Use and properties of a good cable entry guide

Written on 14 July 2021.

Cable entry guides are used to introduce and route cabling in hard-to-reach places. In short, cable guides facilitate the installation of the desired wiring. For example: in an office installation, where you want to install a telephone, network and electrical system. 

Using of a cable guide

1. Disconnect the system from the power supply.
2. Insert the guide into the conduit in which you need to work.
3. Pass it from one end to the other.
4. Tie the cable we want to install to our cable guide.
5. Pull the other end to pass it completely.

Characteristics to consider when choosing a cable entry guide

• Pushing strength
• Flexibility
• Tensile strength
• Friction

Thrust force and flexibility are usually inversely proportional, so it is interesting to have several guides depending on the use we have to make of it: 

• Guides with larger diameters provide greater thrust force, so they are ideal for long pipes with few bends. They will allow the passage of the guide and the cables without the need to make great efforts.
• With guides of smaller diameter or of more flexible materials, it is easier to negotiate bends and elbows, as well as to pass through corrugated or narrower pipes.

The capacity to resist traction is determined by:

Material

Nylon slides provide greater strength than polypropylene slides, and are also characterized by greater flexibility than reinforced slides.

Diameter 

Quality of the crimping of the toe with the guide. 

Shape
The guides can be smooth or HELICAL. The latter are made of polyester, and due to their twisted profile they have a high tensile strength (150KgF), without giving up the thrust force and flexibility, so they have a great versatility of uses and applications.

The level of friction of the guide with the tube will determine the ease of insertion, so the new braided or helical models, by reducing the contact surface by up to 50%, require less insertion effort compared to conventional guides.

5 tips to make your guide long lasting:

1. The importance of toe puffs
   
   

   Unlike conventional tips, solid bronze, threaded and hexagonally pressed tips provide a perfect grip on the guide, with rounded edges to facilitate movement and prevent stranding. The search tip must be flexible to easily adapt to bends and elbows. The fact of having an eyelet on both the search tip and the puller is a great advantage, as it allows use in both directions, without the risk of deformation or breakage of the tip.

2. Use the right accessories
   There are accessories to facilitate the use of the grommet guides, such as manual pullers, which prevent damage to the user and the material, and grommet gels to facilitate passage in difficult areas or areas with many bends, including glycerin gel, which prevents stains on walls, does not dry out the cables and evaporates 30 minutes after application.

3. To face well the tube with the guide

4. Buy a quality guide

5. Good maintenance 

New range of cables guides from XB Components 

	Reinforced	Nylon	Plastic	Polyester Helical
Series	GPR	GPN	GPP	GPH
Material	Plastic with steel lining. Steel punched toe cap.	Nylon	Polypropylene	Solid polyester
Diameter	4mm			4mm	5mm	6mm
Long	5-10-15-20-25-30m			10-15-20-25-30-40m	10-15-20-25-30-40-50-60m
Color
Tensile strength	100KgF	165KgF	30KgF	150KgF
Friction (contact points)	2	4	3	1
Ideal tube	20-32mm		15-28mm	25-50mm
Pushing force	High	Normal	Low	Very High	Maximum
Flexibility	Low	Normal	High	High