Quabbin introduces Ethernet cable for process plants

Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. reports that it has used its patch-cord expertise to develop flexible, Category 5e cables for use in harsh industrial environments, such as chemical-related applications or other process industries.

By Control Engineering Staff November 4, 2004

Quabbin Wire & Cable Co . reports that it has used its patch-cord expertise to develop flexible, Category 5e cables for use in harsh industrial environments, such as chemical-related applications or other process industries. The cables’ polyurethane jacket provides excellent mechanical, weathering, oil resistance, and aging characteristics compared to PVC.

Patch cords assembled with this new cable far exceed the electrical requirements (Next and return loss) of TIA/EIA 568-B for four-pair Category 5e cords, assuring reliable 100Base-T Ethernet transmission for plug-to-plug channels at up to 70 meters, the company says. They may be terminated with encapsulated modular plugs, cylindrical metal M12 connectors, or with molded strain-relief boots.

The polyurethane jacket is pressure extruded over the four-pair core, binding it in place and providing electrical stability during high-flexure and harsh usage. As a result, Quabbin says, DataMax IE cords will withstand mechanical abuse, including vibration, crushing, and impact, at levels well above what cords experience in office environments. The jacket also provides excellent cut-through, tear, and abrasion characteristics, as well as resistance to moisture, oils, and many industrial fluids.

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com