Cable connectors
Cable connectors
Cable entries for safe and quick installation
Cable entries allow both customised wires and wires with free ends to be inserted, sealed and tension-relieved. Whether cables or pneumatic lines are passed water- and air-tight into a housing or through a wall: icotek cable entries are essential for this purpose. Depending on the application, cable entries are available in different shapes and with the associated entry housings. Our guide explains the most important information about rubber cable entries, cable entry sleeves, cable glands and more.
What are cable entries?
A cable entry plate or cable entry strip mostly comprises a resistant plastic such as polyamide and – depending on the model – is fitted with an integrated seal made from ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, which facilitates a water-tight seal of the inserted cables. Depending on the model, the entry has predefined openings or are compatible with the associated cable glands and cable entry sleeves. Modular cable entry systems, such as those from icotek, which are designed for a separable cable entry, remain standard.
Why are cable entries important?
Cable entry systems and cable entry plates are suitable for optimally guiding cables without connectors into a housing or a switch cabinet. Apart from the seal function, cable entries also perform other functions. Among other things, they act as cable protection, ensure tension relief for wires and facilitate a convenient cable management.
In addition, specific cable entries and guides facilitate a subsequent and uncomplicated installation of prefabricated wires that are already fitted with connectors.
The advantages of cable entries at a glance:
- Customised wires include the guarantee
- Standard knock-outs and standard drill patterns
- Simple conversion
- High packing density and flexibility
- Stable and vibration-proof with protection class DIN EN 62444
- Tension relief according to DIN EN 50262
- Protection class IP54 (with seal and matching cable sleeve)
- Temperature range: from -40°C to + 140°C
Which requirements are placed on cable entries?
The most important functions of cable entries include cable protection from mechanical damage, e.g. if a wire must not be damaged by the sharp edges of a metal housing or switch cabinet wall.
For this reason, cable entries are typically made from a robust and weather-proof plastic. In addition, cable entries must be dust and water-tight and guarantee isolation in the event of fire. This also ensures, for example, that no foreign bodies or moisture can enter the switch cabinet or the housing of an industrial system. Additionally, it is a great advantage if the cable entries allow uncomplicated and time-saving fitting – in particular for complex cablings with lots of wires.
Which cable entries for which application?
Cable entries must fulfil different requirements depending on the area of use. Our range of high-quality cable entries from icotek includes the following variants:
- Cable entries for wires with connectors: the cable entry systems from icotek, which are installed quickly and easily, are recommended for all application areas where prefabricated cables and wires with connectors are to enter the housing quickly and securely. Switch cabinets should be offered. We sell cable entry systems from the KEL series and the appropriate cable sleeves with a terminal range from 5 mm up to 65 mm.
- icotek cable entry systems: available in widths from 21 mm to 146 mm and suitable for installation cutouts from 43 mm x 24 to max. 112 mm x 126 mm. Depending on the model, the systems rails can be fitted up to 30 small cable sleeves.
- Cable entries for wires without connectors: Cable entry plates are an alternative to normal cable glands. They are used wherever cables without connectors need to be entered into switch cabinets or housings in a dust- and water-tight manner.
- icotek cable entry plates and sealing grommets: Apart from icotek cable entry plates with up to 29 cable entries, our range also includes the matching sealing grommets for hole diameters from 16.5 mm to 50.5 mm.
- icotek blanking plates: among others, also available as a version for closing standard knock-outs of various sizes (10B, 16B, 24B) or as a model for icotek snap frames that can be released from the frame without a tool. They are available as variants made from polypropylene with elastomer seal or from galvanised steel. The polypropylene blanking plates with seal effectively prevent dirt and moisture entering, are certified according to IP64 and are suitable for areas of use with temperatures from -30°C to 110°C.
- Split cable grommets and connectors: the silicon-free and split cable grommets from icotek are suitable for a temperature range from -40°C to 90°C and are available for clamping ranges from 5 mm to max. 65 mm.
- icotek snap frames for cable entry systems: The icotek snap frame offers significant advantages: The KEL rails remain fixed during maintenance and during installation or removal. For protection class IP54, the seals are already included in the snap frame. The drilling pattern for fastening the frame is identical to the cable entry system. The prefabricated cable entry system with its fitted cable sleeves merely needs to be locked into the frame.
Where are cable entries used?
Cable entries are used, among other things, in plant construction, equipment construction and in mechanical engineering, in measurement and control technology, in drive technology, in mobile studio and lighting technology, in wind farms, in solar energy technology and in electrical installations. The cable entry plate bundles cables and wires, tubes, pneumatic lines and hydraulic lines.