Types of Cable Trays – Purpose, Advantages, Disadvantages
Cable tray systems are alternatives to wire ways and electrical conduit, which completely enclose cables.
Cable trays are often used for cable management in commercial and industrial construction as an alternative to open wiring or electrical conduit systems. They’re particularly handy in instances where alterations to a wiring system are expected, because new cables can be laid in the tray rather than pulled through a pipe.
robust structural structure for securely fusing wires. Trays come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they’re utilized in a variety of applications. A solid-bottom tray provides the best cable protection, but entering and exiting cables requires cutting the tray or utilizing fittings. A cable channel or cable trough is a deep, solid container for cables. A vented tray contains vents in the bottom that allow air to circulate around the cables, as well as water drainage and dust to fall through the tray. Small cables can exit the tray through ventilation ports in the bottom, which can be slots or holes punched. The cables in a ladder tray are supported by a traverse bar at regular intervals of 4 to 12 inches, comparable to the rungs of a ladder (100 to 300 mm).
Solid coverings for ladder and vented trays can protect cables from falling debris, dust, and water. Tray covers designed for use outside or in dusty environments may have a peaked form to shed particles such as dust, ice, or snow. In cases where a large number of small cables are needed, such as for telephone or computer network cables, lighter cable trays are preferable. These trays can be formed of wire mesh, which is known as “cable basket, or they can be fashioned in the shape of a single central spine (rail) with ribs on either side to hold the cable. From the backbone cable tray system, Channel Tray provides cost-effective support for cable drops and branch cable lines. When conduit is not an option, channel cable tray is utilized for installations with a restricted number of tray cables. To prevent overheating of the wires, large power cables installed in the tray may require support blocks to maintain distance between conductors.
Cable trays are capable of supporting all types of wiring: such as
- High Voltage Power Lines.
- Power Distribution Cables
- Control cables
- Telecommunication cables
- Fiber Optical Cables
Purpose:
Support solutions for power and communications cables and wires include cable trays. A cable tray system protects and supports both power and signal cables, making network upgrades, expansions, reconfigurations, and relocations easier.
The majority of cable tray systems are open, which allows for effective heat dissipation and quick replacement and repair. Some cable tray systems are ideal for underfloor use, despite the fact that they are normally suspended from ceilings or affixed to walls.
Types of Cable Trays:
The following are popular cable tray types.
- Ladder-type
- Perforated type
- Solid bottom type
- Wire mesh
- Channel type
Typically, an engineer or designer will select the sort of cable tray that best suits the project’s needs. It is conditional on the situation and the surrounding surroundings.
Read: Pressure Temperature Compensation Flow Measurement
Ladder Cable Tray
Two side rails are joined by rungs on the Ladder Cable tray. The ladder rungs on this style of cable tray allow for easy access to the cables from either the top or bottom.
The rungs of the ladder cable trays serve as suitable anchors for tying down cables in non-horizontal cable tray runs or when cable placements in the horizontal cable tray must be preserved.
Perforated Cable Tray
Cable tray with perforations A vented bottom and side rails are included. It provides additional cable support than the ladder-type.
Solid-bottom Cable Tray
Solid-bottom (non-ventilated) cable trays are preferred for fiber-optic cable installations where drooping of cables could impact system performance.
The main rationale for using solid-bottom trays is to prevent against electromagnetic/ radio-frequency interference.
Wire Mesh Cable Tray
Wire mesh cable tray, also known as basket cable tray, is a type of cable tray created by welding stainless steel wires together to form a basket-like mesh.
Cable trays are primarily used for supporting low voltage, telephone, and fibre optic cables over short distances.
Channel Cable Tray
A channel cable tray is simply a metal tray that can be utilized for extremely tiny cable installations.”
Materials
1. Metallic
Aluminum: Resists corrosion; excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum is most commonly used because it is lightweight.
Steel: Electric shielding; low thermal expansion
Stainless steel: Superior corrosion resistance; withstands high temperatures.
2.Non-Metallic
Fiberglass: Nonconductive; resists corrosion; lightweight
Precautions:
The most important thing is to keep the bend radius of the fiber-optic or coaxial wire within acceptable limits.
If the trays are not checked and kept clean on a regular basis, flammable dust and clutter can build up.
Advantages:
One of the major benefits of employing a cable tray is that it is much less expensive than other methods of shielding wiring on the manufacturing floor.
Cables are instantaneously visible for maintenance checks, and cable changes are simple because cables can enter or exit the tray at any point in the system.
Regular housekeeping is crucial for safety, as cable television is.
Disadvantages:
There is a downside to the solid bottom cable tray system. Moisture can collect in the cable trays as a result.