If you don’t work in the industry, it can be difficult to tell your braided cables from your multicore or your coaxial from your coiled, but choosing the right kind of cable for your purpose is essential. So, we’ve put together this brief guide in an attempt to bring some light to the uses and properties of our products. Below we cover braided cables, multicore cables, cable jackets and coiled cables. Braided cables Where electromagnetic interference and pulses have an impact on the performance of a cable, braided cables provide the solution. They are designed to eliminate influences from internal and external electromagnetic sources, which can affect the signals and functionality of electrical products such as laptops and computers- an inconvenience if your job requires you to work with these. There is strict legislation surrounding electromagnetic interference levels, and so it is essential that a good product should be designed to reduce the output of these. There are a range of braiding and screening options available. Aluminium or copper foil tape is usually the cheapest form of screening as there is no extra manufacturing process associated with this solution. Alternatively, copper screening is the better choice for cables where flexibility and conformability are required. Where there is high risk of electromagnetic interference, the most suitable option is a cable made up of both multiple layers of braiding and a metalized foil. The amount of layers used here can be dictated by the risk level of the interference and be purposefully designed to counteract this. Multicore As the name suggests, a multicore is any cable that has more cores than the amount you’d expect, for example a coaxial cable with four cores in a single sheath would be considered to be multicore. Multicore cables are a strong and flexible solution that are more frequently used in electronic and audio visual equipment due to their versatility. Using multiple cores gives you the added benefit of being able to achieve various functions through a single cable. As well as this, the range of jacket materials used can be adapted to suit various operating requirements, making the multicore cable a useful solution that can be customised for a vast range of uses. Retractable/ coiled cables These are a great solution if you need a cable to be both durable and flexible, as well as versatile and of high quality. Coiled cables can be designed to suit the length and finish you desire, taking into consideration the environment the cable will be used in and the extension range you’ll need. We can design a full range of retractable or coiled cables- from standard to the more bespoke and customised solutions. Cable Jackets The jacket is an essential part of the cable’s construction, used for providing a protective layer against damage and wear to the inner cable, as well as for health and safety purposes to prevent any hazards to the user. The cable is insulated with a jacket so that the conductor at the core is able to perform to its fullest capability, detracting the risk of external influences. The intended use of the cable plays an essential part in deciding on the material used for the jacket, from considering the strength that would be required of the cable to the operating voltage and the environment it would be used in. At Custom Designed Cables, we can offer a range of cable jackets in varying colours and compounds, adding these to existing cables or designing new. We can also design completely custom cables based around your specific needs and provide prototypes of any cable we make so that you can try before you buy. Feel free to browse through all of our services or contact us for advice or to discuss your particular requirements. We’re happy to help!