How To Choose Coaxial Cable

HM-330A Cable Fault Tester

The growth of wireless and high-speed data applications has led to the use of coaxial cables over traditional video and telecom cables. With the development and standardization of coaxial cables for various applications, coaxial cables have become common equipment in homes, offices, telecommunications facilities, railways, industrial plants, and government/public safety facilities. So, is it better to buy coaxial cable or coaxial cable assemblies? How to choose coaxial cable?

Due to the variety and application requirements of installing coaxial connectors and cables, many suppliers offer pre-assembled coaxial assemblies for specific applications. For a specific application, if the cable length, performance parameters, and coaxial connector type are known, the best option is to use a cable assembly.

Agency Requirements and Special Equipment

Certain applications, such as military, government, avionics, aerospace and industrial equipment, have specific regulations and specific requirements for coaxial cable performance. Only by meeting the institutional requirements of these industries, society and government, cables are eligible to be used in these fields. These requirements can be quite complex and difficult to remember, and an expert is probably the best person to consult the details.

Application Requirements and Parameters

The beginning of everything is always to understand the problem to be solved. For buying coaxial cable, this means knowing the quality of the signal the cable needs to carry. Some important factors are the frequency range and power level of the transmitted signal. Other factors include the RF and electromagnetic environment through which the signal travels, the length of the wiring, and the difficulty of the wiring. Project budget and all agency requirements also play an important role in the decision to select a specific coaxial cable for an application.

Different cables with different power levels

Different cables have different maximum handling power ratings, depending on cable diameter, center and outer conductor types, and cable quality. These ratings are given as values under CW conditions, average or peak, and have different meanings depending on the type of signal carried. In addition, the rated value of rated maximum voltage and rated maximum current can also be given. Note that such ratings are also frequency dependent and cables with better safety margins should be selected. Once the power rating of the coaxial cable is exceeded, unfortunate failure modes such as sparking, accelerated aging, dielectric degradation, burning, etc. are possible.