Cable Technology Feature Article
May 21, 2009
Liberty Intros Plenum Cable for RGBHV Applications
By Vivek Naik, TMCnet Contributor
Liberty Wire & Cable, a division of Communications Supply Corporation, announced at recent industry convention that its “RGB5C-23-CMP Plenum Cable” is ideally suited for Red Green Blue Horizontal Sync Vertical Sync applications, such as color video signals used by computers and high-definition video.
Officials at the company say that the new cable is designed for the long-distance transmission of High Definition Multimedia Interface, which is designed to support all video formats within the consumer electronic market segments and digitally allows simultaneous video streaming, multiple channel audio and inter-component command data exchanges. It also supports Digital Visual Interface, which converts analog signals to digital output and is used for both analog and digital monitors.
“The new RGB5C-23-CMP Cable is ideal for long runs with high-resolution computer signals and for long runs of HDMI and DVI signals when used with Liberty’s DL-HDCX DigitaLinx HDMI over RGB Cable extender,” said Bill Schripsema, Director of Commercial Products, Liberty Wire & Cable.
A plenum cable is mostly routed within the otherwise unused space that surrounds air conditioning ducts and related equipment within a false or drop ceiling, and in the space within a false or raised floor, with the specific function avoiding visual clutter.
These cables generally carry communications and entertainment signals for cable TV, telecommunications, IP, data, voice, covert cameras, smoke detectors, and thermal sensors, and must be certified as per building codes in the United States and Canada and latest norms specified by the Underwriters Laboratories (News - Alert).
The RGB5C-23-CMP cable, where represents a wire diameter of 23 AWG (0.0226 inches or 0.573 millimeters) as per the American Wire Gauge standards, and offers less signal quality drop than the generally used 26 AWG Mini Hi-Res cables and therefore, claim official sources, can be routed for a 50 percent to 100 percent longer distance without intermediate signal boosters.
“The cable features include five conductors, a Kynar jacket for applications up to 125° C, and compliance with the Restriction on Hazardous Substances directive that calls for reductions in lead and other environmentally undesirable chemicals,” said Kirk Horlbeck, senior vice president of marketing at Liberty Wire & Cable.
The new cable sends consistent HDMI and DVI signals, claim officials, for a resolution of 1080 pixels at a frequency of 60 Mega Hertz to a distance of 300 feet when used with Liberty’s DL-HDCX extender, is swept to 4.5 GHz for reliable performance with any analog or digital signal, comes packaged on 500-foot spools for easier handling, and is best suited for Liberty crimp connectors. A non-plenum version is also available and is designated as RGB5C-23-CM.
A plenum cable, or rather one that is placed within spaces in a building, is required by law, as reported by TMCnet, to comply with all the fire-retarding properties, wiring and safe installation, which include the elimination of grounding and bonding, as mentioned in UL 444 and in the U.S. National Electrical Code, the laws of which are in turn laid down by the National Fire Protection Association in NFPA70, NPFA 262 for cables in air conditioning air-path zones, or plenum cables, and UL 1666 for cables placed between floors, or riser cables.
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Vivek Naik is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Vivek's articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Michael Dinan
