BX Cable

BX Cable

By Anne Ahira

You may be wondering just what BX cable is, and if it is safe to use. This is a generic term referring to a type of cabling that was invented in the 1900’s by Henry Greenfield and Gus Johnson.

Originally, the company only had one product, which they simply called A, so when they developed this cable they were at somewhat of a loss as to naming it.

Apparently someone suggested they continue with the simplicity and call it B with the X added as a suffix since the cable was experimental. The correct term for what is available currently is AC cable, but just like Kleenex and Q-tip now refer to all brands of the a forementioned products, BX cable has become the recognized name for this cable.

Now that you know how the name came to be, let’s focus on what BX cable actually was and is today. This is an armored cable, which contains many smaller wires within a metal casing, or armor. The problem when this first was manufactured was the type of wiring encased in the armor and the manner in which it was cut to length.

Long ago BX cable contained wiring that was rubber or paper coated. These primitive coatings were prone to thermal aging, as in the case of the rubber and moisture absorption in the case of the cotton or paper covered wires. As you can imagine this led to wire breakage and possible shorts in a short amount of time. Of course as so often happens technology and machine processes have greatly improved over the years and these problems as well as others have been addressed.

Changes include:

• Insulation has been replaced with thermoplastic coatings that have a much better track record than rubber.
• Anti-short bushings- What used to be dangerous fibrous materials have also been replaced by thermoplastics.
• Bonding wire- The flat brittle bonding wire of the past has been replaced with a wire that stays in constant contact with the entire length of the armor.
• Galvanizing- This process used to be done before the metal for the armor was cut leaving these edges prone to rust, galvanizing is now performed after the sheet metal is cut offering superior rust resistance.
• Cutting Tools- When using a hacksaw or pliers to cut BX cable you run the risk of damaging the casing, wires and conductors. Now there are specialized tools for cutting the cable that negate this possibility.

Bottom Line

You will need to check with your local inspectors on the legality of using BX cable on a new construction or addition. However if there are no restrictions where you are building and you simply want to know if it is safe to use, it is. Many changes have been made over the last several years and this economic alternative should be as safe as any other is, just be sure you have proper tools for working with armored cable.

Just thought you may be interested in reading this guide: mic cable and rj45 cable

Here's BX Cable Selections:

Gb-Gardner Bender Bx Armor Cable Cutter GBX-300...	Customer Review: The Gardner Bender Bx Armor Cable Cutter GBX-300 is a plastic tool with a small diameter cutting wheel. The tool holds the cable in place while the user turns the crank to cut through the armor. To be successful the cable and cutting wheel have to b... Read More	$37.79 (1)
Sony BDP-BX37 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player with Inter...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
Wii HD Pro Component Cable...	Customer Review: i would just like to add that this cable is 6 feet long. or 1.3 meters. never measured it correctly but it is only that length and i put it through the wall to the tv and it almost didn't reach. but i got it. so just hope this helps a future buyer.... Read More	$9.99 (91)
Whistler 401041 Power Inverter Cables...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info	$59.95
RF-120B Roto-Flex Extended Range BX/MC Armored Cab...	Customer Review: If you ever stripped MC cable the old fashioned way , you will never do it again once you have used this stripper . Fast and easy , cuts are perfect every time . Saves 75% time and effort ! ... Read More	$34.95 (1)