AVI series audio video composite multicore LSZH

This composite audio, video and data multicore cable was created by Van Damme in response to a direct client request for a prestigious installation project in London’s Docklands business district. The installation required Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) materials to be used throughout with a performance brief for RGBHV and composite video, 4 balanced audio pairs and in an addition to the standard Van Damme AVI range 3 tracers for the transmission of RS232C. To extend the capabilities of the cable the 4 audio pairs were manufactured as 110 Ohm AES/EBU types enabling digital audio and balanced data to be transmitted. The resulting cable has proven to be popular in other installations and has now become a standard Van Damme product.

Materials
Van Damme now use a higher purity oxygen free copper for the conductors - Ultra Pure Oxygen Free Copper. The use of this material further improves the conductivity of the cable resulting in faithful and accurate picture information transmission.

Audio pairs: Foam skin polyolefin is used for the conductor insulation. This special insulation is made up of individual pockets of inert gas suspended in polyolefin, resulting in a low dielectric constant (2.3) and most importantly low capacitance. The skin refers to the outer layer of the insulation, which forms during the extrusion process. This skin is harder than the layer of insulation below it ensuring that the conductor is well protected. The dielectric constant of foam skin polyolefin remains stable over a wide frequency range, essential for transmission of digital signals. Other relevant properties include good stress and temperature resistance. Pairs are twisted together with a tinned UPOFC drain wire and shielded with an aluminium/polyester foil screen. The 150% coverage method employed ensures that the pair is fully screened and that the drain wire remains in close contact with the conductive aluminium foil allowing interference to be effectively taken to ground. The screened pair is then jacketed with a special LSZH material SHF-1. This compound adheres to the regulations laid down in IEC 60092-359 for halogen free materials for telecommunications cabling in shipping.

Video cores: Foam skin polyethylene is used for the conductor insulation. This special insulation is made up of individual pockets of inert gas suspended in polyethylene, resulting in a low dielectric constant and most importantly low capacitance. The skin refers to the outer layer of the insulation, which forms during the extrusion process. This skin is harder than the layer of insulation below it ensuring that the conductor is well protected. The dielectric constant of foam skin polyethylene remains stable over a wide frequency range, essential for transmission of digital signals. Other relevant properties include good stress and temperature resistance. This insulated conductor is screened with 96% optical coverage bare oxygen free copper and is then also oversheathed in SHF-1.

Tracers: The 20AWG tracer wires are oversheathed in colour coded foam skin polyolefin. The requisite number of these conductors are laid up together with appropriate fillers, and screened with an aluminium polyester foil overlaid with a >80% optical coverage braid. The resulting cable is then overlaid with an extruded SHF-1 LSZH thermoplastic jacket.