Wiring servo

[Ed Williams]

Can I use cat5 24g 8 conductor wire for wiring a servo with Peak Stall Current: 6.7 Amps. And just use a twisted pair on each of the voltage line to the servos and single on the encoders.
Thanks

[sdantonio]

I would think it would be a bit small. I would tend to use some 16 or 14g, mulitconductor, shielded wire and make sure the shields are grounded properly.

Steven

[Al_The_Man]

Personally I would not use Cat5 cable for anything but what it was intended for, Ethernet etc.
I would think you could go down to 18g but no lower, use separate cables for the encoder.
Alpha Cable or Belden are good sources of shielded cables.
Al.

[2muchstuff]

Cat5 cable is a solid conductor wire and will break if flexed enough times. Use a stranded wire for your motors and encoders.

[Ed Williams]

Do the encoders just need shielded or does the power too need shielded.
Thanks

[CJL5585]

Originally Posted by Ed Williams Do the encoders just need shielded or does the power too need shielded. Thanks

Some encoder manufacturers recommend that both the encoder and the power leads to the servo use shielded cable.

The encoder shield should in most cases be attached only on one end, and that connection is to the equipment or chassis ground.

The servo shield should be attached at one end to the equipment or chassis ground, and the other end of the shield attached to the servo motor housing.

Jerry

[Ed Williams]

Thanks Everyone
But I still have one more questions. I have 4 conductor with each pair in its own shield. Should I keep volts and ground in one and ch A&B in the other.
Thanks

[Al_The_Man]

If you have shielded pair cable, that would be the way to go.
Al.

[Ed Williams]

Should I keep volts and ground in one and ch A&B in the other on the decoder.
Thanks