subject: Cable Tray is Important for most Electrical Work [print this page] Cable Tray is Important for most Electrical Work
Cable Tray is NOT A WIREWAY and is viewed as a support for cables. This provides the designer and user many benefits. Cable tray is the pathway of choice for most electrical work, both for power and datacom.
Ladder Cable Tray consists of two longitudinal side members connected by individual transverse members, and is designed for use as a power cable or control cable support system.
When metal ladder cable trays came of age, they were used to support the new armored shielded power cables that were permitted outside the conduit environment. Utilities and industrial companies initiated the use of expanded metal and solid trough-styled trays for supporting power and control cable.
Cable trays quickly proved their worth as a safe, dependable and cost-effective solution to routing and supporting cables. Installed cost savings of over 50% on project after project drove the market for metal cable trays to over 80 million dollars.
In any electrical installation, the structure type used to support, fasten, direct, and protect the installed wire and cable runs is critical. That's why choosing the appropriate pathway is so important. This article provides some useful guidelines use cable tray systems.
Following are the tools used for cable tray installations: Metal cutting saw, touch-up material, leveling device, tape measure, C-clamp, torque wrench, ratchet wrench, nylon laser, sealant for cut edges, dust mask, cutting saw carbide or diamond tipped, appropriate safety equipments and other required accessories.
Types of Cable Tray:
Ladder Cable Tray:
Ladder Cable Support Systems consist of two longitudinal side members connected by individual transverse members and provide solid side rail protection and system strength with smooth radius fittings and a wide selection of materials and finishes. Generally used in applications with intermediate to long support spans of 12 feet to 30 feet and as power cable or control cable support system.
Channel Cable Tray:
Channel Cable Support Systems consist of a one-piece, ventilated or solid bottom channel section, providing an economical support for cable drops and branch cable runs from the backbone cable tray system. Generally used for installations with limited numbers of tray cable when conduit is undesirable and single power cable or multiple control or signal circuit cables are being supported. Support frequency with short to medium support spans of 5 to 10 feet.
Trough Cable Tray:
Consists of a ventilated or solid bottom contained within longitudinal side members. Provides moderate ventilation with added cable support frequency and with the bottom configuration providing cable support every 4 inches. Available in metal and nonmetallic materials. Generally used with control and instrumentation cables in moderate heat generating applications with short to intermediate support spans of 5 feet to 12 feet.
Fiberglass Cable Tray
Fiberglass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) cable support systems provide reliable cable support in corrosive applications. Both polyester and vinyl ester resin are available and all components incorporate U.V. inhibitors and a surfacing veil to resist corrosive elements and meet ASTM E-84 smoke density rating; Polyester 680, Vinyl Ester 1025 Class 1 Flame Rating and self-extinguishing requirements of ASTM D-635.
Cable Trays | Ladder Type Cable Trays |Perforated Type Cable Trays
