Knowledge base

Conductor

• BC - Bare Copper

• TC - Tinned Copper (solid)

• TS - Tinned Copper (stranded)

• CCS - Copper Clad Steel

• CCA - Copper Clad Aluminum

• #C - number of conductors

• #P - number of pairs

• #PCS - number of wire sets

Shielding

• D - Drain

• Al - Aluminum Foil

• MY - Mylar Film

• B - Braiding

• AEB - Aluminum Earth(drain) and Braiding

Cable Jacket

• LSZH/LSOH - low smoke zero halogen

CL2 (Class 2) - ANSI / UL 1685

This is one type of mark that is given to cables that meet the UL 13 "Power-limited Circuit" standard, which is designed to test the safety of cables when they are installed in buildings.  CL2 uses a different test methodology than VW-1 that includes both burning and smoke. The test scale is also larger-scale than VW-1, incorporating a tray instead of a single section of wire. 

CL2X and CL3

CL2X and CL3 are both cable ratings defined by the National Electric Code (NEC) and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). They indicate the intended use and maximum voltage these cables can safely carry, particularly in low-voltage applications such as home automation, audio, and video systems.

CL2X

• Definition: CL2X cables are designed for low-voltage use, specifically for residential environments.

• Voltage Rating: These cables can carry up to 150 volts.

• Usage: They are intended for use within dwellings, such as inside walls or ceilings, and are part of the "dwelling" classification. CL2X cables have less stringent flame-resistance requirements compared to their CL2 counterparts and are typically used in areas where building codes allow less demanding flame testing.

• Restrictions: CL2X cables are limited to residential installations and cannot be used in the same wide range of locations as general-purpose CL2 cables.

CL3

• Definition: CL3 cables are designed for general-purpose low-voltage applications.

• Voltage Rating: They can carry up to 300 volts, making them suitable for more demanding installations than CL2 or CL2X cables.

• Usage: These cables are often used in commercial and residential settings, including inside walls and conduits. CL3 cables are more robust, with higher fire-resistance standards, and can be used for systems that require higher power transmission, such as security systems, intercoms, and alarm systems.

• Flexibility: A CL3 cable can be used in any location where a CL2 or CL2X cable is allowed, providing more flexibility for installations across various environments.

In summary, CL2X cables are more limited to residential, low-power applications, whereas CL3 cables are more versatile, with higher voltage ratings and stricter fire safety requirements for both commercial and residential installations.

The standard defines several link/channel classes and cabling categories of twisted-pair copper interconnects, which differ in the maximum frequency for which a certain channel performance is required:

Class A: link/channel up to 100 kHz using Category 1 cable/connectors

Class B: link/channel up to 1 MHz using Category 2 cable/connectors

Class C: link/channel up to 16 MHz using Category 3 cable/connectors

Class D: link/channel up to 100 MHz using Category 5e cable/connectors

Class E: link/channel up to 250 MHz using Category 6 cable/connectors

Class EA: link/channel up to 500 MHz using Category 6A cable/connectors (Amendment 1 and 2 to ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd Ed.)

Class F: link/channel up to 600 MHz using Category 7 cable/connectors

Class FA: link/channel up to 1000 MHz using Category 7A cable/connectors (Amendment 1 and 2 to ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd Ed.)

Class BCT-B: link/channel up to 1000 MHz using with coaxial cabling for BCT applications. (ISO/IEC 11801-1, Edition 1.0 2017-11)

Class I: link/channel up to 2000 MHz using Category 8.1 cable/connectors (ISO/IEC 11801-1, Edition 1.0 2017-11)

Class II: link/channel up to 2000 MHz using Category 8.2 cable/connectors (ISO/IEC 11801-1, Edition 1.0 2017-11)

The standard link impedance is 100 Ω (The older 1995 version of the standard also permitted 120 Ω and 150 Ω in Classes A−C, but this was removed from the 2002 edition).

The standard defines several classes of optical fiber interconnect:

OM1: Multimode fiber type 62.5 μm core; minimum modal bandwidth of 200 MHz·km at 850 nm

OM2: Multimode fiber type 50 μm core; minimum modal bandwidth of 500 MHz·km at 850 nm

OM3: Multimode fiber type 50 μm core; minimum modal bandwidth of 2000 MHz·km at 850 nm

OM4: Multimode fiber type 50 μm core; minimum modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm

OM5: Multimode fiber type 50 μm core; minimum modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm and 2470 MHz·km at 953 nm

OS1: Single-mode fiber type 1 dB/km attenuation at 1310 and 1550 nm

OS1a: Single-mode fiber type 1 dB/km attenuation at 1310, 1383, and 1550 nm

OS2: Single-mode fiber type 0.4 dB/km attenuation at 1310, 1383, and 1550 nm

TAA refers to the Trade Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. § 2501—2581)

According to the Buy American Act (BAA), contractors in the United States who supply products for GSA Schedules and other government contracts, are required to give preference to products from countries Trade Agreements Act (TAA) designated countries. As a manufacturer in TAA designated country, Taiwan, most of HCI’s products are eligible for procurement by the U.S. government.

The TAA is intended to foster fair and open international trade by implementing international trade agreements and governs the procurement of goods and services by the federal government. TAA compliance requirements are built into U.S. federal procurement contracts such as GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule contracts, IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) contracts and most DOD (Department of Defense) contracts.

As a Taiwan based manufacturer, Skycable has numerous products which are made in Taiwan, and complied with TAA regulations. Please contact us for more information.