Cable basics

In a nutshell, if you purchased a cable manufactured to international standards and wired indoors according to proper guidelines, your cables are generally expected to last based on a design life of at least 20-30 years. What could affect the actual cable’s lifespan? There are, however, many operational and environmental factors that would affect the actual lifespan of a cable. These include: Overload or short circuit events would cause a shortening of cable life. Whether the cable is near high heat sources (e.g. installed at a high ambient temperature that was not factored in prior or is placed next to other circuits that were not accounted for during cable sizing). Whether the cable is exposed to outdoor elements such as UV radiation or weather conditions was not a part of the original design. Or if water has reached the cable core. Or if there is an unforeseen pest attack. Presence of contaminants, oil, or acids that could degrade the sheath or insulation. If the cables are subjected to mechanical stress, such as tensile, vibration, or bending, that could occur during or post-installation. Thanks to international bodies such as IEC, BS EN, or national standards like SS (Singapore Standards), cable standards have been developed to test for performance in various cable applications. While standards do not specify the life expectancy of a manufactured cable, these standards include electrical and non-electrical tests that would allow a cable lifespan of at least 20-30 years under typical indoor use. So end users can have peace of mind about the cable’s service life when purchasing cables that come with a Certificate of Compliance to the appropriate national or international standards. To ensure optimal electrical cable lifespan, it is also important to minimize the influence of the operational and environmental factors stated above. Choosing the most suitable insulation and sheath material according to the cable application and sizing the cable correctly would be key. For more information, please reach out to our sales team.

A structured cabling system (SCS) is a set of cabling and connectivity products that integrate voice, data, and other ELV systems on the premise (e.g. safety alarms, security access, and energy systems). It is a web that connects all the devices through more minor standardized elements – providing a reliable and future-proof solution to a wide range of communication requirements. Benefits of Structured Cabling Systems One of the most significant benefits of structured cabling is that it is a future-proof, scalable system; even if the company undergoes a sudden surge of growth, a structured system can keep pace with the growing needs. Another key benefit is the high level of straightforwardness in managing the system – after the initial planning and setup – as it eliminates the complexity of having multiple wiring infrastructures. In the past, point-to-point cabling was used, which meant every piece of hardware used its cable with long runs from point to point. This often led to a mess of wiring, posing a safety hazard and a high risk of human error with multiple unorganized cabling structures. When an issue arises, the time taken to identify the root cause could be significant and cause workflow disruptions and network downtime. A structured cabling system makes the diagnosis of issues easier and simplifies the replacement of faulty components. While a structured system is a greater upfront investment than a point-to-point one, it pays for itself over time through lowered IT costs and increased employee productivity. What Is KEYLAN™ and What Are the Components? Applying the highest manufacturing standards, Keystone Cable KEYLAN™’s suite of innovative products solutions offers both copper-based cabling systems and optical fibre cabling systems. KEYLAN™ offers a range of physical infrastructure solutions and accessories, from patch cords and wall outlets to horizontal cabling and connectivity panels that interface with equipment and data centres. Our solutions are designed to withstand high-speed data traffic and ensure that even the most complex network can be connected robustly and securely. KEYLAN™ Certifications and Guarantee KEYLAN™ takes pride in ensuring our cables are tested, certified, and meet the required specifications to provide the highest quality cables that operates safely and at the peak performance. KEYLAN™’s quality consistently meets or exceeds the standards set forth by international standards, including Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and Intertek (ETL). To ensure system integrity, all KEYLAN™ solutions components are verified by ETL:ETL Verified 2-Connector Permanent Link to ISO/IEC 11801 Class EA, permanent link illustration, and part numbers. With our established project references in our LAN cables and KEYLAN™ systems since 2010 and 2014 respectively, we provide end users a peace of mind regarding the quality of the products, guaranteeing their performance, reliability, safety, and information traceability. In addition, if the entire system, including installation, is certified under KEYLAN™. the system will come with a 25-year warranty. Contact Sales

The electrical wiring colour code is an important safety feature to allow a common language among electricians to understand what each wire is used for. If you have come across cable upgrading projects in Singapore and find a discrepancy in colours between what has been installed vs what is available in the market, this quick article is for you. Singapore’s cable colour codes for the live phase are brown, black and grey. This change took effect on 1 March 2009 when Singapore adopted the code to align with the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the standards organization that harmonises electrical standards in European countries. Cable Colour Code in Singapore (from 2009 onwards) Previous Cable Colour Code in Singapore (before 2009) For more information, please reach out to our sales team. Contact Sales

We live in world now where there is increased competition on quality construction manpower. This problem is exacerbated due to COVID-19, which has brought upon tightened travel restrictions and increased on-site safe distancing measures for health and safety reasons. As such, even post COVID-19, we believe there is a growing need for solutions that are able to help reduce certain manual or repetitive tasks at construction sites so that the manpower is freed to take on other more productive roles instead. At Keystone, we manufacture a prefabricated branch cable system, KEYFAB™, where the joints connecting the main cable to branch cables have been pre-moulded under factory conditions. Such prefabricated branch cable systems are applicable for use in high-rise buildings as main risers, as well as for tunnel lighting. With most of the work carried out in factory rather than on-site, prefabricated branch cable systems like KEYFAB™ deliver the following advantages: Reduction in Labour Time and Cost As the tap off (splicing and jointing) is already done at the factory, time savings on this task have been greater than 50% based on actual customer feedback*. Not only is less manpower required during this process, it also eliminates the need for skilled labour to do the actual tap off. *Field feedback from actual KEYFAB™ users Reduction in Material Cost KEYFAB™ cables are designed to fit your specific length requirements and excess cable is trimmed to prevent material wastage. They can be fixed to the wall with cleats or brackets. Enhanced Reliability As the fabrication process is done in a stringent quality-controlled environment, certified by a third party, the joint is more reliable than if it were done on-site which could be prone to human error. Completely airtight and waterproof, KEYFAB™ cables also prevent problems associated with moisture ingress during and post construction phase. Testing & Standards To ensure that Keystone Cable’s KEYFAB™ delivers maximum performance, we carry out rigorous testing under factory conditions individually for the cables and joints and then as a whole system, to verify compatibility. KEYFAB™ tests include: • Type Test• Heat Cycling Test• AC Voltage Withstanding Test• Insulation Resistance Test• Connector Resistance Test • KEYFAB™ Fire Resistant Cables series have also undergone fire (BS 6387, SS 299, IEC 60331), fire with water (BS 6387, SS 299) and fire with mechanical shock tests (BS 6387, SS 299) to ensure the cables maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions. Keystone Cable’s KEYFAB™ has been installed in hotels, residential and commercial projects. The following pictures are based on actual KEYFAB™ installations. View our guide on how to select the right cable sizing for your projects. Download Product Guide For more information, please reach out to our team here. Contact Sales

Cables are meant to carry electric current safely and efficiently. However, these safety and performance goals can be compromised if a counterfeit cable is produced. The counterfeit cable may result in performance issues such as poor lifespan or even safety concerns such as overheating and increased risk of electrical shock or fire. Counterfeit or fake cables are, by definition, falsely claiming that they comply with safety and performance standards when they do not. This may include marking on the label that they are produced to specific international or national standards even though they do not fulfil them. We have deconstructed the two basic components that determine the quality of the cable: 1) Conductor material 2) Insulation and jacket sheath material Conductor The copper amount is inadequate. The most apparent method to decrease the cost of producing a cable is by reducing the amount of the largest cost component, which is the copper conductor. This can be accomplished by either undersizing the cross-sectional area (“CSA”) of the copper conductor or by using impure copper. Under sizing, the CSA of the copper conductor can be accomplished by reducing the number of strands or by lowering the individual diameter in the conductor. Impure copper means using less than 99.9% copper content, or other material, like copper alloy or even copper-plated aluminium. Either method will increase the cable’s conductor resistance above the maximum value specified in the relevant standard. Conductors with higher resistance may pose a safety threat. The inherent resistance causes a larger heating effect when current passes through a conductor. Also, the conductor’s heat may cause premature insulation failure, which may result in a short circuit or even an electrical fire. How do you test the conductor? Conductor resistance tests can measure the adequacy of the CSA of copper conductors in a cable. Voltage is applied across a sample cable length, and the current across the sample is measured. Using Ohm’s law, the resistance of the sample can be calculated. If the measured resistance is higher than the specified maximum value, the CSA of the copper conductor is inadequate. Insulation and jacket sheath material Low-grade material compound Much like the conductor, substandard cables can result from a reduction in the quantity and quality of insulation material used. Less quality insulation can result in lower rated voltage. Cheaper cables also may have worse additives added to the insulation and/or sheath material. This may result in decreased cable flexibility, decreased insulation resistance, and increased susceptibility to cracking of the insulation or sheath with age. How do you test the insulation and jacket materials? There are many material properties that are important to try. Here we highlight two important types to know as an introduction. 1) Insulation resistance for insulating material2) Mechanical characteristics The insulation resistance test measures the current leakage from the cable, verifying that the conductor is sufficiently insulated from the environment. Poor insulation may result in short circuits, electric shock, or fire. Usually, this test is carried out at the maximum conductor temperature under normal operations. The material type used in insulation and/or sheathing determines this maximum operating temperature. The higher the insulation resistance, the better the cable is well insulated from the environment. Tensile strength and elongation tests measure the mechanical properties of the insulating and sheathing compound. A material’s tensile strength is the force needed to pull that material to the point of breaking. Elongation is a measure of the length that the material can be stretched to before breaking. The cable material is tested at two-time points. Once after the manufacturing of the cable and the other after accelerated ageing by subjecting the material according to a specified temperature and duration. The tensile strength and elongation tests are repeated after ageing to show how ageing affects the mechanical properties of the materials. Due to the larger variety of potential insulation and sheath issues, more tests are required to ensure quality. We have described a small set of basic but important tests conducted on all types of cables, but additional tests are required to provide other claimed material properties are fulfilled. These include tests of the cable’s fire resistance, water resistance, behaviour under thermal stress, and flexibility. Summary In summary, counterfeit cables claim to comply with international or national standards but skimp on either CSA of copper or the quality of insulation and/or sheath materials. However, there is no direct way to identify a counterfeit cable as it requires a complete set of lab tests, and therefore it is important to trust the brand of the cable you are purchasing. Buying from a reputable cable brand with products certified by a third party will ensure the longevity and safety of the product down the road, as you will not have to worry about replacing it sooner than the shelf life. For more enquiries, please contact us. Contact Sales

The cable bending radius is the minimum radius a cable can be bent without damaging it. The smaller the bending radius, the greater the flexibility of the material. Knowing your cable’s minimum bending radius will help prevent damage during installation. There are 4 factors that influence the minimum bending radius, including the cable-insulated material, the cable construction, the cable size and the cable’s overall diameter. To install the cables safely without damaging the electrical and physical properties of the cables, the tabulated minimum bending radius must be observed.  For example, you have a Keystone Cable 4Cx16 mm²  CU/XLPE/PVC 0.6/1kV cable. According to our Keystone Building & Infrastructure Cable table: D = 21.4 mm; Bending Radius (R) (Fixed) = 4D = 4 x 21.4 mm = 85.6 mm In addition to the common cable types above, we have summarized the bending radius for multiple cable types in a one-page table, including flexible, control, instrument, thermocouple, bus, welding, HDPE and solar cables. ​ Feel free to download the table reference for your use. Please note that these figures do not represent all manufacturers’ cables and that the data is based on Keystone Cable’s product range. DOWNLOAD TABLE For more enquiries, please get in touch with the team here. Contact Us