Brown series starquad multicore and LSZH installation cable

Van Damme Brown series 8 and 16 way starquad multicores and the Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) installation cable have been designed to offer the highest levels of noise rejection and superior signal transmission. The 8 and 16 way multicores are ideal for the outside broadcast and film industries where high voltage lighting can cause electrical interference problems, while the new foil screened starquad installation cable is designed to provide high rejection of RFI and EMI interference coupled with ease of termination. The starquad multicores both have heavy duty polyurethane (PUR) jackets for the rigours of OB usage, while the one pair is available in an LSZH sheath only. This material makes the cable stiffer than regular PVC materials, but still flexible enough to use in other applications e.g. internal rack wiring.

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 ‘solderability’ and conductivity of the conductor resulting in faithful and transparent signal reproduction.

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. Other relevant properties include good stress and temperature resistance.

Multicore cables
The four conductors are twisted together in a starquad format and are screened with 96% optical coverage bare copper braided screen. The resulting core is then overlaid with a highly flexible PVC composite jacket which is individually numbered along its length. The required number of cores are then laid up with natural cotton fillers and silicon talcum and are jacketed with a polyurethane (PUR) outer jacket. PUR is exceedingly tough and although slightly less flexible than PVC is the ideal jacketing material for repeated rigging in tough environments such as Outside Broadcast.

Installation cable:
The four conductors are twisted together in a starquad format and are screened with an aluminium/polyester foil screen in close contact with a tinned UP OFC drain wire. The screened pair is then jacketed with a special LSZH material SHF-1. This polymer satisfies the requirements of the IEC regulations for the installation of LSZH telecommunications cables on ocean going vessels.

Individual conductors are colour coded to the established BBC standard - blue and red with green and white opposing. In order for the starquad configuration to work, blue and red should be connected to the hot (+ve) signal and blue and white to the cold (-ve) signal.

Applications
• 8 way multicore ideal for use with the outside broadcast standard Mil 26 connector
• 16 way multicore optimised for use with the VDM 54 pole
• For use in electrically and mechanically demanding environments
• LSZH foil screened cable for installation use, particularly in public buildings/areas