Understand and leverage critical to quality requirements of connector and cable assembly applications in extreme environments through this white paper published by LEMO and Northwire.
Ranging from underwater to oil and gas, the paper addresses key specifications that are as diverse as their markets. With 71% of the earth’s surface covered by water, it’s not surprising that there are an abundance of application failures associated with this dominant element.
Solution-oriented and application-driven, LEMO and Northwire’s cable and connector design, engineering, and manufacturing processes are custom tailored for the individual project.
When evaluating underwater cable systems, consider these critical-to-quality factors:
- Application. Underwater vision systems may require a fundamentally different type of cable than underwater lighting or monitoring and research applications.
- Compliance. Ratings, agency listings, government certifications and environmental standards: UL, ANSI, CSA, CE, IEEE, ABS, RoHS2, REACH, and 1,000 hour weatherometer requirement.
- Features. Signal, control, instrumentation and power.
- Water Type. Different options exist for salt, fresh, brackish, chemical-treated, waste, and potable water. For example, cable in contact with potable water may need to be made of FDA-approved, food-grade materials.
- Cable Depth. Cable systems at greater depths require heavy-duty materials and pressure resistance. NWI’s underwater cable capabilities extend to a depth of 30 meters (98.43 feet).
- Flex. Cold bend, torsional, rolling, variable, bend, and continuous flex options exist for cables whose applications require regular motion.
- Environment. Knowing whether a cable must function in an industrial pipe, ocean, or rocky riverbed determines many design factors.
- Temperatures. From Arctic to high rating, cable systems are designed for specific temperatures ranges.
- Buoyancy. Special considerations must be taken when a cable is required to have a negative, neutral, or positive buoyancy