Let’s start with the basics. We cable or twist the conductors in our cable for several reasons: • To minimize cable size • To ensure some degree of flexibility • To be certain that as the cable is installed or in use, that all conductors see equal amounts of stress and strain
So, almost all our multiconductor cables are cabled or twisted. The simplest way to tell if a cable is cabled is to look at the diameter specification for the outer jacket. If it has single values like 0.363” nominal—it’s a good bet that it is a cabled construction. On the other hand, if two values are displayed, for example, 0.110” x 0.220” nominal—this is a very good indication that the conductors are arranged in parallel and are neither twisted nor cabled.
In the case of a cable with two insulated conductors—it’s really an arbitrary call as to whether the cable should be called a one-pair two-conductor cable. Regardless of the terminology, we would most always design a one-pair cable as we would a two-conductor cable. Often times, it comes down to how that particular cable fits in the context of the rest of the family that it belongs to.
