If you deal with the subject of cables, sooner or later you will come across the terms wire and stranded wire. But what exactly is the difference and what are the advantages and disadvantages? This article takes a closer look at the main features of wires and strands and highlights the different areas of application and their advantages.
What it’s all about: Wire and strand usually describe the inner conductor of a cable through which electrical signals are transmitted. In order to protect the signal transmission and minimise loss over distances, this inner conductor is protected with a sheath and other components. Further information on the structure of a cable, e.g. a coaxial cable, can be found at koax24.de | Structure.
arnoflex 0.6-2 Koaxialkabel
A single inner conductor wire:
A wire consists of just a single conductor, often made of copper or steel. For very thin cables, a steel wire is often used to ensure stability, which is often silver-plated or copper-plated. A copper wire, sometimes tinned or silver-plated, is often used for thicker cables and offers greater flexibility compared to a steel wire.
As a rule, wires are therefore solid and therefore only slightly bendable, making them best suited for fixed installation. The advantages of a solid wire are generally a lower attenuation value and a higher electrical load capacity, which can increase signal transmission and signal quality.
RG 59 Flex Koaxialkabel
Several individual wires, twisted together – stranded wire:
A stranded wire is an inner conductor with many very thin individual wires. Some of these are only a fraction of a millimetre in diameter and are braided together to form a single inner conductor. This ensures a particularly high degree of flexibility, which increases with the number of interwoven individual wires. Stranded wires are often used in moving applications where the cable is repeatedly bent.
Another advantage of stranded conductors over wires is the reduced risk of conductor breakage. The cable can still be used even if a certain number of the individual wires are broken.
Summary: The correct choice of inner conductor is heavily dependent on the intended application of the cable. However, this should not be the only decisive factor in choosing the right cable. Other factors such as the material of the outer sheath, the insulation and other components of the cable play an important role.
Miniature coaxial high-voltage connectors are also known as MHV connectors. When mated, they have a test voltage of 5 kV rms and an operating voltage of up to 1.6 kV rms. They are also designed for applications up to 300 MHz.
MHV-connectors are based on the construction of BNC connectors, but they have protrusive insulators, what leads to a slight protection against contact of conductors under voltage in an uncoupled condition
For a maximum contact protection of uncoupled connectors, the connector series SHV is recommended.
Our complete MHV range is available via our online shop.
To ensure greater safety, we offer SHV high-voltage connectors (SHV = Safe High Voltage) in addition to MHV. The inner conductor contacts are backspaced in order to exclude the contact of conductors under voltage when unconnected. When connecting, the outer contacts touch each other before the inner contacts.
SHV-Connectors are suitable for all applications up to 5 kV DC or 3.5 eff. These connectors are particularly used for nuclear devices as well as for testing and measuring devices. All given values are valid in connected and disconnected condition
Our complete SHV range is available via our online shop.
Do you need pre-assembled high-voltage cables with MHV or SHV connectors according to your individual specifications? In our online cable configurator, you can assemble your desired cable according to your requirements under the section “High-voltage cables”. Please note that our high-voltage connectors are also compatible with some regular 50 Ohm cables. Simply select the “Coaxial cable 50 Ohm” category.
The Aircell 5 Heatexcable is suitable for a frequency range up to 10 GHz. The RF conductor has a limited flexibility and is recommended for wireless communication applications. Unlike the Aircell 5, the Heatex has a halogen-free jacket. Moreover, this cable is certified for railroad applications according to the requirement sets R15 and R16 of the EN 45545-2 standard.
The good attenuation values are achieved by a low-loss PE dielectric medium with a gas content of more than 70%, as well as by the inner conductor and the double shielding from pure copper.
Areas of application: Communications and radio technology: low attenuation and interference-proof.
Aircell 5 Heatex: (Colour: black) 50 Ω; LowLoss Temperature range from -40°C to +85°C
TheAircell 7 Heatex cable is suitable for a frequency range up to 6 GHz. The RF line is flexible and recommended for wireless communication applications. Unlike the Aircell 7, the Heatex has a halogen-free sheath.
The good attenuation values are achieved by a low-loss PE dielectric with an air content of more than 70%, as well as by the inner conductor and the double shielding from pure copper.
Areas of application: Communications and radio technology
Aircell 7 Heatex: (Colour: black) 50 Ω; LowLoss Temperature range from -40°C to +80°C
The Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex cable is suitable for a frequency range up to 8 GHz. The RF line is flexible and recommended for wireless communication applications. Unlike the Ecoflex 10 Plus, the Heatex has a halogen-freesheath. Moreover, this cable is certified for railroad applications according to the requirement sets R15 and R16 of the EN 45545-2 standard.
The good attenuation values of the Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex as a low-loss cable are due to a low-loss PE dielectric with more than 70% air content as well as the inner conductor and a double shielding made of pure copper.
Areas of application: Communications and radio technology
Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex (Colour: black) 50 Ω; Temperature range from -55°C to +85°C
You can find the Ecoflex 10 Plus Heatex in our shop:
Our own arnoflex brand, which we created in cooperation with a European cable manufacturer, offers our customers a low-cost alternative to well-known branded cables.
The arnoflex 0.8/3.6 is used in studio applications and the transmission of image information as well as analogue and digital signals such as SDI, SDV, SDTI and HDTV.
Complies with: CEI 20-11, CEI 20-22/II, CEI 20-35 I/II, IEC 60332 I/II/III
arnoflex 0.8/3.6: (Colour: blue) 75 Ω; Temperature range from -25°C to +80°C
