What is cable routing?

Cable routing is a structure used to protect the cable from mechanical stress and harsh situation such as abrasion which might degrade the insulation.

There are different types of cable routing techniques used:

• Conduits
• Trays
• Busways

Conduits:

Conduits are traditionally used technique for cable routing. Available in either plastic or metal.

Conduit resembles piping used to transport liquids, except that it is much thinner-walled than fluid pipe and is not rated to resist internal pressure as it is pipe.

Installing cable into an electrical conduit is a task referred to as cable pulling.

Metal conduits:

Metal conduit naturally forms a continuously grounded conductive enclosure that offers not only a measure of safety against electrical shock, but also shields against electrostatic interference.

Used in power wiring for VFDs and Rectifiers which have a tendency to broadcast large amounts of electromagnetic noise.

Plastic conduits:

Plastic conduit provides no electrical grounding or shielding because plastic is a nonconductor of electricity.

It is better than metal conduits in terms of chemical resistance to corrosion, which is why cables are used in fields containing water, acids, caustics and other moist chemicals.

Cable Trays:

Trays can be produced of strong steel wire for light-duty applications such as instrument signal cabling or network computer cabling, or they can be made of steel or aluminum channel for heavy-duty applications such as electrical energy cabling.

Cable trays are open, leaving the cables exposed to the environment. While cable tray provides a continuously grounded surface for electrical safety the same as metal conduit.

Bus duct:

Bus ducts, also known as busways, are a unique type of wiring often seen in industrial power distribution installations.

These are rectangular sheet metal pipes that contain pre-made copper busbars for three-phase AC power conduction. Special junction boxes, “tees,” and tap boxes enable busways to stretch and connect to other busses and/or conventional conductor cables.

Bus ducts mostly used in indoor applications, mostly in Motor Control Center (MCC) and power distribution center rooms to and from large disconnect switches, fuses, and circuit breakers.