metal spiral shield around cables - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: TheUnnamedNewbie
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 07:58:44 am
content: I have a couple USB cables from Hama that has a metal spiral shieldhttps://be.hama.com/bilder/00183/abx/00183335abx.png. I was wondering if you can somehow get this kind of shield stand-alone to put around existing cables?

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 10:18:24 am
content: I have seen plastic wraps for smaller and larger diameter cables. Strip width was much wider and more manageable than seen in the picture. There are plastic spiral wraps coated with shiny metal, but that is different.I have doubts that metal wrap is sold separately for consumers, as it would take ages to fit to existing cables. It looks very tight as well (too tight for manual application).

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 11:01:33 am
content: Shield? It's a goose neck.https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/gooseneck-flexible-metal-cable.html

author: TheUnnamedNewbie
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 12:39:49 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on September 20, 2021, 11:01:33 amIt seems like this is one of those occasions where once you know what the thing is called, the search becomes trivial. Thanks!

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 12:54:24 pm
content: And if it’s not a gooseneck, it’d be called “armor”. (Shielding: electromagnetic protection. Armor: mechanical protection.)

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 01:27:32 pm
content: In the case of the OPs attached image, it appears to be, how can I put this?... 'Styling'!It will be much too inductive to provide any useful RF shielding and does virtually nothing to protect the cable from mechanical damage (except in the specific case of a lengthwise cut, when it would probably snag anyway). Luckily you can see braided wire shielding in the lead underneath.Marketing w**k comes to mind.

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 04:14:50 pm
content: The nearest thing I know of is spring hose protector (guard). Its not a gooseneck that's for sure.Is it really metal or sprayed plastic, is it conductive?

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 05:20:30 pm
content: "Gooseneck" usually implies something stiff enough to hold its shape--so things like task lights and microphones that need to be repositionable but stay where you put them.A useful term is 'corrugated sleeving':https://www.mcmaster.com/sleeves/corrugated-sleeving-6/If you don't need the cable to be fully enclosed by the spiral wrap, another option would be to buy some extension spring stock. It's available in long lengths so that you can cut it and form loops on the ends to create extension springs of arbitrary length. You can expand the helix by stretching it to just past its yield point so that it plastically deforms, which will make it longer, easier to get it onto the cable, and leave the cable more flexible once its installed. The main problem with this might be finding the spring stock in a suitable alloy/plating, usually I've only seen it in bare steel which will be prone to corrosion if not cared for.You could form your own coil from suitable wire stock, it will take some trial and error to get the coil formed to the right diameter (you have to account for the spring-back of the material) and it can be tricky to produce a consistent coil, but you can then customize the size/helix angle/material to your needs. I saw a video a while ago of a model engine someone was building where they did exactly this to reinforce some rubber hose, with a nice little jig for forming a consistent coil, but I can't figure out the right search terms to find it at the moment.

author: TheUnnamedNewbie
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 06:47:49 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on September 20, 2021, 01:27:32 pmI actually have a few of these cables and there really is more to it than just marketing wank. It is quite a bit stronger than my other cables. Most notably, it survived my two kittens, which a lot of other cables did not.Quote from: Terry Bites on September 20, 2021, 04:14:50 pmThe one I have (and the product type I'm looking for - I've seen this in other places too) is really metal and conductive.Quote from: ajb on September 20, 2021, 05:20:30 pmThanks! Another good term to add to my google-fu

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2021, 07:27:17 pm
content: Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on September 20, 2021, 06:47:49 pmMaybe not the intended reason for the design, but yes, I can imagine them being extremely unpleasant, even painful, to chew on.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 02:31:27 pm
content: Not spiral but an example of a pump cable protector/support.Ed. perhaps more weight support than protection?

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2021, 03:59:05 am
content: I do not think that is a very good shield. You can purchase braided shields from the electronic supply houses which would be much better as shields.Of course, if you just like how it looks .......

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2021, 04:12:16 am
content: I just remembered I randomly found some decorative plastic spiral wrap stuff at my local big box department store a little while ago. It won't be as robust as anything metal, but might be good enough, and will probably end up being more flexible and easier to deal. Tricky to find the right search terms to distinguish from the more common larger spiral wrap stuff, but this ebay listing looks very similar, and there will probably be lots of similar recommended listings on that page:https://www.ebay.com/itm/234149481417Picture of the listing attached in case that link goes dead.Quote from: armandine2 on September 22, 2021, 02:31:27 pmYeah, that's a cable support grip, although it doesn't look to be sized properly for that cable--or perhaps has been a bit abused in its lifetime.Quote from: EPAIII on September 23, 2021, 03:59:05 amFrom context I'm pretty sure the OP is looking for mechanical protection rather than electrical shielding or aesthetic enhancement.