Cable Assemblies

About Cable Assemblies

Cable assemblies combine one or more cables with factory-installed connectors, terminals or contacts to provide ready-to-use electrical or signal interconnections. Products include wire harnesses, ribbon and flat-flex assemblies, coaxial and RF cables, data and communication cables, power leads, sensor cables and industrial cordsets. Preassembled solutions reduce installation time and improve consistency compared with field termination. They are used in industrial automation, communications equipment, computers, automotive systems, appliances, instrumentation, medical equipment and other electronic or electromechanical systems.

When selecting a cable assembly, identify the connector series and gender at each end, contact count, pinout and required cable length. Match conductor size, current and voltage ratings, characteristic impedance or data standard, shielding and jacket material to the application. Check whether the assembly is straight-through, crossed, split or custom wired, and confirm keying, latch and cable-entry orientation. Environmental designs may require IP sealing, flex-life, drag-chain suitability, flame rating, oil or chemical resistance and operating-temperature qualification. Verify manufacturer drawings because similar connector ends do not guarantee identical wiring.