Cat 5 through Cat 7

[Dave_C]

I was always under the understanding that stranded conductors were the best choice for high speed data transmission!

I have a spool of cat 5 wire that is solid conductors and I was wanting to use the best cable available for my new Acorn Lathe conversion so as to eliminate as much noise as possible.

While looking for some cable today, I see that CAT 7 [with shielded connectors] uses solid wire instead of stranded but can transmit at 1,000 Mhz per second instead of the 550 Mhz of cat 5/5e.

So does anyone have an opionion on which is better, stranded conductors or solid?

Dave C.

[springer-]

I can't tell you definitively what to use but I can tell you that I wouldn't use Cat anything for this. Cat 5 is 100mb, 5e/6 is 1000mb, 6a/7 is 10000mb. But that is designed for Ethernet communications and not signals like encoders. It specifically uses twisted pairs with different twist rates to prevent cross talk. The later 6/6a/7 use shielded cable but again it is for a specific application.

Not knowing specifically what you are trying to use it for I would guess 22-24ga shielded stranded wire for encoders and stuff like that would be a better choice. Unless you have something specifically calling for twisted pairs.

[Dave_C]

No, not intended to be used for encoders, just for some step and direction signals to my closed loop steppers.

Dave C.

[springer-]

I'm not using steppers but I would suspect that you would still want a shielded cable to help keep noise to a minimum. What gauge do your motors recommend for wire size?

[Dave_C]

What gauge do your motors recommend for wire size?

Not for the motor wires either!

Just between the Acorn board and the Stepper Controller, the 5vdc part, not the 74vdc motor side.

(I've been doing this for years, I was just curious about SOLID vs STRANDED wires) Is there an advantage of using one over the other? (For step and direction)


Dave C.

[tblough]

You don't want solid wires on anything subject to movement. They will break.

[springer-]

What gauge do your motors recommend for wire size?

Not for the motor wires either!

Just between the Acorn board and the Stepper Controller, the 5vdc part, not the 74vdc motor side.

(I've been doing this for years, I was just curious about SOLID vs STRANDED wires) Is there an advantage of using one over the other? (For step and direction)


Dave C.

Forgive me, your original question asking about using networking and phone wire in place of industry standard shielded stranded signal wire through me off.

My second poor choice of examples (encoders AND STUFF LIKE THAT) also didn't fit your exact application however still very relevant.

Third my mistake of not understanding you were talking about the signal cables from the controller to the drive (not motor as stated).

For all my mistakes I must apologize. I am however a Network Engineer and fully understand Cat cabling and tried to direct you AWAY from it by explaining how it works. I too have been doing this for many years having started in component level troubleshooting in 1984, designed an automated delay coil winding machine in 1988 including the control logic and boards. etc. blah, blah, blah and here we are now. Application is a HUGE part of deciding what to use where. Your original question might have been simple to you and just a choice of solid vs stranded wire however APPLICATION is everything and it wasn't mentioned.

"Not knowing specifically what you are trying to use it for I would guess 22-24ga shielded stranded wire for encoders and stuff like that would be a better choice. Unless you have something specifically calling for twisted pairs."

In the future I will not make the mistake of trying to help. Good luck with your build.

[Dave_C]

My Original Post:

I was always under the understanding that stranded conductors were the best choice for high speed data transmission!

I have a spool of cat 5 wire that is solid conductors and I was wanting to use the best cable available for my new Acorn Lathe conversion so as to eliminate as much noise as possible.

While looking for some cable today, I see that CAT 7 [with shielded connectors] uses solid wire instead of stranded but can transmit at 1,000 Mhz per second instead of the 550 Mhz of cat 5/5e.

So does anyone have an opinion on which is better, stranded conductors or solid?

In my original post I said nothing about "Phone Wire", I said "For high speed data transmission" and I only ask if anyone had an opinion about which was better for that use, solid or stranded. My spool of car 5 is solid wire, 4 twisted pairs.

I appreciate your help but I don't think you read the original post very well as your answers did not fit what was ask. Don't get your feeling hurt, I do the same thing!

It happens,

Dave C.

[martyscncgarage]

I only come "down here" (non Acorn section) every once in awhile
Stranded, shielded, twisted pair cable is what is best Dave.
They are signal wires, 18-24AWG should be OK.
If you want to use Ethernet cable, CAT5E and CAT6 meet that. But ethernet has more conductors than needed. Small solid wire is prone to breakage. Stranded wire that small could be too. I use ferrules on the end of my stranded wire. I don't use solid wire at all.

Personally, I just use 18AWG shielded 4 conductor cable for step/dir/en and common signals for each axis. I've not had any trouble with it up to 400KHZ...so far.

Marty

[Dave_C]

I only come "down here" (non Acorn section) every once in awhile
Stranded, shielded, twisted pair cable is what is best Dave.
They are signal wires, 18-24AWG should be OK.
If you want to use Ethernet cable, CAT5E and CAT6 meet that. But ethernet has more conductors than needed. Small solid wire is prone to breakage. Stranded wire that small could be too. I use ferrules on the end of my stranded wire. I don't use solid wire at all.

Personally, I just use 18AWG shielded 4 conductor cable for step/dir/en and common signals for each axis. I've not had any trouble with it up to 400KHZ...so far.

Marty

Ok, we are on the same page, Thanks!

Dave C.