Perhaps you’ve heard of cable trays, and the tray cable that is approved to be used with them. They represent an alternative to conduits in electrical infrastructure, and offer a significant number of benefits when used in lieu of conduit.

Here are some of the main types of cable trays, as well as their respective benefits.

Ladder Cable Tray

Ladder cable tray is so named because it resembled a ladder. It consists of two parallel rails that are connected by a series of rungs along the bottom of the tray. Ladder cable trays are relatively simple in design and are typically made of strong materials like aluminum or steel that yields high strength and longevity. The design of the ladder tray also means it is more cost-effective to manufacture, in part because it uses less material, making it a more affordable alternative to other types of cable trays.

Because of the ladder tray’s design that has an open bottom, moisture cannot accumulate and the design also offers superior heat dissipation properties. It also enables easy inspection of the installed cables, as well as easy access for replacement or repair. At the same time, it offers little to no protection against EMI.

Ladder trays are used in a wide range of applications, including but not limited to wind turbine and solar energy systems, in datacenters, and in industrial, commercial, and transportation infrastructure. Perforated Cable Tray

In a perforated cable tray configuration, the side and rails of the cable tray are perforated with a series of small holes. While this design is not necessarily as well-ventilated as a ladder tray, it also prevents moisture accumulation and allows for excellent heat dissipation.

Because more of a perforated cable tray is enclosed, they are often more robust than ladder trays and they provide a potentially higher degree of protection to the cables within. Like other types of cable tray, however, perforated trays enable easy access, inspection and maintenance.

Like ladder cable trays, perforated trays are used in a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to installation in datacenters, but also in industrial and commercial facilities. They may also be used in telecommunications.

Wire Mesh Trays

Wire mesh cable trays are similar to perforated cable trays but they are made of a wire mesh, so they offer a higher degree of ventilation, though they offer slightly less protection, than perforated trays. They offer superior moisture and heat dissipation properties at the expense of protection for the tray cable.  

They are highly flexible and modular and can easily be cut to length or bent to shape to fit custom installations and applications. Where flexibility and ventilation are crucial, these are the best cable trays to use.

They are commonly used in datacenters and in telecommunications, as well as elsewhere the flexibility and ventilation are requisite.

Channel Trays (AKA Trough Trays)

Channel cable trays are also known as trough cable trays and sport a narrow, U-shaped design that may have either a perforated or a solid bottom. Because they are smaller and narrower, they are commonly used for short cable runs, or those in which a smaller number of cables need to be installed.

They are versatile and compact, and also mostly enclosed, so they offer a pretty solid deal of protection to the cables enclosed. Because of their small size, they are commonly used in commercial settings as well as in offices and in other areas where a compact solution is required.

Although channel trays are sometimes referred to as trough trays, another subset of trays are known as trough trays, which are also U-shaped in design. However, these trough trays are usually larger and more robust. Other features and relative advantages they share in common with channel trays.

Solid-Bottom Trays

As the name might suggest, solid-bottom cable trays have a solid bottom that is free of any lattice, holes or perforations. They may be made of aluminum or steel, and the material chosen will significantly impact the weight and cost of installation.

Solid-bottom trays provide the highest degree of protection and as a result offer the highest degree of protection to the cables they contain, and as such they can be used even with delicate cables like security cables and fiber optics. Also, they are made from corrosion-resistant, high-strength materials.

Solid bottom cables trays offer the highest degree of protection to the cables they contain, along with improved protection against electromagnetic interference, or EMI. At the same time, they don’t offer as high a degree of heat or moisture dissipation as the other types of cable tray mentioned here.  

And, while they still do offer easy installation, inspection and maintenance, they’re a little harder to work with since they are partially enclosed (along the bottom).

Why Tray Cable?

 

Tray cable and cable tray installations offer numerous advantages over the use of conduit. Among these are:

• Generally more cost-effective installation.
  
• A greater degree of versatility and flexibility.
  
• The tray cables remain exposed, making it easier to inspect, replace or maintain them.
• Tray cables allow for better heat and moisture dissipation than conduit allows.
• In addition to aluminum and steel, cable tray can be made from fiberglass, PVC, and other materials, offering a high degree of durability and corrosion resistance.
• Cable trays are generally lighter, incurring lower costs for aerial and overhead installations.
• Some cables trays can be used underground with tray cable rated for direct burial.

This is only a snapshot of some of the benefits of tray cable and cable trays, as compared to conduit. For a more complete, comprehensive breakdown of the relative advantages of cable trays, see our previous post, Tray Cable and Cable Trays vs. Conduit: A [Brief] Helpful Overview.

For More Information on Tray Cable and Cable Trays

If you still have questions or want to learn more about cable tray and tray cable, or the different grades of electrical cable out there, take a look through our full collection or get in touch with us directly at Sales@EWCSWire.com.