Cable Minimum Bend Radii

Most cables produced by reputable manufacturers have two minimum bend radius specifications. One is the minimum bend radius during cable installation. The other is the long-term minimum bend radius, which usually is larger. Both bend radius specifications are important to cable performance. If either specification is exceeded, cable conductors will excessively deform the insulation, which will lower the breakdown voltage, cause a radio-frequency impedance bump, increase multi-conductor signal crosstalk, and leave a cable more susceptible to future mechanical or thermal damage. Cable mechanical stress should be relaxed the extent reasonably possible after cable installation to reduce long-term conductor drift into insulation at cable bends. ©2005 Tigertek, Inc. All rights reserved.

• May Fact-of-the-Day Index