Control Cables
Control cable carries switching and actuation signals between panels, motor starters, and field equipment, typically multi-core with numbered cores for fast panel wiring. NLS sources 1.5mm² to 4mm² multi-core control cable, 2 to 61 cores, copper conductor, PVC or XLPE insulated, to BS 6346, for MCC, switchgear, and field junction box wiring on Saudi industrial and infrastructure projects.
Control cable sits between power cable and instrumentation cable in what it carries: not the main current feeding a motor, and not a low-level analog signal, but the switching, interlock, and status signals that make a motor control center, a switchgear panel, or a field junction box actually function as a system. It's built multi-core, with each core numbered on the insulation so a panel builder or a site electrician can wire against a schedule without tracing colors under a multimeter.
NLS sources control cable in core counts from 2 up to 61, conductor sizes typically 1.5mm² and 2.5mm² for standard control circuits and up to 4mm² for higher-current switching, PVC insulated as standard with XLPE and LSZH options where the spec calls for it. Reference standards are BS 6346 for PVC power and control cable and IEC 60227 for the general PVC insulated cable family, matched to whatever the electrical spec calls out.
Typical Saudi project use is wiring between motor control centers and field-mounted starters, interlocking between switchgear panels, control wiring for pump stations and HVAC plant rooms, and multi-core runs feeding remote junction boxes on process and utility sites. These are usually taken straight off a control schedule or a panel wiring diagram, since the core count and numbering sequence has to match what the panel builder expects.
Sourcing runs the same as NLS's other cable lines: send the core count, conductor size, and cable length from the schedule or drawing, and NLS returns a priced quote in USD with lead time set by the specific core count and drum length ordered. Standard core counts in common sizes are usually quicker to source than unusual counts that fall outside a manufacturer's standard range.
Specifications
- ✓Core count: 2 to 61 cores, multi-core, numbered core identification
- ✓Conductor size: 1.5mm² and 2.5mm² standard, up to 4mm² for higher-current control circuits
- ✓Insulation: PVC standard, XLPE and LSZH options
- ✓Standards referenced: BS 6346, IEC 60227
- ✓Typical use: MCC wiring, switchgear interlocking, field junction box runs
- ✓Conductor: stranded copper
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between control cable and power cable?+
Power cable carries the main current feeding a motor or load. Control cable carries the lower-current switching, interlock, and status signals that operate contactors, relays, and indicator circuits between panels and field equipment, usually multi-core with numbered cores.
What core counts does NLS supply for control cable?+
NLS sources multi-core control cable from 2 cores up to 61 cores, matched to the core count and numbering sequence a project's control schedule or panel wiring diagram specifies.
Is control cable the same as instrumentation cable?+
No. Control cable carries switching and actuation signals at standard voltage, without the screening instrumentation cable needs for low-level 4-20mA signals. A project usually specifies them on separate schedules.
What standards does NLS reference for control cable in Saudi projects?+
BS 6346 for PVC power and control cable construction and IEC 60227 for the general PVC insulated cable family are the common reference standards, matched to the project's electrical specification.