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Mil-Std for cabling

Mil-Std for cabling

Mil-Std for cabling

(OP)
I have an application where the cable between my control box and mobile sensor may be laying on the floor of a hanger where airplanes are repaired.  My customer wants the cable 'crush proof' but isn't giving specs past that.  The hand held sensor may have to held high off the floor too, so I'm attempting to keep the weight down.  Meeting these two requirements is challenging.   

Does anyone know what mil-std or other standards would apply here?  I'd like to have a standard to reference to help my customer define these loose ends.  

Thanks,

John D

RE: Mil-Std for cabling

"The nice thing about standards is that there are so many from which to choose."

MIL-W-22759 is one of the more common standards for mil wire. But it comes with a laundry list of /N sub-standards for various insulation and conductor materials.

There are several variations of insulation. Some are quite soft and squishy (excuse the technical terminology). ETFE didn't seem to be as bad as some others. But my 'expertise' in wire types is fading out at about this point.

 

RE: Mil-Std for cabling

I would recommend staying away from any teflon material types, since teflon is known to flow under stress, and any compression stress from tires running over the cables may be likely to cause insulation failure.

How many wires and gauge?  Perhaps you could use a metal sleeve like those used for gooseneck lamps, only more flexible.  I've seen them used for fiber light sources, and they're reasonably flexible and light.

TTFN

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RE: Mil-Std for cabling

(OP)
Hmm, the links for MIL-W-22759 show it changed hands a few times and then all 47 parts and sub parts got canceled at DAPS.  I did finally find a copy at everyspec.com.  It looks like this spec is for wires; is there one for cable assemblies?  

Thanks for the tip about Teflon.  We've used metal and plastic sleeving in the past.  I just wish I knew if I had to handle a hand truck driving over the cable or a jetliner!  The first, I believe.  

John D

RE: Mil-Std for cabling

PTFE (aka Teflon) that's the soft one. ETFE (aka Tefzel) is much better in terms of resilience. Kapton is the one reportedly associated with "arc tracking" (self-sustaining fireworks).

Make friends with an applications engineer at a wire company. He's probably sitting there playing Solitaire anyway.
 

RE: Mil-Std for cabling

Quote (VE1BLL):

Make friends with an applications engineer at a wire company. He's probably sitting there playing Solitaire anyway.
<chuckle>

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

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