Braid Screened Signal Control Cable for Industrial Automation and Control Systems

Braid Screened Signal Control Cable provides flexible copper connectivity for industrial automation, measurement, monitoring and low-voltage control circuits where an overall metallic braid helps control electromagnetic interference. ETK Kablo manufactures braid-screened PVC-jacketed signal and control cables in LIYCY and LI2YCY constructions, including standard multicore and TP/TT pair or triad configurations.

The current ETK Kablo range uses IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductors and an overall tinned copper braid. LIYCY constructions use PVC conductor insulation, while LI2YCY constructions use solid polyethylene insulation. All four current products use a PVC outer jacket.

The braid forms an electromagnetic screen around the assembled cable core. It should not be confused with steel wire braid used for mechanical protection in armored signal-control constructions. Electrical screening and mechanical protection are separate specification requirements.

What Is a Braid Screened Signal Control Cable?

A braid screened signal control cable is a flexible multicore, pair or triad cable with a conductive metallic braid around the assembled signal conductors.

In the current ETK Kablo range, the overall screen consists of tinned copper braiding.

The braid can help reduce the influence of electromagnetic interference on low-voltage analog and digital signals in industrial environments.

Typical applications can include:

• Industrial automation
• Control panels
• Measurement equipment
• Monitoring systems
• Sensor and actuator connections
• HVAC automation
• Process-control circuits
• Machine and production-line signaling
• Data acquisition equipment
• Low-voltage communication circuits

ETK Kablo Braid Screened Signal Control Cable Range

Product	Insulation	Conductor Grouping	Overall Screen	Outer Jacket
LIYCY	PVC	Multicore / layers	Tinned copper braid	PVC
LIYCY-TP/TT	PVC	Twisted pairs or triads	Tinned copper braid	PVC
LI2YCY	Solid PE	Multicore / layers	Tinned copper braid	PVC
LI2YCY-TP/TT	Solid PE	Twisted pairs or triads	Tinned copper braid	PVC

The four products share the same basic overall braid-screen concept. The main differences are conductor insulation and the way the conductors are grouped.

LIYCY Braid Screened Signal Control Cable

LIYCY is the principal PVC-insulated braid-screened signal control cable in the ETK Kablo range.

The current construction includes:

• IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductor
• PVC conductor insulation
• Layered conductor stranding
• Polyester tape
• Overall tinned copper braid
• UV-resistant PVC outer jacket

The standard outer-jacket color is RAL 7035 grey in the current product documentation.

LIYCY can suit fixed industrial signal and control routes where an overall copper-braid screen forms part of the EMC design.

LIYCY-TP/TT Braid Screened Cable

LIYCY-TP/TT uses the same PVC-insulated and tinned-copper-braided concept but groups insulated conductors into twisted pairs or triads.

The individual conductors first form pairs or triads. ETK Kablo then strands these groups together before applying polyester wrapping and the overall copper braid.

This architecture can be useful where the project specification requires defined circuit grouping rather than a conventional multicore arrangement.

What Do TP and TT Mean?

TP identifies a twisted-pair construction.

TT identifies a twisted-triad construction.

Pair or triad grouping can support circuit organization and balanced signal routing in control, measurement and automation systems.

The TP/TT designation describes conductor grouping. It does not mean that each pair or triad receives an individual metallic screen.

LI2YCY Braid Screened Signal Control Cable

LI2YCY differs from conventional LIYCY primarily through its conductor-insulation material.

The current LI2YCY construction includes:

• IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductor
• Solid polyethylene conductor insulation
• Layered conductor stranding
• Polyester tape
• Overall tinned copper braid
• UV-resistant PVC outer jacket

LI2YCY retains a PVC outer jacket even though the individual conductors use polyethylene insulation.

LI2YCY-TP/TT Braid Screened Cable

LI2YCY-TP/TT combines solid polyethylene conductor insulation with twisted-pair or twisted-triad grouping and an overall tinned copper braid.

The construction allows projects to specify:

• PE-insulated conductors
• Pair or triad organization
• Overall copper-braid screening
• PVC outer jacket

The exact cable code should therefore be considered during specification rather than treating LIYCY and LI2YCY as identical products.

LIYCY vs LI2YCY

Characteristic	LIYCY	LI2YCY
Conductor	Class 5 stranded copper	Class 5 stranded copper
Conductor Insulation	PVC	Solid PE
Overall Screen	Tinned copper braid	Tinned copper braid
Outer Jacket	PVC	PVC
Operating Temperature	-30°C to +70°C	-30°C to +70°C
Minimum Bending Radius	7.5xD	7.5xD

The insulation system is therefore one of the main distinctions between the two families.

PVC-Jacketed Does Not Always Mean PVC-Insulated

LI2YCY and LI2YCY-TP/TT use solid polyethylene conductor insulation.

Therefore, engineers and buyers should specify conductor insulation and outer-jacket material independently when those properties matter to the project.

Tinned Copper Braid for Electromagnetic Screening

The current four products use an overall tinned copper braid around the assembled signal-cable core.

This braid forms the principal electromagnetic screen.

The conductive braid can help reduce coupling from nearby electrical equipment, switching devices, motors, drives and power circuits when the cable forms part of a properly designed installation.

However, screening performance also depends on routing, termination, bonding and the electromagnetic environment.

Screen Termination Matters

A metallic screen provides the intended EMC function only when the complete installation uses an appropriate termination concept.

Project engineers should consider:

• Screen continuity
• Connector or terminal design
• Bonding requirements
• Grounding philosophy
• Separation from power circuits
• Installation route
• Signal sensitivity

A braid-screened cable should not be treated as a substitute for correct EMC installation practice.

Braid Screen vs Foil Screen

Screen Architecture	Typical ETK Cable Family	Main Construction
Foil Screen	LIY(St)Y / LI2Y(St)Y	Overall metallic foil
Braid Screen	LIYCY / LI2YCY	Overall tinned copper braid

Both architectures provide overall electromagnetic screening but use different physical constructions.

A foil uses a thin metallic laminate around the cable core, while a braid uses many conductive wires woven around the cable.

The correct option should follow the project specification, EMC environment, termination system and installation requirements rather than a universal ranking of one screen type over another.

Braid Screen vs Foil + Braid Screen

Architecture	Typical ETK Family	Overall Foil	Overall Copper Braid
Braid Screened	LIYCY / LI2YCY	No	Yes
Foil + Braid Screened	LIY(St)CY / LI2Y(St)CY	Yes	Yes

LIYCY and LI2YCY use one overall copper braid.

Combined-screen constructions add an overall foil beneath or together with the copper braid.

Projects should use the screen architecture defined by the actual EMC requirement rather than assuming that more metallic layers are always necessary.

Braid Screen Is Not Steel Wire Braid

Construction	Material	Main Function
LIYCY Screen Braid	Tinned copper	Electromagnetic screening
Steel Wire Braid	Steel wire	Mechanical protection

A standard LIYCY cable is braid screened but not mechanically steel-wire braided.

Where a route requires additional mechanical protection, ETK Kablo provides separate Steel Wire Braided Signal Control Cable categories.

Braid Screen Is Not Steel Wire Armor

Steel Wire Armor also serves a different purpose from the tinned copper braid used in LIYCY.

The copper braid addresses electromagnetic behavior around the signal core.

Steel armor provides physical protection around the cable.

Electrical screening and mechanical protection should therefore remain separate line items in an RFQ.

Class 5 Stranded Copper Conductors

The current LIYCY and LI2YCY families use IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded electrolytic copper conductors.

Class 5 construction provides greater flexibility during installation than a rigid solid conductor.

This can simplify routing through control panels, cabinets and machinery.

However, Class 5 conductor construction does not by itself qualify the cable for continuous-flex, drag-chain, robotic or repeated-motion applications.

Fixed Installation vs Continuous Movement

Braid-screened signal control cable can provide practical installation flexibility, but continuous mechanical movement places different demands on a cable.

Projects involving drag chains, robotic axes, repeated torsion or continuous flexing should specify those requirements separately.

The standard LIYCY or LI2YCY designation should not automatically be interpreted as continuous-flex certification.

Operating Voltage Depends on Conductor Size

The current ETK Kablo product tables do not assign one identical operating voltage to every conductor cross-section.

Conductor Cross-Section	Current Published Operating Voltage	Current Published Test Voltage
0.22 mm²	250 V DC	1200 V DC / 1 min
0.25 mm²	250 V DC	1200 V DC / 1 min
0.34 mm²	250 V DC	1200 V DC / 1 min
0.50 mm² and above in the published technical table	300/500 V	2000 V DC / 1 min

Operating voltage therefore depends on the selected conductor cross-section rather than one blanket 300/500 V rating.

LIYCY Electrical Characteristics

The current LIYCY technical table publishes conductor sizes from 0.22 mm² to 2.50 mm² with electrical characteristics that vary by conductor size.

Cross-Section	Max. Conductor Resistance at 20°C	Insulation Resistance	Mutual Capacitance
0.22 mm²	85.0 Ω/km	200 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.25 mm²	77.8 Ω/km	200 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.34 mm²	56.0 Ω/km	200 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.50 mm²	39.0 Ω/km	20 MΩ/km	120 nF/km
0.75 mm²	26.0 Ω/km	20 MΩ/km	120 nF/km
1.00 mm²	19.5 Ω/km	20 MΩ/km	130 nF/km
1.50 mm²	13.3 Ω/km	20 MΩ/km	140 nF/km
2.50 mm²	7.98 Ω/km	20 MΩ/km	150 nF/km

Exact conductor-count and cross-section availability should be confirmed from the selected LIYCY product table during quotation.

LI2YCY Electrical Characteristics

LI2YCY uses solid polyethylene conductor insulation, and the current technical table publishes an insulation resistance of 5000 MΩ/km across the listed 0.22 mm² to 2.50 mm² range.

Cross-Section	Max. Conductor Resistance at 20°C	Insulation Resistance	Mutual Capacitance
0.22 mm²	85.0 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.25 mm²	77.8 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.34 mm²	56.0 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	110 nF/km
0.50 mm²	39.0 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	120 nF/km
0.75 mm²	26.0 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	120 nF/km
1.00 mm²	19.5 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	130 nF/km
1.50 mm²	13.3 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	140 nF/km
2.50 mm²	7.98 Ω/km	5000 MΩ/km	150 nF/km

This difference in insulation resistance is another reason to treat LIYCY and LI2YCY as separate constructions rather than interchangeable codes.

Temperature and Bending Radius

The current LIYCY and LI2YCY product documentation publishes:

• Operating temperature: -30°C to +70°C
• Minimum bending radius: 7.5xD

These values support fixed industrial routing and installation planning. Dynamic applications can require separate mechanical criteria.

Flame Retardancy

The current braid-screened PVC products reference IEC 60332-1-2 for single-cable flame retardancy.

The products also reference corresponding VDE and BS EN standards.

This flame-retardancy classification should not be confused with fire-resistant circuit integrity.

LIYCY and LI2YCY are not automatically equivalent to FE180, PH120, E30, E60 or E90 cable systems.

PVC Braid Screened vs LSZH Braid Screened Signal Cable

This category uses PVC outer jackets.

Projects that require halogen-free, low-smoke materials should evaluate ETK Kablo's separate LSZH Braid Screened Signal Control Cable family.

Category	Outer-Jacket Direction
PVC Braid Screened	PVC jacket
LSZH Braid Screened	Halogen-free / low-smoke jacket

Screening architecture and jacket material should therefore be considered as separate project requirements.

Braid Screened Signal Cable for Industrial Automation

Industrial automation systems can require reliable low-voltage signal transmission between sensors, actuators, PLCs, controllers, terminal boxes and monitoring equipment.

Nearby motors, switching equipment and power infrastructure can create electromagnetic noise.

An overall tinned copper braid can help protect sensitive signal circuits when combined with correct cable routing and termination.

Braid Screened Cable for Sensors and Actuators

Sensors and actuators often carry low-level analog, digital or switching signals between field equipment and control systems.

LIYCY and LI2YCY can provide flexible multicore or pair/triad connectivity where an overall braid screen forms part of the EMC design.

The required conductor cross-section, voltage class and grouping should follow the field-device specification.

Braid Screened Cable for HVAC and Building Automation

HVAC and building-control systems use communication and signal circuits between controllers, sensors, actuators and monitoring equipment.

Braid-screened signal control cables can be relevant where these circuits pass through electrically active technical areas.

Projects that require specific bus protocols should verify whether a dedicated bus cable rather than a general signal-control cable is required.

Braid Screened Cable for Measurement and Monitoring

Measurement systems can carry analog or digital signals that are sensitive to electromagnetic noise.

LIYCY and LI2YCY provide an overall copper-braid screen around the signal core.

TP/TT versions add defined pair or triad organization where the measurement architecture requires grouped conductors.

Signal Control Cable vs Instrumentation Cable

Signal control and instrumentation cables can serve related industrial systems, but procurement specifications should not treat the terms as automatically interchangeable.

Instrumentation projects can require individually screened pairs or triads, overall screens, defined capacitance characteristics, armoring or project-specific oil-and-gas standards.

Projects requiring dedicated instrumentation architectures should evaluate ETK Kablo's Instrumentation Cable portfolio separately.

How to Specify Braid Screened Signal Control Cable

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Cable Family	LIYCY or LI2YCY
Conductor Grouping	Multicore, TP or TT
Conductor	IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper
Conductor Insulation	PVC or solid PE according to cable code
Screen	Overall tinned copper braid
Outer Jacket	PVC
Cross-Section	Specify exact conductor size
Conductor / Pair / Triad Count	Specify project requirement
Operating Voltage	Confirm according to conductor cross-section
EMC Environment	Define screening and termination requirements
Movement Requirement	State if continuous flexing or drag-chain service is required
Fire Requirement	Define PVC, LSZH, flame-retardant or fire-resistant requirements separately
Documentation	Datasheet and project-specific documentation

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Braid Screened Signal Control Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures a broad range of braid-screened signal-control cables for automation, monitoring and industrial communication systems.

The current PVC-jacketed range includes LIYCY, LIYCY-TP/TT, LI2YCY and LI2YCY-TP/TT constructions with IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors and overall tinned copper braiding.

This allows engineers and procurement teams to select PVC or PE conductor insulation, multicore or pair/triad grouping and the required conductor configuration while retaining the same overall copper-braid screening principle.

ETK Kablo can evaluate conductor count, conductor cross-section, pair or triad organization, voltage requirement, electromagnetic environment and project documentation during quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Braid Screened Signal Control Cable

What is a braid screened signal control cable?

It is a signal or control cable with an overall conductive braid around the assembled cable core. ETK Kablo uses tinned copper braiding in the current LIYCY and LI2YCY families.

What is LIYCY cable?

LIYCY is a PVC-insulated, PVC-jacketed signal-control cable with IEC 60228 Class 5 stranded copper conductors and an overall tinned copper braid.

What is LI2YCY cable?

LI2YCY uses solid polyethylene conductor insulation, an overall tinned copper braid and a PVC outer jacket.

What is the difference between LIYCY and LI2YCY?

The main published construction difference is conductor insulation. LIYCY uses PVC insulation, while LI2YCY uses solid polyethylene insulation.

What does TP mean?

TP identifies a twisted-pair construction in which insulated conductors are first arranged in pairs.

What does TT mean?

TT identifies a twisted-triad construction in which insulated conductors are arranged in groups of three.

Are TP/TT pairs or triads individually screened?

Not in the standard products on this page. The current LIYCY-TP/TT and LI2YCY-TP/TT constructions use one overall tinned copper braid around the assembled pairs or triads.

Is braid screening the same as foil screening?

No. Braid screening uses woven conductive wires, while foil screening uses a metallic laminate. ETK Kablo maintains separate foil-screened and braid-screened categories.

Is LIYCY the same as foil-and-braid screened cable?

No. Standard LIYCY uses an overall tinned copper braid without an overall foil. Combined foil-and-braid constructions belong to separate LIY(St)CY-type families.

Is the copper braid mechanical armor?

No. The tinned copper braid primarily provides electromagnetic screening. Steel-wire braid and steel-wire armor belong to separate mechanically protected cable constructions.

Are all braid-screened PVC signal cables PVC insulated?

No. LIYCY uses PVC conductor insulation, while LI2YCY uses solid polyethylene insulation. Both use PVC outer jackets.

Are all products rated 300/500 V?

No. Current ETK Kablo technical tables publish 250 V DC for selected smaller conductor sizes and 300/500 V for larger listed cross-sections. The exact product and conductor size should be checked.

What is the operating temperature?

The current LIYCY and LI2YCY product documentation publishes an operating range of -30°C to +70°C.

What is the minimum bending radius?

The current product documentation publishes a minimum bending radius of 7.5 times the cable diameter.

Is LIYCY suitable for drag chains?

Class 5 stranded copper provides installation flexibility, but the standard LIYCY designation does not by itself establish continuous-flex or drag-chain suitability. Dynamic applications should be specified separately.

Is braid screened PVC signal cable fire resistant?

Not automatically. The current products reference IEC 60332-1-2 flame retardancy, which does not establish FE180 or PH-rated circuit integrity.

What information should I provide for a quotation?

Provide the cable family, conductor or pair/triad count, conductor cross-section, insulation requirement, voltage requirement, EMC environment, installation conditions, quantity and required project documentation.