What is a Cable Assembly?
Electric cable assemblies are harness assemblies that house cables. The purpose of a cable assembly is to help the user keep tabs on the amount of current, the path of the current, and general safety. Cable assemblies house and organize different types of cables, which helps prevent confusion and potentially dangerous situations. You’ll find a variety of cable assemblies for sale at Gateway Cable Company — many of which meet grueling MIL-SPEC and MIL-PRF standards.
What to Look for When Choosing a Cable Assembly
We’ve already covered why cable assemblies are important — they help prevent dangerous cable mixups — but how do you choose one? Cable assemblies are diverse. This means that while one cable assembly might not be compatible with the type of electrical wiring you’re using, another will work perfectly. There are several factors to consider when shopping for a cable assembly, such as:
- Types of cables you’re using
- The sizes and colors of the conductors
- Conductor insulation
- Jacket material
- Wraps and shields
- Stranding sizes
Cable Assembly vs. Wire Harness
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, cable assemblies and wire harnesses aren’t the same products. And more specifically, wires and cables aren’t the same. Wires, such as hook-up wires, are thin strands of conductive material like copper. Cables are thicker; they’re usually comprised of two or more wires that are bonded or braided together, such as a twisted pair cable. This is why cables often look like a bunch of wires.
Wire harnesses are typically just an exterior covering made from thermoplastic or thermoset material to help protect wires. The wires also have the protection of their own jackets but are grouped together in the wire harness for better organization. Wire harnesses are affordable solutions for keeping wires safe but aren’t ideal for extreme conditions. Cable assemblies are more heavy-duty and are often made from shrink-wrapped thermoplastic, vinyl, or thermoplastic rubber. They come in different shapes and sizes and are designed to keep cables safe from friction, moisture, heat, corrosion, and more.
Shop Heavy-Duty Cable Assemblies at Gateway Cable Company
Whether you’re shopping for a cable assembly for every day or military use, Gateway Cable Company can help. We’re an ISO 9001:2015 certified company that specializes in manufacturing military-grade electrical components, and we can answer the full range of your questions, including how to prevent a current overload in an electrical circuit. Do you have your eye on a specific product? Request a quote online!