In cabling system, both fibers or coppers are required cable management. Except the necessary rack, frame or panel, cable ties are also a necessary part of cable management. When we think of cable ties, the first impression may be the little plastic strips with self-locking, maybe with different colors. Many people do not care whether they choose a right cable tie or not, because they think that all the cable ties are the same as long as meeting the tying cable requirements. Are they pretty much the same? Actually, cable ties are not as simple as you think. From materials and size to construction and temperature rating, cable ties can have a wide range of features which allow them to be specialized to different situations. Today, Fiberstore Blog would like to bring you to know much about it.
Cable ties have to be able to meet the most varied demands these days as they are used in the widest range of operations – from the simple bundling of cables with cable ties to the absolutely specific use of cable ties under extreme conditions. Thus, many factors are taken into consideration during the design of cable ties.
Cable ties can be classified as either one-piece or two-piece construction. One-piece cable ties typically have a plastic locking device molded into the head of the tie. The locking device ratchets the notched strap to tighten and lock. This design has a lower cost of manufacturing and is used for general-purpose applications around home or office. Compared to one-piece cable ties, two-piece cable ties are with higher performance. They consist of a stainless-steel locking device embedded into the head of the tie, and a smooth locking strap. This design offers high tensile strength, and resistance to mechanical and environmental stress for applications that require greater performance than what a general-purpose cable tie offers. In addition, the smooth, infinitely adjustable strap also allows for the exact bundled tightness. The head of the two-piece cable tie engages the strap when installed, and permanently locks in place. With a lower profile and smoother cross-section, the uniform cross-section distributes stress across the strap more evenly than with one-piece cable ties. Thus, the two-piece cable ties are more resistant to brittleness and breakage in harsh environments, particularly appropriate for harsh conditions, such as ultraviolet exposure, extreme temperature, and exposure to moisture or chemicals, as well as for applications where retrofitting is not an option.
The material design of different cable ties also needs to consider for different application, such as occurring indoors or outdoors; the environment’s temperature range; the presence of moisture, chemicals and radiation; flammability issues; and cost. Cable ties are available in a wide range of materials, each with its own specific properties. Among them, the most common type is Nylon cable ties. Nylon ties can offer good resistance to weather and ultraviolet rays in lower-temperature environments. In addition, for applications in harsher environments that require extra durability in the face of heat, chemicals and other corrosive elements, there are stainless-steel cable ties.
Though the standard-design cable ties can meet most of our requirements, sometimes, we still need something special for special applications. For instance, most cable ties lock permanently, but sometimes, we would prefer to looking for a cable-tying solution that can be undone without actual cutting. Then, releasable cable ties have been launched in the market. In a releasable cable tie, the built-in locking tab can actually be disengaged, allowing the tail end of the tie to be pulled free from the head. Releasable cable ties tend to cost a little more than the standard type, but they save money and are more eco-friendly in the long run because you can reuse them over and over, as opposed to just throwing them away. Additionally, for different special applications, there are mounted head cable ties, marker ties, etc.
The most commonly used cable ties are white and black. But colorful cable ties are also popular with users. These cable ties with rainbow colors are very useful when you are trying to color-code your cables, or just want to match the ties to your equipment. Moreover, you can use different cable ties to mark different cables bunch which is convenient for cable management.
When using cable ties, you should also consider the size and shape. First, be sure to measure the diameter of the cable bundle you’ll be tying and decide the length. In general, to buy cable ties with a little longer length is better. Because no one will want to find out at the last minute that the cable ties are too short to use. In addition to length, width or shape are also important considerations to choose optimal cable ties for your cable bunch.
We may see that some users use random ties to tie cables. It is a non-standard practice in cabling. Cable ties, though, are only used to tie cables, they’re not as simple as you think. A right cable ties can help you reduce many issues during the cabling and maintenance. In a word, the benefits of cable ties cannot be underestimated once you choose a right cable ties.
Fiberstore offers a comprehensive cable-tying solution. For more information, please visit Fiberstore.com or contact us over sales@fiberstore.com.
Article From: Fiberstore.com/Blog
