OT - Cable Query - OT

  • Thread starter Thread starter KeithS
  • Start date Start date
K

KeithS

Absolutely OT in this newgroup I know, but there's a lot of clever
people here, and I can't find the answer anywhere else, so thought I'd
try the question here.
In multi-core electrical cables (signal cables, telecoms cables etc)
there are often 2 or 3 'silks' incorporated in the construction. These
are multi coloured strands or threads of cotton or man made material.
The cable's wires are usually twisted together, and these 'threads' are
then laid alongside, but not twisted with the wires, before (usually) a
clear thin plastic film wrapper is wrapped around the wires and silks,
and the whole is then covered with the outer cable plastics insulator(s).
Does anyone know the purpose of the 'silks'? Not all cables have them,
so they don't seem to be essential.
Sorry to be so OT, please forgive.
TIA
KeithS
 
Absolutely OT in this newgroup I know, but there's a lot of clever
people here, and I can't find the answer anywhere else, so thought
I'd try the question here. In multi-core electrical cables (signal
cables, telecoms cables etc) there are often 2 or 3 'silks'
incorporated in the construction. These are multi coloured strands or
threads of cotton or man made material. The cable's wires are usually
twisted together, and these 'threads' are then laid alongside, but
not twisted with the wires, before (usually) a clear thin plastic
film wrapper is wrapped around the wires and silks, and the whole is
then covered with the outer cable plastics insulator(s). Does anyone
know the purpose of the 'silks'? Not all cables have them, so they
don't seem to be essential. Sorry to be so OT, please forgive. TIA
KeithS
Click to expand...

I think the silk is there to hold the wire bundle together just right
before the outside cover material is poured on.
 
badgolferman said:
I think the silk is there to hold the wire bundle together just right
before the outside cover material is poured on.
Click to expand...

Not sure...but....have always thought..

They give strength to the cable so it is harder to pull it apart...

Make it easier to strip the insulation...

--
Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it

This tag line is generated by:

SLTG (Silly Little Tag Generator)
 
KeithS said:
Absolutely OT in this newgroup
Click to expand...

Managed to get a reply from a cable manufacturer at last. The silks
identify the manufacturer, if you have the listings chart available. All
my working life I've been trying to get a straight answer on that - now
I know, and so do you :)
Thanks guys
KeithS
 
Managed to get a reply from a cable manufacturer at last. The silks
identify the manufacturer, if you have the listings chart available.
All my working life I've been trying to get a straight answer on that
- now I know, and so do you :) Thanks guys KeithS
Click to expand...

I thought that was what the markings on the cable reel and jacket were
for.
 
Absolutely OT in this newgroup I know, but there's a lot of clever
people here, and I can't find the answer anywhere else, so thought I'd
try the question here.
Click to expand...

I don't know the answer, but I bet if you posted in uk.d-i-y someone would
tell you - they love this sort of thing

mike
 
Back
Top