Jan. 10, 2026
A CY control cable is a screened, flexible multicore cable designed to carry control and signal circuits where electromagnetic interference could jeopardize accuracy. The “C” in CY reflects the braided copper screen (usually tinned) that sits beneath the jacket and provides effective EMI protection while maintaining flexibility for routing and occasional movement. For system integrators, choosing the right CY control cable removes a frequent cause of nuisance trips, false readings and communication errors in automated systems.
Most CY control cable constructions share a predictable anatomy: finely stranded copper conductors, PVC or elastomeric insulation on each core, an overall tinned-copper braid (the “C”), and a final jacket matched to the environment (PVC, LSZH, or oil-resistant compounds). Strand class, conductor gauge, braid coverage percentage and jacket compound are the technical levers that determine performance. Reliable suppliers publish strand counts, DC resistance and braid coverage in their datasheets so you can compare like for like.
The braided screen in a CY control cable is the core reason buyers choose this construction. A well-applied tinned-copper braid offers low-frequency magnetic field rejection, mechanical robustness, and a convenient 360° return path for EMI when properly terminated. For systems that run parallel to power feeders, VFDs, welders or motor drives, the additional immunity a CY braid delivers often eliminates a long list of intermittent faults — especially when the shield is correctly grounded and the drain conductor is handled per best practice.
Expect CY control cable datasheets to specify a working voltage (commonly 300/500 V), test voltage, operating temperature ranges for fixed and flexing use, and a minimum bend radius expressed as multiples of overall diameter. These numbers are not optional: they tell you whether the cable is suitable for panel-internal wiring, occasional flexing on a machine, or continuous motion in a cable carrier. Use these figures to reject underspecified, low-cost parts that look similar on a photo but fail in the field.
CY control cable is widely applied in machine tools, production lines, packaging systems, instrument racks and any location where signal integrity matters and limited flexing occurs. It’s also used for wiring between instrument clusters and PLCs where runs cross noisy power circuits. Note that standard CY constructions are intended for occasional flex; for continuous motion or drag-chain use, request a flex-rated construction or a dedicated drag-chain cable.
Confirm conductor and strand spec. Fine-strand conductors increase flex life and make crimps more reliable. Ask for strand count and filament diameter.
Match jacket chemistry to exposure. Use LSZH in plenum or escape-route spaces, oil-resistant compounds for factory floors, and UV-stabilized jackets for exposed external runs.
Check braid coverage and drain wire details. Higher braid coverage improves low-frequency shielding; ensure a drain conductor is present for easy termination.
Verify voltage and temperature ratings. Do not assume a part is suitable for your installation — validate 300/500 V class, flex temp range, and minimum bend radius against your design.
Ask for test certificates and sample reels for mission-critical buys. A short lab test and a small flex trial on a sample reel will expose substitutions and manufacturing issues faster than field failure ever will.
Installers get the longest life from a CY control cable when they respect three simple habits: avoid tight bends that violate minimum radius, separate shielded control runs from high-current feeders where possible, and terminate the braid/shield to ground at the recommended single point to avoid ground loops. Use ferrules on stranded conductors to prevent strand splay in screw terminals and torque lugs to manufacturer specs. These disciplined steps prevent most of the failures people attribute to “bad cable” when the real cause is poor installation.
Good termination practice is the single biggest on-site differentiator. For CY control cable: expose the braid only where you will make the shield connection, fold it back neatly, attach a properly crimped drain lug, and bond to chassis/earth per the control system’s grounding plan. Avoid wrapping shields around cores or using multiple floating shield terminations — both invite noise. A short thermal scan of bundled terminations under load during commissioning will catch high-resistance crimps before they cause trouble.
When you ask suppliers for CY control cable quotes, require these fields so you get apples-to-apples responses: conductor gauge and strand count, braid type and percent coverage, insulation and outer jacket materials, voltage and temperature ratings, minimum bending radius, approvals/standards (VDE, BS EN, UL where applicable), packaging options and sample availability. Vendors who supply clean datasheets and test certificates reduce procurement risk significantly.
A mid-priced, well-specified CY control cable typically costs more up front than an unshielded multi-core, but the lifecycle value is where the return appears: fewer troubleshooting hours, less machine downtime, and fewer emergency cable replacements. For production-critical lines and instrument clusters, the slightly higher initial spend on a proper CY part commonly delivers outsized savings in the first year alone.
Specify the application, demand strand and braid numbers, select jacket chemistry for the environment, and insist on sample reels or third-party test certificates for mission-critical orders. When you take this disciplined approach to CY control cable procurement and installation, systems stop failing intermittently and start running predictably — which is exactly what operations and maintenance teams need.
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What Is an Access Control Cable Plenum
