DLO Cable, 6 AWG

DLO cable is a popular power cable option for locomotive and industrial use. It is often called diesel locomotive cable, but it is also found in oil rigs, power generation, mining equipment, and shipyard applications, among others. DLO cable also happens to be one of the products available in Allied’s on-site inventory!

Allied is happy to have DLO cable included in our inventory of power cables and portable cord. With a variety of sizes of DLO wire in stock, we can get you the diesel locomotive cable you need, fast!

We now stock the following parts:

• DLO 262.6
• DLO 2
• DLO 4
• DLO 313.1
• DLO 1
• DLO 373.7
• DLO 4/0
• DLO 535.3
• DLO 6
• DLO 777.7
• DLO 8

About DLO Cable
DLO cable is single-conductor power cable used in tough industrial applications requiring rugged, yet flexible wiring. DLO wire is common in shipboard, mining, locomotive, power generation, and heavy machinery applications, so it must be able to resist the alkalis, oils, and acids common in these environments.

Diesel locomotive cable’s construction clearly reflects these requirements. Allied’s DLO cable features highly flexible fully annealed stranded tinned copper conductors. It has Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) insulation and a Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) jacket. These materials not only resist chemical threats, but give the cable excellent abrasion and impact resistance as well.

Allied’s DLO cable is rated to 90°C wet/dry for continuous exposure, and can be used in applications that hit temperatures as low as -40°C. It is rated to 2,000 volts, and is listed as UL Type RHH/RHW cable under UL Standard 44. It is MSHA-rated flame-retardant and both RoHS and REACH compliant. In addition to these standards, it is also rated CSA RW90 (at 1,000 volts) and ICEA S-95-685/ NEMA WC70.

For full diesel locomotive cable specifications, click here.

Have questions about DLO cable? Leave us a comment, and we’ll get you an answer.

Our “Spotlight On” series continues to expand; giving you useful information on Allied’s most popular types of wire and cable. Watch our first collection of coaxial cable videos, which highlights RG142 cable, RG174 cable, RG174B/U cable, and RG179 cable. To help you wade through the countless RG cable options, these educational minute-long clips tell you about each product’s materials, ratings, and uses, getting you one step closer to the coax cable that’s right for you.

Like most coaxial cables, these are used primarily for data transmission and radio frequency applications. They can be found in everything from medical equipment to avionic communications systems, and mobile phones.

RG142, RG178B/U, and RG179 cable have temperature ranges of -55°C to 200°C. RG174 has a lower temperature range of -40°C to 80°C. All have different voltage ratings. RG142 cable has the highest at 1900 volts, and RG178B/U cable has the lowest at 1000 volts.

Materials also differ. RG174 cable has a bare copper-clad steel conductor, Polyethylene dielectric, and a PVC jacket while the other three types of coaxial cables have silver-coated copper-clad steel conductors, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dielectric, and Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) jackets. Shielding varies. RG142 cable is the only one in this group with a double silver-coated copper braid shield. RG174 cable has a tinned copper braid shield. RG178B/U cable and RG179 cable both have silver-coated copper braid shields.

As you can see, RG178B/U and RG179 coaxial cables have very similar constructions, but different usages and ratings. These can be important factors in choosing the best coax cable for your application. For more information on these coaxial cable options, RG142 cable, and RG174 cable, make sure to visit the
AWC Wire YouTube Channel to watch their “Spotlight” videos.

*Click on the image to watch the YouTube playlist

UL 1007 wires, UL 1015 wires, and UL 1061 wires are UL rated Appliance Wiring Material (AWM wire). As the rating suggests, they are used for the internal wiring of appliances and electronics. They all feature PVC jackets which resist moisture, oil, ozone, solvents, and chemicals, and pass the UL horizontal flame test as well.

Although they share several similarities, there are important differences between the three types of hook up wire. UL 1007 wire is rated to 300 volts and 80°C and is recommended for applications requiring extended flex life or flexibility in low temperature environments. UL 1015 wire has thicker insulation than UL 1007 wire. As a result, it is rated to 600 volts and 105°C. The third type of wire, UL 1061 wire, is rated to 80°C and 300 volts, but it has the thinnest insulation of the three. This means that it is not as physically strong as the others. It is only recommended for applications where it will be protected from any physical harm.

These PVC Hook Up Wire products can be customized with Allied’s value-added services for easy handling, installation, and brand recognition. They can be cut and stripped, twisted, dyed, striped, or printed with custom lettering or logos.

For more information on UL 1007 Wire, UL 1015 Wire, and UL 1061 Wire, watch our videos on YouTube, or visit our online catalog. And be sure to keep an eye out for future installments of our “Spotlight” series.

There are so many cables available on the market today that even simple variations in materials or construction can create almost identical cables with completely different names. This can make finding the right cabling solution difficult, especially if you are having trouble pinpointing the differences between one cable and another. Today, we’ll look at STJ cable and SFJ cable. They have almost everything in common, but recognizing their differences could make identifying the right cable for your application a little easier.

STJ cable and SFJ cable share the same usage ratings. They are 600 volt cables with temperature ranges of -65°C to +200°C. Both are MIL-W-16878D Cables with M16878/4 Type E NEMA HP3 inners. With all of these ratings and specifications in common, there is no doubt that these cables are very similar.

When we break down the construction and materials used in each cable, we see even more common features. Each cable is available in single or multi-conductor versions.  The conductors are made with silver-plated copper, feature Type E extruded PTFE insulation, and have an overall silver-plated copper braid shield with 90% coverage.

STJ Cable - 14 AWG with 6 Conductors

Now you’re probably getting confused. Are these the same cables? That wouldn’t necessarily be surprising, considering the industry’s tendency to identify a cable by multiple standards or names, so long as the cable itself meets or exceeds each individual specification. However (fortunately), that is not the case here.

Although the names and ratings used in the wire and cable industry can be confusing, there is an obvious difference between STJ cable and SFJ cable: jacket material. STJ cable has an overall sintered wrapped PTFE tape jacket. SFJ cable, on the other hand, has an overall extruded FEP non-stick jacket.

Despite their different jacketing materials, both cables resist acids, alkalis, oil, flame, moisture, solvents, and fungus. Both are also non-reactive and exhibit low friction properties. That’s because PTFE and FEP are very similar polymers. Feel like we’re back to square one? Don’t.

SFJ Cable - 24 AWG with 4 Conductors

Generally, SFJ cable’s FEP jacket is softer than PTFE. It is also transparent, very sunlight resistant, and has a lower melting point. It has slightly lower tensile strength than the PTFE used in STJ cable, but it is also a little more flexible and more abrasion resistant. Finally, FEP has a higher dielectric strength and dissipation factor, but lower resistivity than PTFE.  SFJ cables also tend to be slightly more expensive than STJ cables as well. Though these may not seem like huge differences, they may be the characteristics that decide whether you choose STJ cable or SFJ cable for your application.

To learn more about STJ Cable and SFJ Cable, visit the STJ and SFJ section of the AWC online catalog.

Craig Smith, one of our sales representatives, has a son in the Marines about whom we’ve done several posts about over the years. Even though he has been back on US soil for a while now, the organizers of this round of packages decided to send the boxes to his unit anyway, because they are still stationed in Afghanistan.

This time around, our wonderful employees put together over 20 boxes for the Marines in Lance Corporal Smith’s unit still stationed overseas. We’re so proud of our employees for continuing this tradition of giving, especially during the holiday season. Being stationed away from family this time of year cannot be easy, and any recognition of that sacrifice, even by total strangers, is definitely going to be appreciated by these hardworking Americans.

There’s still time to put together your own care packages to troops stationed away from home this holiday! For complete instructions on how to send care packages to the troops in any service, check out AnySoldier.com.  If you need ideas for what to send, we included a list of items requested in our previous post.

Our Nevada location has given us the opportunity to not only help our customers by offering faster and local services to the West Coast, but to also help the local community in Las Vegas by offering many new jobs in our office and warehouse. We hope to keep offering the community economic and employment opportunities for years to come, as Allied continues to grow!

Insulation is commonly available in three different forms:

1. Solid
2. Semi-Solid
3. Foam
   

Solid Insulation - RG214 Coax

Solid insulation is the most common. It is also the easiest to apply and the least costly to produce. Because it is a solid layer of polymer, it does not require the more complex manufacturing processes involved in producing semi-solid or foam insulation.

Solid insulation is the densest of the three types, and although this gives it more mechanical strength, durability, flexibility, and crush and abrasion resistance, it usually increases the cable’s dielectric constant. This means that it does not have the electrical properties required for high performance cables, but it is sufficient for many other applications. It is used in just about every type of wire available, from everyday hook up wire to specialty coaxial cables such as RG 142 cable, RG 214 cable, and RG 400 cable.

Unlike solid insulation, foam insulation is cellular and composed of around 50% gas. The bubbles in the material are commonly air or nitrogen. These gases give the material a lower dielectric constant, meaning better electrical properties overall. This level of electrical performance makes foam insulation a common choice for high performance communication cables and coaxial cables such as LDF heliax coaxial cable, FSJ heliax coax, RG 307 cable, and more.

As an added benefit of the material’s strong electrical characteristics, a thinner wall thickness may be used to provide the same level of performance as a solid insulation with a thick wall. This can be a great benefit for applications with tight space requirements.

The downside of foam insulation is its complex construction. It is more difficult to produce than solid insulation, and great care must be taken to ensure that the gas bubbles in the insulation have consistent size, shape, and dispersion throughout the material. If these characteristics are not consistent, the performance of the cable is compromised. The added difficulty of manufacturing foam insulation is reflected in the price of the material, which is significantly more expensive than solid insulation.

Foam insulation does not have the mechanical strength of solid insulation either. Because it is less dense, it is less durable, less crush-resistant, and more likely to kink.

Semi-Solid Insulation - RG62 Coax

The third type, semi-solid insulation is defined by the air gaps in its material. In fact, it consists of more air than polymer. As a result, it has the lowest dielectric constant of the three types. It also has the least mechanical strength and durability. Semi-solid insulation can be found in different types of cables, including some M17 cables such as M17/30-RG62 Cable and M17/90-RG71.

The three different forms of insulation have distinct mechanical and electrical characteristics, making some types more appropriate to certain applications than others. Understanding these variations between solid, foam, and semi-solid insulation is the key to choosing the most appropriate type for your cable and application.

The promotion ran until November 4th and the winner was announced Monday the 7th:

And the Lucky Winner is…Randy from MA!

Congratulations, Randy!

Be on the look-out for new promotions by “liking” us on facebook, signing up for our mailing list or subscribing to our blog by entering your e-mail address to the right.

A week has passed since the final game ended, and we have our winners of our MLB Postseason Promotion. Our three winners got to choose the replica jersey of their favorite team, and one lucky fan from WV chose a jersey from the new World Champs!

    • Glenn from PA –  Phillies
    • Gary from WV - Cardinals
    • Cliff from FL – Reds

Congratulations to all three of our winners. Get ready for the 2012 season so you can wear your team’s colors with pride!

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