LESSON 2: Wires and Cable Layout
TOPIC 2: Laying Out Cables
Basic Rules of Laying Out Cables
Layout and bind power cables, signal cables, ground cables, and other different types of cables separately.
Layout cables of the same type in the same direction.
Layout cables at a small distance in crossover mode.
Power cables must have a distance longer than or equal to 30 mm from signal cables when they are laid out in parallel.
Attach engineering labels to the cables to distinguish different types of cables if they cannot be identified by labels.
Protect cables from burrs, heat sinks, and active accessories that can damage the insulation layers of the cables.
Use cable ties to bind cables. Never tie two or more cable ties together for binding cables. After cables are bound using cable ties, cut off
the excess part and make sure that the cuts are neat and smooth.
Layout, support, or fix cables properly in cable troughs/gutters inside a rack to prevent excessive stress on the cables or wiring terminals,
loose connections, and damage to the cable insulation layer.
Coil and bind surplus parts of cables in the proper position of the rack.
Route cables straightly and bound neatly in a rack. The bending radius of a cable depends on the bending position.
If bending a cable in the middle is required, the bending radius must be at least twice the cable diameter.
If bending a cable at the output terminal of a connector is required, the bending radius must be at least five times the cable diameter and
bind the cable before bending.
Using cable ties at positions where the cables are bent is prohibited since the core wires of the cables may break.
Common Methods of Laying Out Cables Inside a Rack
Layout power cables behind the rack along the left side. Select overhead or underfloor cabling according to equipment room conditions,
such as the locations of the AC power distribution cabinet, surge protection device (SPD), and terminal block.
Route service data cables at the back of the rack and bind them to the right cable trough. They can also be routed at the front of the rack
and bound to the cable troughs on both sides. Determine the overhead or underfloor cabling for service data cables based on equipment
room conditions, for example, the cabling mode (overhead or underfloor cabling) used by signal cables.
Position the connectors of all service data cables at the bottom of the rack in order so that the connectors are not easily reached.
Underground Laying of Power Cables
(Basic Vocational Knowledge - Electrical Installation)
Firmly place the cable drum on cable jacks or a cable car. Carefully situate the cable drum horizontally a few centimeters above the ground
to prevent the cable drum from slipping off laterally when the cable is run out. Provide a braking device at the cable drum.
During reeling off, continuously run out the cable under tension from above
Pull the cable off the drum opposite to the rolling direction indicated on the cable drum. There must be no kinks, formed loops, or curls on
the cable.
Use appropriate devices for mechanical cable laying such as winches and cable handling machinery when laying cables.
In case of long and winding routes, make use of cable handling machinery.
When cables are laid using a winch, join the cables to a pulling rope through a cable stocking of metal.
Gradually adapt the pulling speed to the tensile force of the cable. Do not go over the permissible tensile forces.
Position idlers in distances of 5 m idlers on the cable runs.
Arrange the angular idlers in curves. If the cable cannot be laid using a machine, it will have to be laid manually by carrying them with arms
spread downwards.
Observe the allowed minimum bending radius during cable laying. Relate the minimum bending radius to the external diameter of the cable.
Do not lay the cables if the temperature is below 4°C. Low temperature causes cables to become brittle and easily broken. In urgent cases,
warm up the cables using a heater fan before being laid out.
Cover cables in cable ditches using bricks or concrete ducts as cable covering hoods. While cables are allowed to be laid into cable ditches
embedded in the sand without cover, the route of the cable must be marked by an approximate 10 cm wide yellow plastic tape, set 30 cm
above the cable. This applies only to cables with a concentric conductor.
If cables are laid into the ground without cover, it must be buried at least 1 m deep.
Surround the cable in the sand if cable covering hoods are being used. Existing cavities between the cable and covering hood will block
heat dissipation from the cable to the soil.
Cables are passed and laid in cement ducts beneath street roads. There are cement ducts for 1 to 4 drafts. They are made of concrete and
put together without a gap between them.
Cables must be laid in tubes 1.5 m deep beneath railway tracks. Cables must be laid at a distance of approximately 25 cm alongside gas
pipelines.
In case cables such as telecommunication cables cross other cables, they must be protected mechanically. There will be markings using
plastic cable marking tape at every 3 to 5 m of the laid cables.
Color and printing on the cable marking tape indicate:
1. voltage
2. cable type and number of cables
3. cross-sections
