Cable Assembly
A cable assembly is a collection of two or more electrical conductors or cables bonded together to create a single unit with connectors on at least one end if not both. The cable assembly is used for the transmission of electrical power to electrical equipment from a power source. There are three different combinations for connector gender choices to select from choosing a cable assembly: male-male, female-female and male-female. In addition, cable assemblies can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. Other important aspects of cable assemblies to consider include cable length, connector type and cable type. Cable assemblies are used in applications such as video cameras, laptop computers, elevation lifts, electronic power tools, audio headsets and military tank gun turrets and portable emergency defibrillators. Industries that utilize cable assemblies include commercial, retail, industrial manufacturing, residential, food processing, telecommunications, military, electronics and aerospace.
Cable assemblies are comprised of three key components: conductors, insulation and a protective jacket. The conductors, or cables, are comprised of a conducting medium, typically copper, surrounded by cable protectors of an insulating material and an outer polymer or rubber jacket which protects the wire. Since cable assemblies vary according to the intended application, the construction and kind of materials used depends on working voltage, current-carrying capacity and environmental conditions. For example, cable intended for exposed installations may include metal armor consisting of either wires spiraled around the cable or corrugated tape wrapped around the cable. There are many different types of cable assemblies to choose from including: coaxial cable assemblies; used for fast signal speeds over long distances; rf cable assemblies, used for effective shielding over a broad frequency spectrum that serves to prevent interference and eliminate electronic radiation, and fiber optic cable assemblies, used for their flexibility and versatility.