Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables

Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cables designed for commercial security and access control systems. Our multi-conductor composite cables combine power and signal elements in a single pull to streamline installation, reduce conduit congestion, and support reliable system performance for door hardware, card readers, REX devices, and related peripherals. For security integrators, electrical contractors, and facility teams, this means fewer pulls, cleaner terminations, and predictable results across projects.

Why choose SmartWire for your next security cable run

• Single-pull efficiency: Composite constructions bundle lock power and card reader pairs to simplify routing and reduce labor on access-controlled openings.
• Consistent jobsite performance: Stranded copper conductors handle bends and door movements well, while plenum-rated constructions support common commercial environments.
• Shielding where it matters: OAS shielded pairs help protect reader/data circuits from electrical noise; unshielded power elements keep terminations straightforward.
• SmartWire Glide Technology®: This is Windy City Wire’s name for the lubrication applied to SmartWire cable jackets. It reduces pulling friction by up to 70% and comes standard at no additional cost.
• FastFIND Footage Markers: Clearly marked footage appears every two feet to make length verification and point-to-point measurements quick, helping reduce waste by 15–25% and ensuring more cable is used from every box.
• Standardization and identification: Distinct conductor color codes support faster terminations and troubleshooting over the life of the system.

Where these cables deliver value

From multi-door openings to enterprise access control deployments, these multi-conductor composite security cables help installers keep projects on schedule, align with spec requirements, and standardize materials across job sites. The result is dependable performance for lock power and credential reader circuits with fewer pulls and less rework.

Lengths and options

• Lengths: 1000 FT standard, with select items also available in 500 FT and 250 FT.
• Available shielding: OAS/UNS and OAS/UNS/WBT options available across the category.
• AWG elements in composite designs: 18 AWG and 22 AWG used in the same cable for power and reader/data circuits.
• Conductor color codes available: Black/Red/White/Green; Black/Red, White/Green, Brown/Blue; Black/Red.

Available constructions

• 18 AWG 4C UNS Stranded Plenum, Low-Voltage: Unshielded power/control element commonly used for electric locks, strikes, and door hardware power. Stranded conductors support flexible routing; conductor colors: Black/Red/White/Green.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair OAS Stranded Plenum, Low-Voltage: Individually paired and overall aluminum shielded element ideal for card reader/data circuits in noisy environments. Conductor pair colors: Black/Red, White/Green, Brown/Blue.

Typical applications

• Card readers, keypads, door position switches, REX devices
• Electric strikes, mag locks, and lock power/control
• Security I/O modules and controller terminations

How SmartWire helps you deliver

• Support for security cable standards with plenum-rated constructions
• Reduced pull times and easier measurements with FastFIND Footage Markers
• Lower pulling effort due to SmartWire Glide lubrication
• Clear identification with consistent conductor color coding
• Low-voltage access control cable designed for commercial B2B projects

Summary

Windy City Wire’s Security & Access Control multi-conductor composite cables give contractors a practical way to combine reader/data and lock power into one cable, improving installation speed and helping maintain system reliability. SmartWire cables are manufactured in the United States and include standard features that support accurate measuring, efficient pulls, and consistent terminations across large or phased deployments. Contact the Windy City Wire team to discuss standard constructions or ask about custom jacket and stripe color options for your organization’s installations.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables

Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables
Windy City Wire’s multi-conductor composite cables are engineered for professional low-voltage security and access control installations where reliability, speed of deployment, and clean integration matter. By combining power and multiple low-voltage signal conductors in a single plenum-rated cable, these composites streamline door hardware wiring, reduce conduit fill, minimize terminations, and help standardize installations across large facilities and multi-site portfolios.

What a Composite Access Control Cable Delivers
A single pull provides the conductors needed for typical door openings and secure entry points, consolidating:

• Lock power for maglocks, electric strikes, and motorized locks
• Card reader signals (Wiegand or OSDP/RS‑485), LEDs, and buzzer control
• Door position switches (DPS), request-to-exit (REX) devices, and auxiliary I/O
• Control and monitoring lines for turnstiles, mantraps, gates, and interlock sequences

Key Technical Advantages

• Single-cable efficiency: Composite construction reduces the number of home runs and terminations compared to separate power and reader cables, saving labor and simplifying as-builts.
• Power and signal in one: Combines an 18 AWG multi-conductor element for reliable 12/24V lock power with 22 AWG twisted, shielded signal pairs for clean reader and control communications.
• Plenum-rated construction: Suitable for air-handling spaces where code compliance is required, helping standardize material across diverse areas of a building.
• Stranded conductors: Added flexibility for door frames, hinges, and tight junction boxes, helping reduce stress and mechanical fatigue over time.
• Shielding options to match the environment: Choose from unshielded and OAS-shielded constructions, with configurations that include water-blocking features for higher-moisture or transitional areas. Shielding helps mitigate EMI/RFI near motors, VFDs, elevators, and heavy electrical equipment.
• Color-coded conductors: Distinct color coding helps speed terminations, standardize wiring practices, and simplify service calls.

Supported Systems and Integrations

• Electronic access control: Card readers (Wiegand and OSDP), keypads, biometric readers, door controllers, request-to-exit devices, and door position monitoring.
• Perimeter and vehicle access: Gate operators, parking arms, barrier control, turnstiles, and sally ports/mantraps.
• Intrusion and alarm points: Door contacts, glass-break sensors, and motion detection integrated back to security panels or unified PSIM/VMS platforms.
• Intercom and entry management: Door release, annunciation, and control signals for intercom and visitor management stations at secure entries.
• Building and systems integration: Interfaces to power supplies, relay modules, and I/O boards coordinating with identity management, time-and-attendance, and occupancy systems.

Where These Cables Are Used

• Commercial campuses and office towers: Door openings, turnstiles, and elevator lobby access points.
• Industrial and logistics: Warehouse perimeters, dock doors, gates, and high-EMI areas near conveyors and motors where shielding is essential.
• Healthcare and life sciences: Controlled access to pharmacies, MDR rooms, labs, clean areas, and staff entrances.
• Education: K‑12 and higher ed buildings, residence halls, stadiums, and research facilities.
• Data centers and critical facilities: Mantraps, cage access, and equipment room entries requiring consistent, documented cabling across zones.
• Government and public safety: Secure rooms, sally ports, evidence storage, and administrative areas.
• Retail, hospitality, and mixed-use: Back-of-house entries, loading areas, parking access, and tenant amenities.

Why Choose Composite Over Multiple Separate Cables

• Fewer pulls and splices: Reduce installation time and potential failure points.
• Cleaner pathway management: Lower conduit fill and easier cable routing at the door.
• Consistent performance: Matched components and shielding reduce noise issues and troubleshooting time.
• Simplified material planning: One cable type to stock for common openings and device sets.

Selecting the Right Build

• Signal integrity: Use OAS-shielded elements where readers or control lines run near sources of EMI/RFI or over longer distances.
• Moisture exposure: Where condensation or transitional indoor/outdoor conditions exist, consider constructions that include water-blocking elements.
• Flexibility and durability: Stranded conductors and robust jacketing improve handling through door frames and tight device boxes.
• Identification: Distinct color coding across power and signal pairs streamlines field terminations and service.

Typical Door Opening Topology These Cables Support

1. Lock power delivered via the 18 AWG multi-conductor element for maglocks, electric strikes, or electrified trim.
2. Reader communications on 22 AWG shielded pairs for Wiegand or OSDP, plus auxiliary LED/buzzer and tamper lines as needed.
3. Monitoring and egress via door position switches and REX devices tied back to the controller or power supply I/O.

Lengths and Options
To align with project size and reduce waste, these composite security cables are available in 1000, 500, and 250 FT lengths. Shielding options include unshielded and OAS-shielded configurations, with selections that offer additional water-blocking where required.

Specification Snapshot

• Composite construction combining 18 AWG power with 22 AWG twisted signal pairs
• Plenum-rated for use in air-handling spaces
• Stranded conductors for flexibility at the opening
• Available shielding configurations: OAS/UNS, Shielded, and OAS/UNS/WBT
• Distinct color coding for efficient terminations and service
• Lengths: 1000, 500, and 250 FT

Partner With Windy City Wire
Our team supports security integrators, electrical contractors, and facility stakeholders with application guidance and takeoff assistance to ensure the cable you choose fits the access control architecture, site conditions, and project timeline. Specify a multi-conductor composite cable to standardize your openings, improve installation efficiency, and support scalable security deployments across your portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables cable?

  18 AWG and 22 AWG conductors are included in this composite construction.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables cable available in?

  Black/Red/White/Green, Black/Red, White/Green, and Brown/Blue.

• Is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Stranded copper conductors.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Cables cable sold in?

  Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in a standard 1,000 ft length. This cable is also offered in 500 ft and 250 ft lengths.

• What are some distinctions between BAC NET, RS232 and RS485 Cables?

  BACnet is a building automation protocol that commonly runs over RS‑485 (BACnet MS/TP) using a shielded, twisted pair with 120 Ω impedance; it can also run over Ethernet (BACnet/IP). RS‑232 is a single‑ended, point‑to‑point interface suited for short runs (typically up to ~50 ft at higher data rates) and does not require a twisted pair; shielding is often used to reduce noise. RS‑485 is a differential, multi‑drop interface that uses a balanced twisted pair (120 Ω), supports longer distances (up to thousands of feet at lower data rates), better noise immunity, and multiple devices on the same bus.

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