Naught WIRE CABLE DIAMETERS EXPLAINED

1 of the nearly common questions we are asked is "What is the right cable bore for a zip wire?"

At Naught Wire Shop we supply cablevision diameters which far exceed the safety parameters stated by cable manufacturers.

BEWARE: Some zilch wire retailers will endeavor to "upwardly-sell" to a cable diameter which is thicker than required by scaremongering y'all into spending more coin with them than is necessary. This is non only a waste of coin merely too makes the cable harder to tension/install due to the unnecessary additional weight.


These condom parameters are somewhat complex just..

The short answer is:

  • 6mm bore is suitable for rides up to 40m in length (xxx stone Safety Working Load)
  • 8mm diameter is suitable for rides from 50m to 60m in length (53 stone Safe Working Load)
  • 10mm diameter is suitable for rides 70m+ (82 stone Safe Working Load)

These are the cable diameters that all of our garden (domestic) zip wire kits are based upon.

We but apply 7x19 strand galvanised cable which is the ideal specification for zip wire use.


The long respond is based on the Safe Working Load (SWL) of the cable, the weight of the cable plus the weight of the heaviest person who will exist using the zip wire.

Rubber Working Loads explained:

The Safety Woking Load is usually based on a x:1 ratio of the Minimum Breaking Load (MBL). The Minimum Breaking Load is the point where the manufacturer states the cable may exist at risk of breaking under load. Therefore, information technology would take ten times the Safe Working Load for the cable to reach the signal where information technology may be at risk of breaking.

The other thing to consider is that the Minimum Breaking Load is reduced by 20% at the cable clamp positions.

Safe Working Loads of our cables (allowing for twenty% reduction of the Minimum Breaking Load):

  • 6mm diameter cable has a SWL of 188kg (30 stone)
  • 8mm diameter cable has a SWL of 335kg (53 stone)
  • 10mm bore cable has a SWL of 522kg (82 stone)

Conclusion:

  • The overall weight of a 40m (6mm) cable is v.5kg.
    Therefore, a 40m (6mm) cable can have a maximum rider weight of 28 stone to stay within the Safe Working Load
  • The overall weight of a 60m (8mm) cable is 14.6kg.
    Therefore, a 60m (8mm) cable can take a maximum rider weight of fifty stone to stay inside the Safety Working Load
  • The overall weight of a 100m (10mm) cablevision is 38.1kg.
    Therefore, a 100m (10mm) cable can take a maximum rider weight of 76 rock to stay inside the Condom Working Load