Typically, an electrical tray is used to lay high load power mains. It protects cables from external influences, providing additional protection and reliability. Indoors, it is used to hide cables from people and not to spoil the interior.
Content
- Product design and benefits
- Features and types
- How to choose a cable tray
Product design and benefits
The design of cable trays is unlikely to raise serious questions for anyone. They are designed as a simple gutter with lids, which can be made from a wide variety of materials. The inner surface is specially treated to avoid accidental damage to the cables during installation. The trays can contain several cables at once.
They are used in industrial facilities, large office premises, warehouses and large stores. Cable trays are a very important and irreplaceable part of almost any infrastructure.
In addition, their design is strikingly simple. Thanks to them, specialists always have quick access to the wiring if it is necessary to replace any cable or make repairs.
Features and types
The metal cable tray is made in the form of a hollow box or profile. In its complete set, you can always find a base necessary to fix the wires, and a cover made to protect the structure and cables from external influences. The width of the product can vary from 5 to 600 cm in width and up to 200-300 cm in length. Elements can be connected to each other using different methods. Certain sections are attached to each other with screws or special parts, which are usually sold with the system itself.
These bindings increase the overall rigidity of the track. And also other connecting parts can be found in the kit with the tray:
- disconnectors;
- transitions;
- corner mounts;
- branches.
Cable trays are divided into many types. Among them are perforated, solid and lattice. And also the following types are equally popular:
-
Wire. These systems are made from a large amount of thick wire, which is held in place by welding. Their specialization is the development of horizontal routes and light cable shafts. - Rolled steel is widespread due to the fact that its production requires much less resources. They are made from metal profiled sheet, and although such systems are considered by many to be technologically advanced, they are much worse than their wire-type counterparts. Rolled products can be divided into two types: perforated and solid. The latter type is used in public places and in the development of closed street routes.
- Staircase products are stamped sidewalls connected by special jumpers. They are indispensable for the installation of open-type routes and cable shafts, which must withstand heavy loads.
And also trays are divided into two types:
- Mesh. This type is very easy to install, especially if there must be many branches in the route. These trays provide good ventilation and can bend around the most serious obstacles.
- Whole. This type is used in cases where the cable needs to provide maximum protection from the external environment.
It is worth remembering that trays differ in the material from which they are made. In small offices, private houses and apartments, plastic products are often used, which are characterized by lightness and aesthetic appearance.
How to choose a cable tray
When choosing products for laying cable routes, it is necessary to pay attention to the type of cable. The wires differ in their parameters and have individual characteristics. For example, when working with sensitive wires, you need to properly monitor the distance at which they will be relative to each other.
Before buying a metal cable tray, it is worth considering all the main parameters of the product:
-
Dimensions of trays are fully dependent on the number and diameter of cables. The wall of the system should be slightly higher than the bundle itself. - Heat sink. Serious power losses occur due to heating, which means that there must be additional space in the trays. If such problems do not arise, then you can choose products with high walls. This will allow the cables to be folded in several layers. But when heating, you should opt for a tray with low sides.
- Strength. The choice of system depends on the total weight of the cables. For products with high walls, thick steel is used, which seriously increases their bearing capacity.
- Corrosion rate will depend on climatic conditions. To increase the durability of the tray, they are galvanized from different materials. The level of corrosion protection is directly related to the thickness of the zinc plating.
The main task of electrical trays is to ensure the safety and protection of cables from external environmental factors. The right product, coupled with reliable assembly, will guarantee the best results.
