Cable manufacturing industries have been compelled to keep pace with the evolving modern world. Modern appliances and applications demand more than just a basic four-wire cable. The technological advancements in nearly every sector necessitate high-quality cables capable of seamlessly connecting modern machines and appliances. This is because these cables serve a diverse range of applications that play a crucial role in keeping the world connected. This is attributed to the fact that current connections heavily rely on either shielded or unshielded cables.
What are Shielded and Unshielded Cables?
STP is a frequently used abbreviation for shielded twisted pair cables, which consist of multiple wires wrapped together within a foil for protection, with the wires being double-wrapped for enhanced double protection.
Similarly, this applies to shielded twisted cable pairs. In contrast, with UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), each wire pair is twisted together and then placed within a tube without any additional protective covering. UTP cables are cost-effective, which is the primary reason for their widespread use compared to STP.
Why Choose Shielded Cables?
Having a clear understanding of which type of wire to use in your projects is crucial. However, the selection process also hinges on various factors, including the level of protection needed against power frequency and any other electromagnetic interference.
How Does Shielded Cables Help in Preventing Electromagnetic Interference?
EMI, or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), as it is commonly known, refers to electronic disturbances generated by various external electrical sources. These include electromagnetic radiation and electrostatic coupling, among others. RFI or EMI is ubiquitous, and if it is sufficiently strong, it can readily cause interference with genuine data traffic, leading to poor communication between computers.
In such scenarios, the data being transmitted will ultimately be lost, prompting the circuit to resend the data. Multiple resends of data eventually lead to network interference, which slows down the network. Consequently, EMI and RFI disturbances have the capacity to degrade the overall performance of a circuit, thereby reducing its optimal performance by increasing error rates and resulting in data loss.
Shielded Cable Types
STP plays a crucial role in preventing RFI and EMI interference from other electrical devices and appliances, ensuring effective and stable signals. Shielded cables are typically divided into four wire pairs, with each pair being twisted to minimize crosstalk interference from the other twisted wire pairs. STP cables come in three distinct configurations, each offering its own level of protection, as outlined below.
- Braided, which comes with an EMI shielding of 90%
- The spiral which comes with an EMI shielding of 90%
- Metal coated foil or Mylar, which comes with an EMI shielding of 100%
When Should You Apply a Shielded Cable?
STP cables provide superior application, particularly in environments that frequently experience electronic interference, such as airports and radio stations. Shielded cables are also utilized within the security sector, especially in security systems. Their shielded nature enables the cable to offer reliable protection against various disturbances. Additionally, STP cables encapsulate the noise within the cable, thereby preventing any potential interference with external devices.
When Should You Apply Unshielded Cables?
Due to the unshielded nature of UTP cables, they cannot utilize shielding to eliminate interference. Instead, their primary function is to minimize interference through their twisted design. Consequently, UTP may not be ideal for applications involving office LANs. However, despite their limited protection capabilities, UTP cables continue to thrive in the market due to:
- Affordability
- Versatility
- Flexibility
- Easy installation
One of the disadvantages associated with UTP cables is their susceptibility to interference, including both electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. (Note: The original statement presented this as an advantage, but it is actually a disadvantage. Therefore, I have corrected it accordingly.)
Finally
Regardless of the type of cable you decide to use, the deciding factor should be the specific application and its requirements. To gain a better understanding of your cabling needs, please feel free to contact us. We will definitely endeavor to assist you with your project to the best of our abilities.
