Let's Talk about Cable Clips: Everything You Need to Know about Cable Clips

Cables are crucial devices used almost in every place where people live and work. They are easy to notice at home, running between desktop computers, television sets, video projectors, speakers, smartphone chargers, and security cameras. Cables are equally crucial in industrial settings, and can be noted running from printers, signal transmissions, motors, and programmable logic controllers.  They are used for functions such as signal transmission, communication, instrumentation, and control. 

Because cables are a must-have for your facility, it is prudent to ensure they are kept organized to prevent obstruction and interruptions. Properly organized cables are also easy to diagnose in case of a problem. The best way to keep your cables properly organized is using cable clips. Here is everything that you need to know about cable clips. 

What are Cable Clips?

Cable clips are devices used for managing wires and securing them to fixed points on a wall, workpiece, or surface. When used properly, they serve two roles. First, they help to keep your workplace or home looking tidy than it would be with wires hanging all over. Second, they help to keep both people and equipment safe by avoiding the risk of trip hazards. 

Although the primary role of clips is holding cables, they also come in handy for securing heavier runs of tubing or conduits. This is why you need to understand the nature of the task to be accomplished before settling on specific clips.  For example, do you want to use clips for securing multiple large sized-cables for your motors or running small electrical cables? 

The design of most clips comprises of two parts, which work together to help make using the clip easy and convenient to use: 

1. A hook, loop, or cradle that is used for holding wires nicely into place. 
2. A pin, nail, or screw used for fixing the clips to the selected surface. 

The design of these clips might vary slightly, and it is up to you to pick the preferred model. Take the example of girder cable clips. This type of clip is designed to clip on metal girders of ceiling beams so that you can suspend the cables without having to pierce the mounting surface.  

The Main Types of Cable Clips 

• Nail Cable Clips

Also referred to as wall clips, these clips are made with a nail or pin on the outer housing. They are mostly preferred for DIY jobs at home and offices. You can get them in different shapes, from rectangular to circular ones, which makes them very popular. 

• Screw-in Cable Clips 

If you want to secure heavier cables, perhaps to hold wires running to your material handling equipment or pumps, the nail clips might not be strong enough. A better option might be screw-in cable clips. The clips are hard-wearing and capable of holding thicker gauge tubing. They look just like the nail clips but use screws instead of nails or pins. 

• Flat Cable Clips 

If you are dealing with ribbon cables or want to hold the cables flash to the ceiling, the flat cable clip will be a convenient pick. These clips are common with Ethernet cables and can come in either self-adhesive or nail-down varieties. 

• Metal cable Clips 

If you have more demanding industrial or manufacturing types of cables, metal clips might be a great find because they are resistant to most environmental factors. They work well in areas with a lot of dust, such as mines or escape routes that are required to resist collapse in case of disasters. Popular materials for metal cable clips are brass and steel. 

The clips we have listed in this post are only the most popular. Other categories you are likely to find on the market include P cable clips, saddle cable clips, and coaxial cable clips. Remember that even after securing the cables with clips, they need to be checked regularly to ensure they are firmly held. Furthermore, your equipment, from pumps to lighting fixtures, should also be maintained in top condition for optimal performance of your facility.