Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables

Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage cable in the United States for professional security integrators, electrical contractors, and OEMs who need dependable outdoor-rated performance. Our Security & Access Control shielded outdoor cables are designed to help your team deliver reliable card reader, door hardware, and controller connections in challenging environments, with constructions that address signal integrity, moisture exposure, and code compliance.

Each SmartWire cable in this category provides consistent electrical performance for access control, intrusion, and related security systems. The overall foil shield helps reduce noise from motors, lighting, and RF sources so devices like readers, request-to-exit sensors, and mag locks communicate accurately. SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing to reduce pulling friction by up to 70%, helping crews install cable faster and with less rework—especially through long, outdoor conduit runs and tight bends.

These cables are available in multiple AWG sizes and conductor counts to match common field devices and home-run wiring schemes. Constructions are UL rated (TC, PLTC, FPL, or NPLF) and selected part numbers are suitable for wet locations and outdoor use, with options that include water-block tape to help resist moisture migration in underground or exposed installations.

• Applications: card readers, door strikes and mag locks, request-to-exit devices, access control panels, security sensors, and power-limited control circuits
• Compliance and ratings: UL Type TC, PLTC, FPL, or NPLF (varies by construction)
• Shielding: overall aluminum foil shield (O/A) for EMI/RFI noise reduction
• Outdoor readiness: suitable for wet locations; select constructions include water-block tape
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication reduces pulling friction
• Availability: 16, 18, and 22 AWG options; 2, 4, 6, and 8 conductor counts
• Lengths: 1000 FT and 500 FT
• Color identification: standard conductor color codes, with options for custom jacket and stripe colors to standardize your installations

How this product line delivers value

• Consistent, clean signals: Shielded access control cable helps minimize interference for reliable reader and controller communication.
• Outdoor durability: Constructions are built for outdoor pathways and wet locations to support long service life in the field.
• Faster installs: SmartWire Glide lubrication supports smoother pulls, fewer snags, and time savings on every run.
• Simplified standardization: Multiple AWGs and conductor counts, plus customizable jacket and stripe colors, help you standardize across projects and crews.

Available constructions

• 16 AWG 2 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): O/A foil shield supports low-noise power and control runs to outdoor door hardware; suitable for wet locations.
• 16 AWG 4 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Four conductors allow combined power and control in one pull; shield helps maintain signal integrity over longer distances.
• 18 AWG 2 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): A balanced choice for reader and sensor circuits; overall foil shield reduces EMI in shared conduits.
• 18 AWG 4 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Supports common reader wiring schemes with data and auxiliary leads in a single cable.
• 18 AWG 6 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Extra conductors serve multi-function devices or spare pairs for future adds; shielded for dependable outdoor performance.
• 18 AWG 8 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Ideal for complex access devices or consolidated home runs where additional pairs and shielding are required.
• 22 AWG 4 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Water-block tape helps resist moisture migration in wet conduits; O/A foil shield keeps reader and sensor signals clean.
• 22 AWG 6 Conductors Bare Copper Shielded Non-Plenum UL Rated (TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF): Compact, multi-pair option for low-current signaling with overall shielding for noise-sensitive circuits.

Standard conductor color codes

• 2C: Black/Red
• 4C: Black/Red/White/Green or Black/Red/Blue/Orange
• 6C: Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue
• 8C: Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown/Pink/Purple

Need a specific jacket or stripe color to match your organization’s standards? Ask about custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color options to streamline device identification and service work across projects.

Plan your next project with Windy City Wire

From reader home runs to perimeter devices, our shielded outdoor access control cables help you build secure, code-conscious systems with less downtime in the field. Contact Windy City Wire to review specifications, confirm the best SmartWire construction for your environment, and discuss options that support consistent, professional installations at scale.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables

Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables for Commercial and Industrial Projects

Windy City Wire supplies shielded, outdoor low-voltage security cable engineered for reliable performance in demanding environments. Built for professional integrators and electrical contractors, these multi-conductor, bare copper cables deliver stable signaling for access control, intrusion detection, and perimeter systems in wet locations and other challenging areas where noise rejection and durability matter.

Where these shielded outdoor security cables are used

• Electronic access control – Card readers, keypads, door position switches, request-to-exit devices, mag locks, and electric strikes using Wiegand or OSDP (RS‑485) signaling.
• Perimeter and gates – Gate operators, barrier arms, turnstiles, and fence-line sensors that need shielded control and power pairs in outdoor enclosures and conduits.
• Intrusion alarm systems – Outdoor contacts, PIRs covering loading docks and yards, glass-break sensors in vestibules, and alarm control panel connections where EMI is a concern.
• Video surveillance support – PTZ control lines (RS‑485), alarm I/O, and power leads for camera housings, heaters, or illuminators. Ideal where power and control are combined in multi-conductor runs.
• Intercoms and emergency communication – Entry intercoms, help points, call stations, and door release circuits exposed to outdoor or semi-exposed conditions.
• Life safety interfaces – Door holder/release, elevator interface, and fire alarm monitoring circuits when a UL Type FPL or NPLF construction is specified by the design and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
• Building automation tie-ins – Secure door monitoring, equipment interlocks, and control signals that run near high-voltage equipment or VFDs where a shielded cable helps mitigate interference.

Industries that rely on these cables

• Corporate and multi-tenant office buildings
• Manufacturing plants, utilities, and energy sites
• Logistics, distribution, and cold storage
• Healthcare campuses and laboratories
• K‑12 and higher-education facilities
• Airports, rail, and transportation authorities
• Hospitality, entertainment venues, and stadiums
• Retail, banking, and data centers
• Municipal, federal, and critical infrastructure

Construction advantages that support security performance

• Shielded – An overall aluminum foil (O/A) shield helps protect low-voltage security signals from EMI/RFI, crosstalk, and interference from nearby power conductors, generators, and drives. This is especially valuable for Wiegand and OSDP/RS‑485 runs and long device home-runs.
• Bare copper conductors – Consistent conductivity and dependable terminations for panels, readers, sensors, and ancillary devices.
• Outdoor use – Suitable for wet locations, with select constructions incorporating water-blocking tape to help limit moisture migration along the cable.
• UL listings – Available as UL Type TC, PLTC, FPL, or NPLF to support tray installations, power-limited control circuits, and fire alarm circuits when specified. Always confirm final routing and listing requirements with project specifications and the AHJ.
• Color-coded conductors – Conductor color sets (for example, Black/Red for 2C, Black/Red/White/Green for 4C, and extended palettes for higher conductor counts) support faster identification and cleaner terminations across multi-device doors and panels.

Available options

• Gauge choices – 16 AWG, 18 AWG, and 22 AWG to balance voltage drop, run length, and device load requirements.
• Conductor counts – Common builds include 2C, 4C, 6C, and 8C to combine power, data, and supervision on a single pull where the specification permits.
• Lengths – Offered in 1000 ft and 500 ft to match project staging, minimize waste, and reduce splicing on longer runs.
• Shielding – All constructions in this category are shielded to support clean, reliable signal transmission in electrically noisy areas.
• Representative conductor color codes – 2C: Black/Red; 4C: Black/Red/White/Green; 6C: Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue; 8C: Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown/Pink/Purple.

Selecting the right cable for your door, zone, or subsystem

1. Match the gauge to distance and load
   - 16 AWG: Longer runs and higher-current devices such as mag locks, gate operators, or multi-device doors.
   - 18 AWG: General-purpose access control, most readers, strikes, REX, and sensors over moderate distances.
   - 22 AWG: Low-current signaling, data pairs (Wiegand or RS‑485/OSDP), and short to medium runs where load is minimal.
2. Choose conductor count by device mix
   - 2C: Power-only devices (e.g., simple strikes) and basic sensors.
   - 4C: Reader plus power, or strike/mag lock with supervision.
   - 6C/8C: Multi-function doors combining reader, lock, door contact, REX, and status—consolidated into one shielded cable where design allows.
3. Leverage shielding for signal integrity
   O/A foil shielding helps maintain clean data for Wiegand and OSDP buses, PTZ control, and alarm circuits near motors, elevators, or VFDs.
4. Confirm code and listing
   Use UL Type TC/PLTC/FPL/NPLF constructions as specified for trays, power-limited circuits, or fire alarm interfaces. Always verify with project documentation and the AHJ.

Typical device-to-cable pairings

• Card readers – 22 AWG shielded (2C for Wiegand pair, or 4C when power and data share the same cable). For OSDP, reserve a shielded twisted pair for RS‑485 and additional conductors for power.
• Electric strikes / mag locks – 18 AWG or 16 AWG shielded 2C or 4C, depending on current draw and supervision needs.
• Door contacts / REX sensors – 22 AWG shielded 2C or 4C when combining power and supervision.
• PTZ control lines – 22 AWG shielded pair for RS‑485 control; use additional conductors for auxiliary I/O as required.
• Gate operators and turnstiles – 16 or 18 AWG shielded multi-conductor for control circuits and accessory devices.

Benefits to integrators and facility teams

• Reliable signaling in outdoor and electrically noisy areas, reducing troubleshooting time.
• Simplified pulls with multi-conductor shielded designs that support combined power and data where permitted.
• Flexible options across 16, 18, and 22 AWG and multiple conductor counts to align with standard door hardware packages and zone counts.
• UL Type TC, PLTC, FPL, or NPLF options to align with specifications and code requirements.
• Available in 500 ft and 1000 ft lengths to streamline staging and reduce splices on long runs.

Plan your next security cable specification

Whether you are standardizing door packages across a campus, upgrading perimeter controls, or integrating access control with video and life safety systems, Windy City Wire shielded outdoor security cables provide a consistent, code-conscious foundation for low-voltage infrastructure. Contact our team for help matching gauge, conductor count, and UL type to your device schedule, run lengths, and site conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables cable?
  

  Available in 16 AWG, 18 AWG, and 22 AWG. Conductor counts include 2, 4, 6, and 8 conductors depending on gauge. All constructions are shielded (overall foil) for noise rejection, outdoor use, and wet locations; select 22 AWG options include water-block tape.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables cable available in?
  

  Black/Red, Black/Red/Blue/Orange, Black/Red/Orange/Blue, Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown, Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown/Pink/Purple, Black/Red/White/Green, Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue

• Is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  

  These cables use bare copper conductors and are constructed with stranded conductors for flexibility and durability in security and access control installations.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Outdoor Cables cable sold in?
  

  Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Security & Access Control cable wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length. Select items in this outdoor shielded series are also available in 500 ft lengths.

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

  BACnet is a building automation protocol, not a specific cable. BACnet MS/TP typically runs over RS-485-style shielded, twisted pair (often 18–22 AWG), while BACnet/IP uses Ethernet cabling. RS-232 is an unbalanced, point-to-point serial interface suited for short distances (typically up to tens of meters) and uses a few conductors (Tx, Rx, GND). RS-485 is a balanced, differential serial interface that supports multi-drop networks and much longer runs (often up to 1,200 m/4,000 ft) using a shielded, twisted pair with proper termination. Always follow the connected equipment manufacturer’s cabling requirements.

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