CABLE NAMING 4

[r19h72]

I'm going to build an industrial machine.
Different devices an the machine are connected together with cables. At the ends I mark the cables with source and target. That works as long as there are no additional plugs between the source and the target.
So how do I have to mark the 2 cables that it will be eays to see the difference between the cable between source and plug and the cable between plug and target?
Please comment!

 

[don01]

well good buddy I don't think I have seen a national or international standard for machine cables. Just make sure you can ident that one end of the cable is connected to the other. eg have the same number with a different suffix for the plug and socket.

like wise for wiring. There is nothing worse than going to a control cubicle and having to rip out every wire to confirm that wire end #101-4 actual connects to 223-6 because they are device number systems.

regards Don

 

[smcbride]

In the automotive industry (american) we typically name the cable 1cc, 2cc, 3cc... for the "Control Cables" and 1mc, 2mc, 3mc for the "Motor Cables"

Then in the control drawings we identify the "Pin" number being used for the signal in the schmatics, and also provide a "pin chart" for each cable.

ie.
|100
| 1CC-P2 Field device 1CC-P3 I:00/01
|--------<<-------| |--------->>------*

------------------
| 1CC Pin Chart |
------------------
| 1 | xxx |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | I:00/01 |
...

Hope it helps.

 

[Wirenut]

Using the same numbers on each end always works well. I've seen parenthises used when plugs and terminals are used. 2(1), 2(2), 2(3) etc. Numbering can be complex or simple depending on the complexity of the machine. Good luck Wirenut

 

[dydt]

I am still comfortable and quick in troubleshooting when i find a wire number say on a sensor and expect same number to go in a terminal or PLC with the aid of the drawing...
making a cross reference between a cable and another cable is quite difficult...chances are the person trying to fix the machine will spend more time verifying the wire than fixing the machine itself...

just my opinion...

goodluck
dydt

 

[ccaserta]

I know this is probably late but I just joined the site. There are actual requirements for cables. If the product is going to Europe refer to EN 60204-1. Basicly the requirement is that cable cannot be connected incorrectly so identification is required at both ends. Numerical identification does work the best except when you start working with connectors of different voltages. It should never be possible to hook up the wrong connector to the wrong outlet voltage. So key it or use different size bulkhead connectors for the different voltages. You can also turn around the connectors so that one is male and the other is female. This only makes sense if one of the voltages is non-hazardous live, you never want to have hazardous live voltage on a female connector. Christopher Caserta
President & Sr. Regulatory Engineer
European Compliance & Certifications, Inc.
P.O. Box 15193
Fernandina Beach, FL 32035
ccaserta@enorthhampton.com
Ph:904-225-0360
Fax:904-225-0340