A cable tray system serves as a conduit for routing cables between various buildings and utility corridors. These systems come in various structural types-primarily trough, solid-bottom (tray), ladder, and wire mesh-and consist of components such as supports, cantilever arms, and mounting hardware. They feature simple structures, aesthetic appeal, flexible configuration, and ease of maintenance; all accessories undergo galvanization. Cable trays are ubiquitous in outdoor settings as well as in facilities like underground parking garages, commercial buildings, and shopping malls.
Solid-Bottom Cable Trays (Trough-Type Cable Trays):
These are suitable for highly sensitive control cables, such as those used for computers, communications, and thermocouples. They provide excellent shielding against interference and protection for cables in highly corrosive environments. Surface finish options include electrostatic spraying, galvanization, hot-dip galvanization, and a combination of galvanization and spraying; special anti-corrosion treatments are required for environments with severe corrosion.
Perforated Cable Trays (Tray-Type Cable Trays):
Metal tray-type cable trays are semi-enclosed systems. While their design closely resembles that of trough-type trays, they offer advantages such as lighter weight, higher load-bearing capacity, an attractive appearance, simple construction, and ease of installation. They are suitable for installing power cables and laying control cables.
Differences Between Trough-Type and Tray-Type Cable Trays:
Although they look similar, their functions and suitable applications differ significantly. The perforations in tray-type systems greatly improve heat dissipation but result in significantly reduced shielding capabilities against interference compared to trough-type systems.
"Cable tray system" is the collective term for a rigid structural system that provides continuous support for cables. It is composed of straight sections, bends, and accessories-available in trough, tray, or ladder configurations-along with support components such as cantilever arms and hangers. The most direct difference between tray-type and trough-type cable trays lies in their design:
Trough-type cable trays are fully enclosed, whereas tray-type cable trays feature numerous elongated slots (or holes) in the bottom; the primary distinction is simply the presence or absence of these bottom perforations.
Trough-type trays offer poor heat dissipation, while tray-type trays perform slightly better in this regard due to their ventilation slots. Because of these slots, the material used for tray-type trays is typically thicker.
Trough-type cable trays are best suited for laying computer cables, communication cables, thermocouple cables, and control cables for other highly sensitive systems; they provide effective shielding against interference and offer robust protection for cables in highly corrosive environments.
Tray-type cable trays are widely used in sectors such as petroleum, chemicals, electric power, light industry, broadcasting, and telecommunications. They are lightweight, offer high load-bearing capacity, feature an attractive design, and are simple in structure and easy to install; they are suitable for both power cable installation and control cable routing.
Surface treatments for tray-type cable trays can be customized to user requirements-options include electro-galvanizing, electrostatic powder coating, and hot-dip galvanizing-with special anti-corrosion treatments available for highly corrosive environments.
However, tray-type cable trays have a broader range of applications than trough-type trays. Trough-type trays are primarily used for laying large numbers of small-cross-section wires and cables, whereas tray-type trays are mainly used for power cables with larger cross-sections but in smaller quantities.
Tray-type cable trays are widely used in sectors such as petroleum, chemicals, electric power, light industry, broadcasting, and telecommunications. They are lightweight, offer high load-bearing capacity, feature an attractive design, and are simple in structure and easy to install; they are suitable for both power cable installation and control cable routing.
Surface treatments for tray-type cable trays can be customized to user requirements-options include electro-galvanizing, electrostatic powder coating, and hot-dip galvanizing-with special anti-corrosion treatments available for highly corrosive environments. However, tray-type cable trays have a broader range of applications than trough-type cable trays; specifically, trough-type trays are primarily used for laying large numbers of cables with small cross-sections, whereas tray-type systems are mainly used for power cables that have large cross-sections but are fewer in number.
