TRASA3 Knowledge Base

Electrical Component Parameter Reference

An open technical reference for electrical component types, their applications, and selection parameters.

This material is also available in PL and RU.

Device description

Signal Cable

Cable intended for transmission of low-level discrete and analogue signals between sensors, automation equipment, and control systems.

A signal cable is used to carry control and measurement signals with minimal influence from external electromagnetic interference. It is particularly important where signal amplitudes are much lower than those present in power circuits.

The construction commonly uses twisted pairs with a defined lay length. Twisting reduces external-field influence and improves pair balance. Individual pairs may be separately screened, and the complete cable may also have an overall screen.

Transmission quality depends on mutual capacitance, capacitance unbalance, and DC loop resistance. These characteristics influence attenuation, circuit balance, and susceptibility to interference.

Selection criteria include number of cores and pairs, conductor sizes, screening method, flexibility, installation method, and electrical line parameters.

For sensitive analogue signals, pair symmetry, screening effectiveness, and physical separation from power conductors are particularly important.

Components in this subcategory

Signal cables for sensors, PLC I/O, and analogue and discrete industrial automation circuits.

Available parameters

Signal Cable

152 parameters
General5
Product Series

Commercial or technical designation of a manufacturer's product family sharing a common design and compatible characteristics.

Application

Range of tasks and systems for which the manufacturer recommends the component.

Intended Use

Primary function of the device and its intended use as defined by its design and the manufacturer's documentation.

Harmonized Type Designation

Standardized harmonized product type designation, for example H05V-K, H07V-K, H05Z1-K or H07Z1-K.

National Type Designation

National standardized or commonly recognized type designation assigned to the wire or cable, where applicable.

Dimensions13
Lengthmm

External linear dimension of the product along its longitudinal direction or principal length axis.

Diametermm

Transverse dimension of a product or its circular element measured through the centre between opposite points of the circumference.

Net Weightkg

Mass of the product itself, excluding transport packaging, additional accessories, and external equipment.

Nominal Conductor Cross-Sectionmm²

Manufacturer-declared nominal conductor cross-section assigned to the relevant connection system.

Widthmm

External horizontal dimension of the product between its outermost lateral points.

Strand Diametermm

Nominal diameter of an individual metallic strand forming the conductor.

Heightmm

External vertical dimension of the product from its lowest to its highest point.

Conductor Diametermm

Overall nominal diameter of the conductive body before insulation or outer covering.

Mass per Meterkg/m

Manufacturer-declared product mass per unit length.

Drain Wire Cross-Sectionmm²

Nominal conductor cross-section of the cable drain wire where present.

Insulation Thicknessmm

Nominal thickness of the electrical insulation layer of the product.

Pair Twist Pitchmm

Nominal longitudinal pitch of a twisted conductor pair, where manufacturer-declared.

Outer Sheath Thicknessmm

Nominal thickness of the external protective cable sheath.

Capacity and Layout11
Conductor Count

Total number of individually insulated or functionally separate electrical conductors contained in the cable or cable assembly.

Conductor Construction

Physical construction of the current-carrying conductor, such as solid, stranded, compacted, bunched or segmented.

Wire Pair Count

Number of balanced wire pairs connected through, transmitted through, or protected by the product.

Conductor Class

Construction or flexibility class assigned to the conductor, including applicable IEC conductor classes.

Strand Count

Number of individual metallic strands forming the electrical conductor.

Core Identification Method

Method used to identify individual insulated cores within a multicore cable, such as numbering or colour coding.

Conductor Shape

Geometrical shape of the conductor cross-section.

Core Identification Standard

Manufacturer-declared standard or identification system used for core marking, where specified.

Insulation Layer Count

Number of distinct electrical insulation layers in a multilayer or laminated construction.

Twisted-Pair Construction

Indicates that two-conductor signal circuits are arranged as twisted pairs within the cable construction.

Individually Shielded Pair Count

Number of conductor pairs provided with individual electrical shielding.

Materials and Finish18
Conductor Material

Primary electrically conductive material used for the cable conductors.

Material Grade

Grade, alloy, class, or technical designation of the product's primary material.

Conductor Surface Finish

Metallic surface finish or plating applied to the electrical conductor.

Material Purity%

Manufacturer-declared material purity or principal-element content.

Coating Thicknessµm

Thickness of the coating layer applied to the surface of the product or one of its parts.

Inner Sheath Present

Indicates that the cable contains a distinct inner sheath or inner covering beneath the outer sheath or armour.

Inner Sheath Material

Primary material of the cable inner sheath or inner covering.

Insulated

Indicates whether functional or protective electrical insulation is provided over all or part of the conductive surface of the product.

Insulation Material

Primary electrical insulation material applied to or integrated with the conductive part of the product.

Insulation Color

Color of the primary electrical insulation layer surrounding the conductor.

Outer Sheath Present

Indicates that the insulated conductor has a distinct outer sheath or jacket in addition to its primary electrical insulation.

Outer Sheath Material

Primary material of the outer protective sheath or jacket of a cable.

Outer Sheath Color

Color of the distinct outer sheath or jacket.

Separator Present

Indicates that a separator, wrapping or release layer is provided between conductor, insulation or sheath layers.

Separator Material

Material of the separator, wrapping or release layer used in the wire construction.

Surface Marking Present

Indicates that identification, rating or certification information is printed, embossed or otherwise marked on the outer surface.

Surface Marking Text

Manufacturer-declared identification or rating marking printed or embossed on the outer surface of the product.

Surface Marking Method

Method used to apply identification or rating marking to the outer surface.

Mounting and Installation9
Installation Location

Permissible installation location of the product: indoors, outdoors, in a technical area, or as part of equipment.

Cable Installation Methods

Manufacturer-declared or standardized installation and routing methods for which the cable is suitable. This describes how the cable itself may be laid or routed and is distinct from mounting_type used for mounting standalone products.

Flexible

Indicates the ability of the product to bend or change shape within its design limits without loss of normal function.

Minimum Bend Radiusmm

Minimum bend radius declared by the manufacturer at which installation or operation of the product is permitted without unacceptable damage.

Dynamic Flexing Supported

Indicates suitability of the product for repeated dynamic flexing during operation, rather than only for bending during installation.

Maximum Flex Cyclescycles

Maximum declared or qualified number of flexing cycles under the specified bend radius and test conditions.

Maximum Pulling ForceN

Maximum manufacturer-declared pulling or installation force that may be applied to the product without mechanical damage.

Minimum Dynamic Bend Radiusmm

Minimum manufacturer-declared bend radius for repeated dynamic flexing under the specified operating conditions.

Suitable for Direct Burial

Indicates that the cable is manufacturer-declared as suitable for direct burial in soil without an additional continuous cable duct or conduit.

Electrical Parameters20
Electrical Conductivity%

Manufacturer-declared electrical conductivity of the material, expressed as percent IACS where this convention is applicable.

Nominal DC Conductor Resistance at 20 °COhm/km

Manufacturer-declared nominal DC resistance of the conductor at 20 °C, normalized to one kilometre of conductor length.

Maximum DC Conductor Resistance at 20 °COhm/km

Maximum manufacturer-declared DC resistance of the conductor at 20 °C, normalized to one kilometre of conductor length.

Maximum Continuous Conductor Temperature°C

Maximum manufacturer-declared conductor temperature permitted during continuous normal operation.

Temperature Coefficient of Resistance1/K

Manufacturer-declared temperature coefficient describing the change in conductor electrical resistance with temperature.

Rated VoltageV

Voltage value assigned to the product by the manufacturer for specified application conditions and characteristics.

Rated Voltage U₀V

Rated voltage U₀ between an insulated conductor and earth or metallic covering, where the product uses U₀/U voltage designation.

Rated Voltage UV

Rated voltage U between conductors of a system, where the product uses U₀/U voltage designation.

Dielectric Test VoltageV

Test voltage applied to verify the dielectric strength of the product insulation.

Minimum Insulation ResistanceMΩ

Minimum permissible insulation resistance between the specified electrically separated parts.

Minimum Insulation Resistance ConstantMOhm*km

Minimum manufacturer-declared insulation resistance normalized as the resistance-length product, typically used for insulated wires and cables.

Dielectric StrengthkV/mm

Manufacturer-declared dielectric strength of the insulation material or insulation system expressed per unit thickness.

Transfer ImpedancemOhm/m

Manufacturer-declared transfer impedance of the cable screen at the stated frequency and measurement conditions.

Mutual Capacitance per Unit LengthpF/m

Manufacturer-declared mutual capacitance between the conductors of a signal pair, normalized per unit cable length.

Pair-to-Pair Capacitance UnbalancepF/m

Maximum manufacturer-declared capacitance unbalance between conductor pairs, normalized per unit cable length.

Pair-to-Ground Capacitance UnbalancepF/m

Maximum manufacturer-declared capacitance unbalance between a signal pair and ground or screen, normalized per unit cable length.

Maximum DC Loop Resistance at 20 °COhm/km

Maximum manufacturer-declared DC loop resistance of a two-conductor signal circuit at 20 °C, normalized per kilometre.

Minimum Transmission FrequencyMHz

Lower limit of the manufacturer-declared frequency range for signal transmission through the product.

Maximum Transmission FrequencyMHz

Upper limit of the manufacturer-declared frequency range for signal transmission through the product.

Characteristic ImpedanceOhm

Characteristic or wave impedance of the signal path for which the product is intended.

Protection and Safety17
Abrasion Resistant

Indicates that the cable outer construction is designed or qualified for enhanced abrasion resistance.

Crush Resistant

Indicates manufacturer-declared resistance to mechanical crushing or compressive loading under the applicable test conditions.

Shielded

Indicates that the cable incorporates an electrical or electromagnetic shield.

Shield Material

Primary material and construction of the electrical cable shield.

Shield Coverage%

Manufacturer-declared geometrical coverage of a braided or equivalent cable shield.

Drain Wire Present

Indicates that the cable shield construction incorporates a drain wire for electrical connection of the screen.

Halogen-Free

Indicates whether the product material is classified as halogen-free according to the characteristics declared by the manufacturer.

Individual Pair Shielding

Indicates that individual conductor pairs are provided with separate electrical screens in addition to or instead of an overall cable shield.

Flame Retardant

Indicates the manufacturer-declared ability of a material or product to limit the spread of combustion under specified test conditions.

Torsion Resistant

Indicates manufacturer-declared resistance to repeated or specified torsional mechanical loading.

Individual Pair Shield Material

Primary material and construction used for the individual electrical screen around a conductor pair.

Low Smoke

Indicates manufacturer-declared low-smoke performance of the cable materials.

Limiting Oxygen Index%

Manufacturer-declared limiting oxygen index of the applicable insulation, sheath or complete product material system.

Minimum Smoke Light Transmittance%

Minimum manufacturer-declared light transmittance measured during the applicable smoke-density test.

Maximum Halogen Acid Gas Content%

Maximum manufacturer-declared halogen acid gas content determined for the applicable cable material or product construction.

Minimum Combustion Gas pH

Minimum manufacturer-declared pH value of the aqueous solution obtained from gases evolved during combustion.

Maximum Combustion Gas ConductivityµS/mm

Maximum manufacturer-declared conductivity measured for the aqueous solution obtained from gases evolved during combustion.

Environmental Conditions17
Installation Environment

Environmental conditions under which installation and operation of the product are permitted.

Water Resistant

Indicates manufacturer-declared resistance to water exposure under the applicable product or test conditions.

Weather Resistant

Indicates whether the product is designed for the combination of weather influences specified by the manufacturer.

Minimum Operating Temperature°C

Minimum ambient temperature at which normal operation of the product is permitted.

Maximum Operating Temperature°C

Maximum ambient temperature at which normal operation of the product is permitted.

Minimum Storage Temperature°C

Minimum ambient temperature permitted during storage of the product while not in operation.

Maximum Storage Temperature°C

Maximum ambient temperature permitted during storage of the product while not in operation.

Minimum Installation Temperature°C

Minimum ambient temperature at which the manufacturer permits installation of the product.

Maximum Installation Temperature°C

Maximum ambient temperature at which the manufacturer permits installation of the product.

Maximum Relative Humidity%

Maximum relative air humidity permitted for the declared operating or test condition.

UV Resistant

Indicates whether the material and coating are designed to withstand ultraviolet radiation.

Oil Resistant

Indicates whether the product materials retain their declared properties when exposed to the specified oils.

Chemical Resistance

Groups of chemicals or environments whose effects the product can withstand under the declared conditions.

Coolant Resistant

Indicates whether the product materials retain their declared properties when exposed to the specified coolants.

Fuel Resistant

Indicates whether the product materials retain their declared properties when exposed to the specified fuels.

Cleaning Agent Resistant

Indicates whether the product materials retain their declared properties when exposed to the specified cleaning agents.

Ozone Resistant

Indicates whether the product materials retain their declared properties when exposed to ozone.

Special Features2
Tensile StrengthMPa

Manufacturer-declared tensile strength of the material for the specified material condition, grade, or temper.

Elongation at Break%

Manufacturer-declared elongation at break or after fracture under the specified tensile-test conditions.

Standards and Compliance26
IEC / EN 60228 Compliant

Manufacturer-declared compliance of the conductor construction, nominal cross-section and resistance characteristics with IEC 60228 or its applicable EN adoption.

Certification and Conformity Marks

Certification, market-approval, or conformity marks applicable to the product.

CE Marked

Indicates whether the CE marking is applied to the product where applicable.

RoHS Compliant

Indicates whether product compliance with applicable RoHS restrictions on hazardous substances has been declared.

REACH Compliant

Indicates whether the manufacturer declares compliance of the product with applicable REACH Regulation requirements.

EN 50525 Compliant

Manufacturer-declared compliance with an applicable part of the EN 50525 series for low-voltage energy cables and wires.

EN 50525 Standard Part

Applicable EN 50525 part explicitly declared for the product, for example EN 50525-2-31 or EN 50525-3-41.

IEC 60227 Compliant

Manufacturer-declared compliance with an applicable part of the IEC 60227 series for PVC-insulated cables and wires of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V.

IEC 60227 Standard Part

Applicable IEC 60227 part explicitly declared for the product, for example IEC 60227-3.

UL 758 Compliant

Manufacturer-declared compliance with UL 758 requirements applicable to Appliance Wiring Material.

UL AWM Style Number

UL Appliance Wiring Material style number assigned to the product construction, where applicable.

IEC 60332-1-2 Compliant

Compliance with IEC 60332-1-2 vertical flame propagation test requirements applicable to a single insulated wire or cable.

IEC 60754-1 Compliant

Compliance with applicable IEC 60754-1 requirements for determination of halogen acid gas content from cable materials.

IEC 60754-2 Compliant

Compliance with applicable IEC 60754-2 requirements for determination of acidity and conductivity of gases evolved during combustion.

IEC 61034-2 Compliant

Compliance with applicable IEC 61034-2 smoke-density test requirements for burning cables or wires.

CPR Reaction-to-Fire Class

Manufacturer-declared reaction-to-fire class for electric cables or wires under the applicable CPR classification system.

CPR Smoke Production Class

Manufacturer-declared supplementary CPR smoke-production classification.

CPR Flaming Droplets Class

Manufacturer-declared supplementary CPR classification for flaming droplets or particles.

CPR Acidity Class

Manufacturer-declared supplementary CPR acidity classification based on combustion-gas pH and conductivity.

CPR Flame Spread Heightmm

Manufacturer-declared or test-reported vertical flame spread height used in the applicable reaction-to-fire assessment.

CPR Total Heat Release at 1200 sMJ

Test-reported total heat release over 1200 seconds where declared for CPR reaction-to-fire classification.

CPR Peak Heat Release RatekW

Test-reported peak heat release rate where declared for CPR reaction-to-fire classification.

CPR FIGRAW/s

Fire growth rate index reported for the applicable CPR reaction-to-fire test.

CPR Total Smoke Production at 1200 sm²

Test-reported total smoke production over 1200 seconds where declared for CPR classification.

CPR Peak Smoke Production Ratem²/s

Test-reported peak smoke production rate where declared for CPR classification.

EN 50575 Compliant

Manufacturer-declared compliance with EN 50575 where the wire or cable is placed on the market for permanent incorporation in construction works and the standard is applicable.

Logistics14
Gross Weightkg

Mass of the product together with its individual packaging and the accessories included in it.

Package Widthmm

External horizontal dimension of the product's individual package.

Package Heightmm

External vertical dimension of the product's individual package.

Package Depthmm

External depth dimension of the product's individual package.

Package Volumem³

Calculated or declared external volume of the product's individual package.

Packaging Type

Design type of the product's individual or transport packaging.

Packaging Material

Primary materials from which the product packaging is made.

Package Tare Weightkg

Mass of the empty packaging without the product and its accessories.

Units per Package

Number of individual products contained in one packaging unit at the specified level.

Recyclable Packaging

Indicates whether the packaging used is declared recyclable as secondary raw material.

Reusable Packaging

Indicates whether the packaging is designed for reuse without changing its primary purpose.

Returnable Packaging

Indicates whether the packaging is intended to be returned to the supplier, manufacturer, or another participant in the logistics chain.

Country of Origin

Country of origin of the goods declared for customs or commercial purposes.

HS Code

Commodity code under the international Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.