Harnesses, wire looms and cable assemblies can be frequently used interchangeably but in reality they are all quite different. It’s important to make sure that you have a good grasp of what makes each of these distinctive when it comes to the way that they are made, how they perform and where they are likely to be the most useful. While all three terms can be used to describe a collection of wires or cables that are held together in one unit that tends to be where the exact similarities end (wires being conductive metal strands wrapped in a protective sheath while cables are multiple wires within a protective outer jacket). There are a number of key differences that are key to note.
- Wire harnesses. Efficient, low cost and simple the wire harness is a basic sheath design in which multiple wires or cables can be bound together to ensure that they remain in a specific order. The sheath is usually made from a thermoset or thermoplastic material but is not designed to provide protection to the wires inside – this should come from the individual wire wrappers. The basic function of wire harnesses is to organise – this is a simple way to keep wires in a specific position, whether that is to minimise the amount of movement that can take place or making the most of the space that is available.
- Cable assemblies. There is some similarity between a wire harness and a cable assembly but also one big, key difference – the protective sheath around the cable assembly does much more than simply hold the wires or cables in one place. This protective sheath is likely to be made from vinyl or a material such as shrink-wrapped thermoplastic or thermoplastic rubber. It not only provides a way to organise the wires or cables but also adds an extra layer of protection, for example when it comes to minimising the impact of heat, friction, abrasion or moisture. Cable assemblies can be especially useful where there is a need to protect wires or cables from environmental factors.
- Wiring looms. The wiring loom can be considered an evolution of the cable assembly as it takes the basic concept and elevates it to the next level – something which can be essential in industries where a simple, straightforward design is just not enough. Wiring looms can be pretty minimal, bringing together a small number of wires. However, they are also often used where assembly is highly complex and there is a need to combine a wide range of different types of wires and cables and to use more than one binding technique to do it. These complex masses of cabling, which are often divided into different wiring groups, can be found everywhere, especially in industries such as car manufacturing.
When it comes to cable assemblies, harnesses and wiring looms, although there are certainly similarities between all three there are also key differences that make these very different solutions to cabling and wiring needs.
