Strain Reliefs/Cable Glands
A strain relief or cable gland can provide protection to the wires and cable by securing the cable of a power cord to the panel of the electrical equipment. It helps to protect from stress and damage as it runs through the panel of the equipment. While it does not relieve strain on a cable as it exits the equipment, it does relieve the strain on the electrical connection and circuitry inside the equipment.
The term “strain relief” is commonly used in North America, while “cable gland” is commonly used throughout Europe and the other parts of the world.
Choosing a Strain Relief/Cable Gland
Method of Attachment to the Cord
Cord attachment refers to how the strain relief/cable gland and cord are assembled together. Many slide on over the cord and then are tightened down onto the jacket. Some are molded permanently onto the cable. Molded strain reliefs/cable glands bond to the cable in order to hold the cable in place and fill the junction. There is also a mechanical snap-on strain relief/cable gland. These are not liquid-tight and like the molded ones, snap into cutouts with a squared or flat side.
Material of the Strain Relief/Cable Gland
Strain reliefs/cable glands come in a number of different materials, such as nickel-plated brass, nylon, and stainless steel. PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) is a good choice to use on equipment that is around food preparation because it does not retain oils, chemicals, or bacteria that can spoil or poison food. It should be noted that nylon fittings installed in a threaded connection and exposed to elevated temperatures should be retained with a sealing compound to avoid a loose connection when temperatures fluctuate.
Mounting Threads
A strain relief/cable gland can be threaded and assembled in different ways. Two examples are the mounting threads can be threaded directly into the panel of the equipment or it can be eased through a clearance hole in the panel and fitted with a locking nut.
Direct Thread into Panel
Clearance Hole with Nut
Methods of Mounting the Strain Relief/Cable Gland to the Framework
The slide-on strain relief/cable gland is threaded and is usually provided with a nut offering two methods of attachment to the panel. One option is to make a threaded hole to fit the size being used and simply thread it into the panel. The other method is to determine the diameter of the cutout hole and use a strain relief/cable gland which is close to the size of the hole. The lock nut will secure it to the panel. Both of these methods can provide a water-tight seal if used with an O-ring. In contrast, mounting of both the molded versions and the mechanical snap-on versions are done by the use of a cutout mounting hole in the panel and snapping the strain relief/cable gland into place. This makes the assembly time shorter, but does not guarantee a water-tight seal or the cord may not be as secure as the slide-on one.
Specialized Body Styles
Specific body styles are available for many different applications. Typically, strain reliefs/cable glands are available in two general configurations: dome and flex.
Dome Style
Dome style strain reliefs/cable glands are designed to protect the wire entering the equipment.
Flex Style
Flex style strain reliefs/cable glands offer flexible bend protection to the cord entering the equipment (A). They are designed to eliminate the possibility of the power cord kinking when the cord is pulled at extreme angles (B).
The spiral shaped spring wraps around the cord and adds strength to the cord where it is most vulnerable to damage.
Cable and Wire Size
Cable size is extremely important when specifying a strain relief/cable gland. The outer diameter of the cable must be known in order to select the appropriate strain relief/cable gland. Each one has a specification of either a specific cable outer diameter size or a range of cable outer diameters it will fit.
Thread Type
Different types of mounting threads that are available include: NPT (National Pipe Thread) which is the American standard; PG (Stahlpanzerrohr-Gewinde; also called Panzergewinde) which is the European standard (German military thread); and metric, which is a general purpose thread used worldwide. The thread system chosen depends on the location the equipment will be used.
If the mounting panel being used has threads, then the strain relief/cable gland should be chosen to match. If the panel has a clearance hole, then the strain relief/cable gland should be chosen according to where the part will be used in the world. If the market is in North America, for example, then choose from the NPT threaded series. If it’s in the European Union, choose metric threads for new equipment and installations. The PG thread is typically for replacement parts for existing installations.
Additional Resources
For more information on strain reliefs/cable glands available through Interpower, see Strain Reliefs and the Featured Product page.
Interpower offers free technical support. For further assistance, please see Interpower’s contact information below.
