LSZH Steel Wire Armored Braided Foil Screened Signal Control Cable

Braided foil screened LSZH steel wire armored signal control cables combine two electromagnetic screening layers with halogen-free materials and galvanized steel wire armor.

ETK Kablo manufactures this cable range in LIH(St)CHSWAH and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH constructions. Standard multicore, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF versions allow the cable architecture to match different signal-grouping and electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

The overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid provide electromagnetic screening around the signal core. A separate galvanized steel wire armor layer provides additional mechanical protection around the inner-jacketed cable.

What Is a Braided Foil Screened LSZH Armored Signal Cable?

A braided foil screened LSZH steel wire armored signal cable combines several separate design functions in one construction:

• Al/PET foil screening for broad electromagnetic coverage,
• tinned copper braid screening as a second conductive screening layer,
• galvanized steel wire armor for mechanical protection,
• halogen-free inner and outer jackets for LSZH material requirements.

The foil, copper braid and steel wire armor should not be treated as interchangeable layers.

The Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid form the electromagnetic-screening system. The galvanized steel wire armor primarily protects the cable against mechanical stress.

Foil, Copper Braid and Steel Wire Armor

This cable family contains several metallic layers with different engineering purposes.

The foil provides high surface coverage around the signal core, while the copper braid forms a flexible conductive screen around the same assembly.

Together, these two layers provide a combined screening system for signal circuits operating in electrically demanding environments.

The steel wire armor sits outside the inner jacket and serves a different purpose by increasing mechanical protection.

LIH(St)CHSWAH and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH Constructions

ETK Kablo manufactures two principal conductor-insulation systems within this range.

Both families use Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductors and halogen-free inner and outer jackets.

The principal difference lies in the conductor insulation.

LIH(St)CHSWAH uses halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)CHSWAH uses solid polyethylene conductor insulation.

The 2Y designation therefore identifies the polyethylene insulation system. It does not change the overall foil-and-braid screening concept or the steel wire armor.

Standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF Versions

The range includes three different conductor-grouping and screening concepts.

The correct version depends on circuit organization, signal sensitivity and the required level of circuit-to-circuit separation.

TP and TT Signal Cable

TP refers to conductors arranged as twisted pairs, while TT refers to conductors arranged as twisted triads.

In the TP/TT versions, conductors are first grouped into pairs or triads. These groups are then assembled together before the overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid are applied.

TP/TT therefore describes conductor organization.

It does not mean that each pair or triad receives an individual metallic screen.

The current LIH(St)CHSWAH-TP/TT and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH-TP/TT constructions use one combined overall foil-and-braid screening system around the complete grouped cable core.

PiMF and TiMF Armored Signal Cable

PiMF identifies pairs individually screened in metallic foil, while TiMF identifies individually screened triads.

Each pair or triad receives:

• polyester wrapping,
• a tinned copper earthing wire,
• an individual Al/PET foil screen.

The individually screened pairs or triads are then assembled together.

The complete cable core receives an additional overall screening system consisting of Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid.

PiMF/TiMF versions therefore provide both individual circuit screening and combined overall screening.

This architecture can provide additional circuit-to-circuit separation when multiple sensitive analogue or digital signals share the same cable.

ETK Kablo Braided Foil Screened LSZH SWA Cable Range

LSZH and Flame Performance

The products in this range use halogen-free inner and outer jackets and publish applicable testing for smoke density, halogen content, corrosive-gas behavior and flame performance.

Relevant IEC test standards within the current product family include:

• IEC 61034-2 – smoke density
• IEC 60754-1 – halogen content
• IEC 60754-2 – corrosive-gas characteristics
• IEC 60332-1-2 – single-cable flame retardancy
• IEC 60332-3-24 – flame propagation under specified test conditions

The exact test requirements and supporting documentation should always be confirmed for the selected product and project.

LSZH Does Not Automatically Mean Fire Resistant

LSZH describes cable-material characteristics related to smoke and halogen behavior during combustion.

It does not automatically demonstrate that a cable can maintain electrical circuit integrity during fire exposure.

Standard LIH(St)CHSWAH and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH constructions should therefore not automatically be specified as FE180 or PH120 fire-resistant cables.

Projects requiring defined circuit integrity must specify a dedicated fire-resistant construction with the applicable test classification.

Typical Applications

Braided foil screened LSZH steel wire armored signal cables can suit fixed installations where sensitive signal circuits require both high electromagnetic screening and additional mechanical protection.

Typical applications include:

• industrial automation systems,
• process control installations,
• measurement and monitoring circuits,
• PLC and control-system connections,
• sensors and actuators,
• factory and production infrastructure,
• building automation systems,
• transportation infrastructure,
• signal circuits routed through mechanically exposed areas.

The installation route, electromagnetic environment, mechanical exposure and required fire performance should all be evaluated before selecting the cable.

Foil, Braid or Foil + Braid Screened SWA Cable?

ETK Kablo offers three electromagnetic-screening concepts within the LSZH steel wire armored signal-control range.

For a compact overall foil-screened construction, see the LSZH Foil Screened Steel Wire Armored Signal Cable range.

For an overall copper-braid screen without an additional overall foil layer, see the LSZH Braid Screened Steel Wire Armored Signal Cable range.

The products on this page combine both overall foil and copper-braid screening.

All three constructions belong to the broader LSZH Steel Wire Armored Signal Control Cable range.

How to Specify a Braided Foil Screened LSZH SWA Cable

A quotation request should define the electrical, screening and mechanical requirements separately.

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Braided Foil Screened LSZH Armored Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures braided foil screened LSZH steel wire armored signal cables for industrial signal and control systems requiring advanced electromagnetic screening and mechanical protection.

The range combines Class 5 stranded copper conductors, Al/PET foil, tinned copper braiding, halogen-free inner and outer jackets and galvanized steel wire armor.

LIH(St)CHSWAH and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH insulation options, together with standard, TP/TT and PiMF/TiMF configurations, allow engineers, distributors, system integrators and industrial contractors to select the construction according to the signal circuits and installation environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Braided Foil Screened LSZH Armored Cable

What is a braided foil screened LSZH steel wire armored signal cable?

It is a signal or control cable that combines Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid for electromagnetic screening, halogen-free jacket materials and galvanized steel wire armor for mechanical protection.

What does SWA mean?

SWA means Steel Wire Armor. In these cables, galvanized steel wires provide mechanical protection around the inner-jacketed signal cable.

Does steel wire armor replace the foil and braid screens?

No. The Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid provide the dedicated electromagnetic screening system. The steel wire armor primarily provides mechanical protection.

What is the difference between LIH(St)CHSWAH and LI2Y(St)CHSWAH?

LIH(St)CHSWAH uses halogen-free conductor insulation, while LI2Y(St)CHSWAH uses solid polyethylene conductor insulation. Both use overall foil-and-braid screening, halogen-free inner and outer jackets and galvanized steel wire armor.

What does TP/TT mean?

TP/TT means that the conductors are arranged as twisted pairs or twisted triads before the complete cable core is assembled.

Are TP/TT pairs individually screened?

No. Standard TP/TT constructions use an overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid around the assembled pairs or triads.

What does PiMF/TiMF mean?

PiMF/TiMF identifies individually foil-screened pairs or triads. The complete assembled core also receives an overall Al/PET foil and tinned copper braid.

What is the difference between foil screened and braided foil screened cable?

Foil-screened constructions use Al/PET foil as the principal electromagnetic screen. Braided foil screened constructions combine an overall Al/PET foil with a tinned copper braid to provide two overall screening layers.

Is LSZH the same as fire resistant?

No. LSZH relates to the smoke and halogen characteristics of cable materials. Fire resistance requires separate circuit-integrity testing such as FE180 or PH120 where specified.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the required LIH(St)CHSWAH or LI2Y(St)CHSWAH family, conductor cross-section, standard, TP/TT or PiMF/TiMF configuration, operating voltage, installation conditions, LSZH and fire-performance requirements, quantity, packing length and required documentation.