A cable gland is a device designed to clamp and secure the end of an electrical cable to the equipment. A cable gland provides strain relief and is connected by means suitable for the type and description of the cable for which it is designed, including provision for making an electrical connection to the armor or braid and the lead or aluminum jacket of the cable, if corresponds. Cable glands can also be used to seal cables through bulkheads or cable glands. Cable glands are mainly used for cables with diameters between 1mm and 75mm.
Cable glands are commonly defined as mechanical cable entry devices. They are used in a number of industries in conjunction with cables and wiring used in electrical instrumentation and automation systems. The cable glands can be used on all types of electrical power, control, instrumentation, data and telecommunications cables. They are used as a sealing and termination device to ensure that the characteristics of the enclosure into which the cable enters are properly maintained. Cable glands are made of various plastics and steel, brass or aluminum for industrial use. Bushings intended to resist dripping water or water pressure will include synthetic rubber or other types of elastomeric seals. Certain types of cable glands can also serve to prevent the entry of flammable gas into equipment cabinets for electrical equipment in hazardous areas.
To route pre-terminated cables (cables with connectors), split cable glands can be used. These glands consist of three parts (two gland halves and a split sealing eye) that are screwed in with a hex locknut (just like normal glands). Therefore, pre-assembled cables can be routed without removing the plugs. Split cable glands can achieve ingress protection up to IP66 / IP68 and NEMA 4X.
Alternatively, split cable entry systems (typically consisting of a rigid frame and multiple sealing grommets) can be used to route a large number of pre-terminated cables through a cutout in the wall.
At least three types of thread standards are used:
• Panzergewinde (PG standard)
• Metric thread (M)
• American Pipe Thread (Inch System)
