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Cables

Electrical cable carries power or signals between equipment, and its construction (conductor, screen and sheath) decides what it can carry and where it can go. This collection includes Belden audio, data, coaxial, control and alarm cable, Securi-Flex and SFX alarm, BS 5308 instrumentation and network cable, and Mercury speaker, coax, telephone and flex cable.

Choosing Cables

Choose cable by the signal it carries, the installation it goes in, and the sheath the location needs.

By signal

Coaxial cable carries video: RG59 for CCTV, including RG59 shotgun cable with 2-core power, and Belden 1694A for SDI broadcast video. Network cable carries data, in Cat5e and Cat6 U/UTP. Alarm cable, such as the SFX 8-core screened Type-3 alarm cable, links detectors to a panel, and Figure 8 speaker cable carries audio.

Screened and multi-pair

Screened cables, such as Belden multi-pair and the SFX ISP3 individually foil-screened pairs, protect signals from interference. BS 5308 instrumentation cable, such as the Securi-Flex SFX/BS5308-PT1-TY1-2P-1.5-LSZH-D-BL, carries control and telemetry signals in pairs.

Sheath and location

LSZH and LSF sheaths give off less smoke if burned and suit escape routes and public buildings. PE-jacketed and armoured (SWA) cables, such as the SFX Cat5e armoured network cable, are for outdoor and buried runs.

CableExampleNote
RG59 coaxMercury 808.101UK75 Ohms, solid OFC, 100m
SDI coaxBelden 1694A.00305305m
Cat6 U/UTPSFX C6-UTP-LSZHLSZH, 305 m reel
Armoured Cat5eSFX/C5-UTP-SWA-PE-BLKSWA, black PE
Alarm cableSFX/8C-TY3-SCR-LSF-WHT-1008-core screened, LSF
Speaker cableMercury 801.050UKFigure 8, 100m

Conductors and reel lengths

Conductors include solid copper or OFC for longer and more demanding runs, and CCA (copper clad aluminium) on economy cables. Most cable here comes in 100m, 305m or 500m lengths, with some armoured cable sold per metre.

Brands we stock in Cables

Abloy, All-Rack, Aritech, AV:Link, Axis Communications, Belden, Blake UK, Bosch, BPT, BTicino by Legrand, CIE Group, Comelit PAC, CQR, D-Line, Dahua Technology, Fermax, Hanwha Vision, Hikvision, i-PRO, Knightsbridge, Mercury, QTX, Rhino Guard, Securi-Flex, SFX Cables, Teledyne FLIR, Vanco, Videx and WEC.

Belden supplies the most cable.

Related categories

Shop by type: coaxial cable, flexible cable and speaker cable.

Frequently asked questions

What size electrical cable do I need?

The right cable size depends on the current the circuit carries, the length of the run and how the cable is installed, because these affect heating and voltage drop. Lighting circuits typically use a smaller conductor than socket or cooker circuits. Data, alarm and speaker cables are sized for their own systems. For mains wiring, have the size worked out by a qualified electrician.

What types of electrical cable are there?

Common types include twin and earth for fixed house wiring, flexible cord for appliances, armoured cable for buried or outdoor runs, and fire-resistant cable for alarm circuits. Low-voltage types include data cable, coaxial cable for CCTV, alarm cable and speaker cable. Choose by voltage, location and the job it must do. The range here includes data, alarm, coaxial, armoured and speaker cable.

What do electrical cable ratings mean?

Cable ratings show how much current a cable can carry safely and the highest voltage its insulation is designed for. The voltage rating is usually written as two figures: the voltage to earth and the voltage between conductors. Choose a cable rated at or above the system it serves, and keep low-voltage cables segregated from mains unless they are suitably rated.

What are the UK electrical cable colours?

In UK fixed wiring, brown is live, blue is neutral and green and yellow is earth, matching the harmonised European colours. Older installations used red for live and black for neutral, so take care when extending them. In three-phase wiring, the lines are brown, black and grey. Flexible cords for appliances use the same brown, blue and green and yellow scheme.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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