In our daily life, we come across many electronic devices and appliances. Each of these devices has a bunch of cables and wires connected. If left unorganized, it will lead to cluttered cables. However, thanks to the cable clips, you can bundle the wires together and prevent them from tangling and damaging. Also, it helps to keep your electronics, children, and pets safe. In this guide, we will look into the different types of cable clips so that you can make an informed choice for your applications.
Table of Contents
- What are Cable Clips?
- How Can you utilize Cable Clips?
- How do cable clips and Cable Clamps Differ from Each Other?
- Different Sorts of Cable Clips With Their uses
- Plastic cable clips Vs. Metal cable clips
- Conclusion
What are Cable Clips?
A cable clip works as a cable organizer with which you can fix long cables and wires to a base. Cable clips help keep the cable components tidy and organized, do not let them damage, and minimize short circuit risks. You can fix cables to skirting boards, secure cables to walls, or run cables and wires through enclosures behind electrical fittings and on panels with cable clips.
Caption: cables fastened with white ties
How Can you utilize Cable Clips?
There are different sorts of cable clips available in the market. However, they all have a hook or a cradle to secure the cable. Further, the cables can vary based on their mounting system and affixing the clips to the base. For example, in some clips, you will find holes for the fastener to fix the clips to the surface. Make sure that your surface has an option for nails or screws. Otherwise, you can lock the cables to like walls through self-adhesive clips instead of nails. Peel the back of the self-adhesive cable clip, stick it to the surface, and put cables into clips to attach them to surfaces or walls.
When you start wiring, it is essential to consider the flammability ratings of the wires. Thus, you must check the approvals and standards for cable protection. As a result, you will pick the cable clips ideal for your applications and meet safety standards.
Caption: black modular power supply unit
How do cable clips and Cable Clamps Differ from Each Other?
With cable clamps, you can define the route of the cables and wires. On the other hand, cable clips help you mount cables and wires to some surfaces. Sometimes, you can use cable clamps for the same purpose as cable clips.
Different Sorts of Cable Clips With Their uses
A Cable clip can be a clamp, cable wire clip, or a wire saddle.
Cable clip with long metal rail
There are specific metal rails in electrical enclosures called DIN rails where you can mount terminal blocks, circuit breakers, and other electrical equipment. The extended metal rail clips easily slide into the groove of the metal rail and thus can handle cables and wires of the equipment.
Screw-mounted wire clip
Screw mount wire clips have two parts. You can secure the clip with the help of its flat-head machine screw. Using it on panels, you can remove its keeper bar for maintenance and cable changes.
Wire clip with adhesive mount
These clips have a double-sided adhesive base which you can stick to any surface and remove without leaving any mark. You can secure the wires and cables by bending their clip, and the thick foam helps in protecting the cables from damage.
Nail-in cable clamps
These are the best wire clips to secure cables along walls. You can use them as coaxial cable clips or for installing fiber optic cables and other communication cables. These clips have a nail in their outer housing, and you can get them in round or rectangular designs in many sizes.
Adjustable cable clips with adhesive mount
These mounting cable clips are best in applications with high vibrations. They can hold and lock the cable bundles tightly. They are reliable and can reopen them for cable routing changes.
Cable clamps (Flat)
Due to their low profile, you can use these clips for holding and protecting cables and fibers. Due to their low profile, you can use them for densely packed frames of computers or wall mount enclosures. You can get them in nail-down or self-adhesive varieties.
Wire saddles- locking, snap-in
You can securely mount the cables and wires with wire saddles. They are mainly made of molded plastics and metals. There is a snap-in mechanism at their base, and the top has a lock-in mechanism. They help reduce the strain of wires in PCBs.
Cable spring clips
A cable spring or ribbon locking clip helps secure ribbon cables, tubing, and round cables. If you use acetal or nylon clips, you can change the cables without taking away the clip from these screw-down cable clips.
Wire clip (plastic) – with adhesive mount
As self-adhesive, fixing them on different surface areas is easy. A plastic clip on the wire holder can flip over to secure 1 mm wires. You can use them in routing wires and cables in equipment and enclosures.
P-clamps (steel) have rubber cushion.
These steep P clamps are mainly suitable for use in the automotive and machinery industries. As evident by the name, they look like the letter “P.” you can wrap them around the bundle you want to secure and fix them with the help of the screws. You can find them in different sizes and based on their use environments. \
Caption: inside of a computer computer
Plastic cable clips Vs. Metal cable clips
There are specific differences between metal clips and plastic clips:
Firstly, you can find metal clips in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and copper. In steel clips, zinc coating helps prevent corrosion, and aluminum and stainless steel are corrosion-resistant. On the other hand, rubber clips are also made of steel or stainless steel but have a rubber lining, such as P clips. As a result of the rubber lining, these clips have excellent electric insulation and capacity for vibration absorption.
Secondly, brass or copper metal clips are unsuitable if they touch galvanized steel as they can lead to corrosion. Thus, you have to pick wire clips made of plastic like nylon clips in this situation. Further, nylon is very cost-effective when it comes to managing cables.
Except for a few applications, plastic is a safe choice. Check local requirements and safety guidelines. It is always better to use metal clips at exit and entry routes. Plastic clips may melt, and cables may fall if fire incidents occur.
Caption: ethernet cables guard leading
Conclusion
Cable clips are safe, simple, effective, and cheap to manage your cables. However, buying the right clips is important based on the number of wires and the attaching surface. Some clips allow you to change wires easily, while others require you to cut them and replace them for any alterations. Choose the right clips to make your cables safe and out of sight. Which cable clips are best for your job? Cloom’s highly qualified experts will guide you through every way to get the proper cable clips.
