Selection Guide
Cable Protection System Selection — Sleeving, Wrap & Conduit
Complete cable protection selection guide: braided sleeving, spiral wrap, corrugated tubing, heat shrink, and conduit. Application-based recommendations.
Overview
Cable protection products — sleeving, wrap, tubing, and conduit — each serve different protection needs. This guide helps you match the right protection type to your specific requirements.
Selection Process
Identify Protection Priority
Abrasion: braided sleeving or spiral wrap. Chemical: PTFE or PEEK sleeving. Heat: fiberglass or high-temp sleeving. EMI: conductive sleeving. General: corrugated tubing or conduit.
Consider Installation Access
Open-ended (connector on one end): slide-on sleeving or heat shrink. Both ends terminated: spiral wrap (wrap around) or split conduit (snap over). No connector removal possible: spiral wrap only.
Evaluate Flexibility Needs
Static installation: rigid conduit or corrugated. Repeated movement: spiral wrap (flexible) or braided sleeving (expandable). Cable carriers: specialized high-flex sleeving.
Check Coverage Requirements
100% coverage: conduit or braided sleeving. 80-90% coverage (ventilation): spiral wrap. Adhesive seal: dual-wall heat shrink. EMI shield: conductive sleeving with 360-degree termination.
Select Material
PET: general purpose, good abrasion. PA6: better abrasion, higher temp. PTFE: chemical, high-temp. Stainless steel: extreme mechanical, fire. Silicone-coated fiberglass: extreme heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest cable protection to install on existing cables?
Spiral wrap — simply wrap around the cable bundle, no connector removal required. For heavier protection, split corrugated conduit snaps over the cable. Both options allow adding or removing cables without disassembly.
How do I choose between braided sleeving and corrugated tubing?
Braided sleeving: flexible, conforms to irregular shapes, good for tight bends. Corrugated tubing: crush-resistant, maintains round shape, better for straight runs and mechanical impact protection. Use braided for wire harnesses and moving applications; corrugated for static cable tray and conduit runs.
Need Application-Specific Advice?
Our engineers can help you select the right product for your exact requirements.