How do I select the right control cable?
Systematic selection in 6 steps
The selection of a control or connection cable is based on voltage, normative requirements, environmental conditions, mechanical stress, and structural design. The following structure enables a targeted definition of all technical criteria and leads directly to the appropriate cable in the selection table.
Step 3 - Environmental conditions
Determine the thermal and chemical stresses:
- Temperature range depending on installation type (e.g. -50 °C to +105 °C)
- Oil resistant according to EN 50363-4-1, EN 50363-10-2, VDE 0207-363
- Oil rating 60 °C according to UL 1581
- Fuel oil resistance according to CSA-C 22.2 No. 210
- Resistance to fuels, coolants, and cleaning agents
>> in the table: „Temperature range“, „Characteristics“ section
Step 5 - Design & EMC requirements
Define the structural design of the cable:
- Shielded or unshielded (EMC requirements)
- Inner sheath or transparent outer sheath
- Numbered or colored wires
- Wire cross-section according to electrical design
>> in the table: „Basic construction“
The final step to define the design structure.
Shielded control cables are particularly recommended in interference-prone environments or to ensure electromagnetic compatibility.
Step 2 - Check standards and approvals
Take into account the standards and safety requirements applicable to your application:
- IEC 60332-1-2 / VDE 0482-332-1-2 (flame resistance)
- UL VW-1 / CSA FT1 / FT2 (burning behavior North America)
- EN 50363 / VDE 0207 (oil and chemical resistance)
- NFPA 79 (industrial facilities)
- UL, cUL, CSA approvals
- Requirements for intrinsically safe circuits
>> in the table: Bereich „Standards and approvals“ section
Step 4 - Mechanical stress
Analyze the mechanical stress during operation:
- Fixed or moving installation
- Bending radius and permanent flexibility
- Impact and pressure stress (e.g., UL 1277 Impact and Crushing Test)
- Required inner jacket, reinforced outer jacket, or steel wire shielding
Depending on the load situation, a cable with an inner jacket, reinforced outer jacket, or additional shielding may be required.
Step 6 - Special requirements
In addition to the standard criteria, cables can be customized to meet your specific requirements:
- Individually specify the number of wires and wire cross-section
- Define the sheath color and cable marking
- Hybrid cable structures, e.g., combination of power and data wires
These options allow you to tailor the cable precisely to your technical specifications.
>> Let us know your specific requirements so that our team can check the technical feasibility.
Selection via the table
In the following selection table, you can directly compare all the criteria mentioned and specifically select the control cable that meets your electrical, normative, and environmental requirements. Further technical details such as bending radii, exact temperature ranges for moving installation, or recommended areas of application can be found on the respective product detail pages.
If you cannot find a suitable model, we will assist you in selecting suitable cables or develop a customized special cable if required. In many cases, this is possible from a minimum length of 300 m.
| from to | 1 from 0,50 mm to 1,50 mm2 | * The temperature range for flexible application is mentioned on the corresponding catalogue page |
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Basic construction | Numbered cores |
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Coloured cores |
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Screened |
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Steel wire protection |
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Inner sheath |
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Transparent outer sheath |
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Temperature range | +105 °C |
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+ 90 °C |
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– 40 °C |
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– 50 °C |
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Voltage | Nominal voltage Uo/U 300/500 V | ⬤ |
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Nominal voltage Uo/U 450/750 V | ⬤ | ⬤ |
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Nominal voltage Uo/U 0,6/1 kV |
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Voltage UL 600 V | ⬤ |
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Voltage cUL 600 V |
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Voltage CSA 600 V | ⬤ |
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Voltage CSA 1000 V |
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Testing voltage 2000 V | ⬤ |
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Testing voltage 2500 V | ⬤ | ⬤ |
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Testing voltage 3000 V |
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Testing voltage 4000 V |
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Standards and approvals | Halogen-free acc. to IEC 60754-1 + VDE 0482-754-1 |
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Fire performance flame retardant and self-extinguishing acc. to IEC 60332-1-2 + VDE 0482-332-1-2 | ⬤ |
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Fire performance UL VW-1 | ⬤ |
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Fire performance CSA FT1 |
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Fire performance CSA FT1, FT2 |
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VDE-Reg. no. |
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DIN VDE standardized | ⬤ |
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<HAR> standardized | ⬤ |
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UL recognition | ⬤ |
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CSA approved | ⬤ |
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Characteristics | Oil resistance acc. to EN 50363-4-1 + VDE 0207-363-4-1 |
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Oil resistance acc. to EN 50363-10-2 + VDE 0207-363-10-2 |
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Oil resistance acc. to internal standard |
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Oil 60 °C |
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oilrating 60 °C acc. to UL 1581 |
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Fuel Oil acc. to CSA-C 22.2 No. 210 |
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Good chemical resistance |
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High mechanical loading capacity |
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Intrinsically safe |
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NFPA 79 for industrial machinery |
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Impact and Crushing test acc. to UL 1277 |
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| from to | 1 from 0,50 mm to 1,50 mm2 | * The temperature range for flexible application is mentioned on the corresponding catalogue page |
Download: Selection table Control and connection cables
Learn more about the Areas of application for control cables.
Frequently asked questions about selecting control cables
In this FAQ section, we answer typical, practical questions about selecting control cables. The answers refer directly to the product types listed in the selection table and contain information about the corresponding technical properties and conditions of use. This gives you a quick overview of which cable is suitable for which application.
FAQ - control cables
Cables with additional reinforcement are suitable for mechanically demanding applications, such as CC 500 SY with steel wire reinforcement in the inner sheath, which makes the cables more resistant to impact and mechanical stress, or SAB A 531 Rugged—a robust, flexible control cable for indoor and outdoor use.
>> CC 500 SY
For applications with a rated voltage of 0.6/1 kV, the CC 510 CY control cable is designed, for example: PVC control cable with inner sheath, overall shielding, and UV-resistant jacket, good EMC properties, and small bending radius.
>> CC 510 CY
Many PVC control cables are oil-resistant and chemically resistant in accordance with EN 50363-4-1 / EN 50363-10-2. These properties are indicated in the table under “Oil resistance” and “Chemical resistance.” Examples of control cables with good oil resistance and chemical resistance are:
>> CC 500 CP and
The selection depends on the required mechanical flexibility and EMC requirements.
Examples of flexible control cables:
>> CC 500 - Inner jacket, numbered wires, unshielded, for applications with lower EMC requirements
>> CC 500 CY - Inner jacket, numbered wires, shielded, good EMC properties, suitable for frequent bending
Technical notes:
Typical temperature ranges in the table indicate the environment in which the cable can be used in a moving application.
For extremely demanding applications (e.g., chain movement, robots), we recommend our Cables for highly dynamic applications.