Everything You Need To Know About Flat Festoon Cables
Flat festoon or crane festoon are industrial cables with a very interesting construction that is not found in any other wire or cable. Read this blog to learn about the characteristics of flat festoon cables, their application, and what is so special about their construction.
What Is A Flat Festoon Cable?
Flat festoon is a flat portable cable that looks like a wave-like structure. This look corresponds with the meaning of the word 'festoon', which in English stands for a chain of ribbons hanging in a curve as a decoration.
Festoon cables are used within festoon systems, which are mobile support systems for cables that allow them to be mobile. These systems, and, as a result, cables, are typically used in hoists, trolleys, cranes, and other types of portable mobile equipment. They are also common in elevators, excavators, and conveyor systems.
Festoon cables are often referred to as trailing cables, which are the cables for mobile equipment that allow it to move without being disconnected from the power supply. Aside from the applications mentioned here, crane festoon cables can be used in other applications where space constraints are a concern.
Why Are Festoon Cables Flat?
Festoon cables are flat because it allows for easier arrangement while using minimum space. They have a very small bending radius. This allows it to keep flexible properties in very small spaces.
Festoon cables are extremely flexible. They are designed to withstand challenging environmental conditions. A flat construction also prevents the ringlets of the festoon cable from coiling. While theoretically round festoon cables can be used, they do not offer any of these benefits.
The Construction Of A Festoon Cable
Flat festoon cables feature a flexible stranded copper conductor, which fits the unique demands faced by this cable. The cables are available with two types of insulation: neoprene and PVC. While both these constructions are flexible, neoprene offers even more flexibility for extreme flexing applications. Neoprene festoon cables are slightly more expensive than their PVC counterparts.
At Nassau National Cable, you may purchase 600V flat festoon cables with polyvinyl chloride PVC insulation in yellow and black colors. There is also a shielded version of the cable for electromagnetic interference protection applications.
The cables are UL VW-1, and CSA FT4 certified and meet UL/CSA standards for indoor and outdoor use. Our flat festoon cables combine top-notch quality with excellent prices thanks to our extended supply network.
