical Testing Laboratory• ETL is a product certification organization with more than

80,000 listings• The ETL Listed Mark is proof of product compliance to North

American safety standards• The ETL Verified Mark is a symbol of performance integrity• ETL provides a competitive advantage in the marketplace

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AWG? What? Huh?• AWG: American Wire Gauge• Wire gauge describes the

conductor diameter• Small AWG numbers =

larger wire diameters• Large AWG numbers =

smaller wire diameters

Conductors? Train? Orchestra?• Simply, anything that allows

current to flow through it.• In a wire and cable setting,

the conductor is the copper part of the wire.

• The conductor is always insulated to prevent electrical shock

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Copper Conductor Types

• BC (Bare Copper): All conductors are 100% copper (Also referred to as Solid Copper)

• CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum): Core is composed of aluminum and outer is copper.

• CCS (Copper Clad Steel): Core is composed of steel and outer is copper.

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Reel, Spool, and Reel-in-Box

• Reel or Spool: Round drum-shaped object used to carry various types of cable. Typically constructed out of wood, plastic, or aluminum.

• Reel-in-Box (RIB): Same concept as the standard reel or spool except this has a set of stands inside the box to support the reel. The box also makes for easier carrying and loading than a regular reel or spool. The stands and reel are typically made out of plastic.

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To shield or not to shield…Shielded Cable

• Shielded - braided strands of copper (or other metal, such as aluminum) or a thin layer of aluminum foil.

• Applications - security systems provides some protection from power frequency and radio frequency interference, reducing the number of false alarms being generated. Coax cable uses braided strands of copper for shielding.

• Abbreviations – F/UTP: Foiled Twisted Pair U/FTP: Shielded Twisted Pair

Unshielded Cable

• Unshielded – provides no shielding or protection from interference.

• Applications – unshielded cable can be used for any application when electrical interference isn’t a concern.

• Abbreviations – U/UTP: Unshielded Twisted Pair

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Solid or StrandedSolid Core Cable

• Solid core cable uses one solid wire per conductor

• Examples: CAT5e, CAT6, Fire Alarm Cable, Thermostat Cable, and High Voltage Electric Cables

Stranded Cable• Stranded conductor uses multiple

wires wrapped around each other in each conductor

• Examples: CAT5e and CAT6 patch cords, Security Alarm Cable, and Speaker Cable

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Wide, Wide World of Cable Types• Cat5e• Cat6• RG6• Security Alarm Cable• Fire Alarm Cable• Thermostat Cable• Speaker Cable• Siamese CCTV Cable

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Cat5e Cable• Frequency: Up to 100MHz• Maximum cable length: 328 ft (100 m)• Standard AWG: 24-26• Conductor: Solid copper• Industry standard for networking and communications

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Cat6 Cable• Frequency: Up to 250MHz• Maximum cable length: 328 ft (100m)• Standard AWG: 22-24• Conductor: Solid copper• Built in separator to reduce interference• Improved networking abilities over Cat5e.

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RG6 Coaxial Cable• Recommended for

distributing signals from cable TV, satellite dish or from a roof-top antenna

• Most common types of Coaxial cable include: RG59, RG6 Dual and RG6 Quad Shield

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Security Alarm Cables• Provides connection between security system components i.e., keypads, door

contacts, motion detectors, sirens, etc.• Typically the conductors are stranded• The most common security cables are: 18AWG/2 conductor, 22AWG/2 conductor, 22AWG/4 conductor, 22AWG/6 conductor

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Fire Alarm Cables• Provides connection for fire alarm control panels and fire devices i.e.,

pull-stations, strobes, sirens, smoke detectors, etc.• Conductors are always solid core• The most common fire alarm cables are: 18AWG/2 conductor, 18AWG/4 conductor, 16AWG/2 conductor, 16AWG/4 conductor

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Thermostat Cables• Cables designed for residential and commercial heating and

cooling controls.• Typically 18AWG or 20AWG• Multiple solid core conductors (2-12 conductors)

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Speaker Cables• Provides connection between speakers and audio

amplifiers• Typically 2 or more stranded conductors• 16AWG wire is most common

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Siamese Cable• Cable designed to connect cameras to recording devices• Constructed out of 1 RG59 Coaxial Cable and 1 18AWG/2

stranded conductor cable• Convenient cable for camera installations.

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