Reelfast Platform Selection Guide
Temperature ranges and approvals below are from the Turck Reelfast Bulk Cable catalog (B2103). Ratings vary by jacket within a platform, so confirm the listing on the individual product page.
| Platform |
Jackets |
Temp Range |
Key Listings |
Use It For |
| Instrumentation Tray | PVC, TPE | -40 to 105 °C | UL ITC, PLTC, AWM; CSA CMX Outdoor; many MSHA | Sensor and control wiring in tray and raceway, indoors or out |
| Instrumentation Tray, Exposed Run, Direct Burial | PVC, TPE | -40 to 105 °C | UL ITC, PLTC, ER, DB; CSA CIC; marine shipboard on many | Class I Div 2 runs from tray to device, underground runs without conduit, onshore and offshore |
| Power Tray, Exposed Run, Direct Burial | PVC, TPE | -40 to 90 °C (PVC), -40 to 105 °C (TPE) | UL TC-ERDB, WTTC 1000 V, ITC, PLTC; CSA CIC/TC | Larger-gauge power and control circuits, 600 V Type TC |
| General Purpose | PVC, TPU | -40 to 105 °C (PVC), -40 to 90 °C (TPU) | UL/CSA AWM, 300 V or 600 V | Internal and external equipment wiring, inside enclosures |
| Industrial Ethernet | TPE | -40 to 80 °C | CM (NEC 800), UL AWM; ITC/PLTC versions for Class I Div 2 | CAT 5e, 6, 6A for PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, PoE |
| Fieldbus Technology | PVC, TPE, TPU | -40 to 105 °C (PVC), -40 to 80 °C (TPE, TPU) | PLTC, ER, DB options by protocol | DeviceNet thick, mid, thin; PROFIBUS-DP; FOUNDATION fieldbus/PROFIBUS-PA; AS-Interface |
| Flexlife | TPE, TPU | -40 to 105 °C (TPE), -40 to 90 °C (TPU) | UL/CSA AWM | Robots and C-track: 20 million flex cycles when properly installed (tick-tock, torsional, multi-axis) |
| Weldlife | TPE, aramid overbraid | -40 to 105 °C | UL/CSA AWM | Robotic welding; aramid braid replaces weld sleeving and tolerates short spikes to 200 °C |
| Extremelife 60 / 70 | EX60, EX70 | -60 to 105 °C / -70 to 105 °C | UL TC-ERDB, ITC, PLTC; IEEE 1580; ABS; EX70 also halogen free, low smoke | Oil and gas, offshore, arctic, mobile and agricultural equipment, SAE J1939 |
| Armorfast | PVC over interlocked aluminum | -40 to 105 °C | UL MC, ITC, PLTC; CSA ACIC | Impact and rodent protection, Class I Div 2 |
| Flexible Service | CPE, PVC, TPE | -50 to 105 °C (CPE, TPE), -40 to 105 °C (PVC) | SOOW, SJOOW, STOOW, SJTOOW, SEOOW; MSHA on many | Portable equipment and outdoor machinery cords |
| Washdown | TPV (white) | -60 to 105 °C | None | Food and beverage lines with frequent chemical cleaning |
| Halogen Free | TPU | -40 to 80 °C | UL/CSA AWM 300 V | Sites or export markets that restrict halogenated materials such as PVC |
Approval Codes in the Part Description
| Code |
Meaning |
| ITC | Instrumentation Tray Cable, UL 2250, NEC Article 727. Limited to circuits of 150 V and 5 A or less. |
| PLTC | Power Limited Tray Cable, UL 13, NEC Article 725, for 300 V instrumentation and control circuits. |
| TC | Tray Cable, UL 1277, NEC Article 392, for applications of 600 V or less. |
| ER | Exposed Run. Permitted in Class I Division 2 locations, run exposed from tray to device when supported at intervals of 1.8 m (6 ft) or less per NEC 501.10. |
| DB | Direct Burial. Can be buried without protective conduit. |
| AWM | Appliance Wiring Material (UL Recognized), for internal and external wiring of equipment. |
| MSHA | Mine Safety and Health Administration approval. |
| MC | Metal Clad, NEC classification for crush and impact resistance from a metal covering (Armorfast). |
How to Read a Reelfast Part Description
Reelfast descriptions list the cable construction in a fixed order. For example, YEL, PVC, 4X18, ITC, MSHA is a yellow PVC-jacketed cable with 4 conductors of 18 AWG, listed as Instrumentation Tray Cable and MSHA approved.
- Color and jacket first: BLK, GRY, YEL, BLU, WHT, TEA (teal) and others, followed by PVC, TPE, TPU, TPV, CPE, EX60, or EX70.
- Conductors x AWG: 4X18 means four 18 AWG conductors. A lower AWG number is a larger wire. Pairs appear as, for example, 4UTPX24 (four unshielded twisted pairs, 24 AWG).
- Listings and features last: approval codes (ITC, TCERDB, AWM), Ethernet category (CAT5E, CAT6A), protocol (DN for DeviceNet, DP for PROFIBUS-DP, FF for FOUNDATION fieldbus), and flex ratings such as FL20, CTRACK on Flexlife cable.
Ordering Notes That Prevent Mistakes
- ITC is current-limited: ITC listing covers 150 V, 5 A or less. For larger loads, use a PLTC or Type TC power cable.
- Jacket vs. weld spatter: Turck rates PVC and TPU jackets poor for weld slag and spatter. In weld cells, use TPE or Weldlife cable.
- TPU outdoors: TPU is rated poor to fair for UV and sunlight. For outdoor runs, PVC, TPE, or Extremelife jackets are rated better.
- Washdown TPV carries no agency listing: Turck lists no approvals and poor flame resistance for TPV, so confirm it meets your installation code before specifying it.
- Static vs. moving: PVC tray and power cables are rated fair to poor for flex life. Anything in a cable track or on a robot belongs on Flexlife or another high-flex construction.
Bulk Cable FAQ
What is the difference between ITC and PLTC cable?
ITC (Instrumentation Tray Cable, UL 2250, NEC 727) is for instrumentation and control circuits of 150 V and 5 A or less. PLTC (Power Limited Tray Cable, UL 13, NEC 725) covers 300 V instrumentation and control circuits. Many Turck Reelfast instrumentation cables are multi-listed for both, which simplifies specification.
Can I run cable exposed outside the tray in a Class I Division 2 area?
Yes, if the cable is listed Exposed Run (ER). Under NEC Article 501.10, ER cable can be run exposed between the cable tray and the equipment when supported and secured at intervals of no more than 1.8 m (6 ft). Turck ER cables meet crush and impact requirements comparable to metal clad cable without the armor.
Which bulk cable should I use in a drag chain or on a robot?
Use Turck Flexlife cable, which Turck guarantees for 20 million flex cycles when properly installed in C-track, tick-tock, torsional, or multi-axis motion. It is available in TPE for indoor and outdoor use and in TPU for some configurations. Standard PVC tray cable is not designed for continuous flexing.
What cable holds up in a welding cell?
Turck TPE jacketed cables resist weld slag buildup, and Weldlife cable adds an aramid overbraid option that replaces protective weld sleeving and tolerates short temperature spikes up to 200 °C. PVC and TPU jackets are rated poor for weld spatter and should be avoided in weld cells.
Is Turck Industrial Ethernet cable suitable for PROFINET and EtherNet/IP?
Yes. Turck's TPE Industrial Ethernet cable comes in CAT 5e, CAT 6, and CAT 6A and is suitable for PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, and PoE. It is CM listed per NEC Article 800, and ITC and PLTC listed versions are available for Class I Div 2 locations.
Can I put connectors on bulk cable myself?
Yes. Field wireable connectors let you terminate bulk cable at the exact length you need or repair a damaged run. Match the connector's wire gauge range and cable outer diameter range to the cable you select.
Need Help Specifying Cable?
Tell us the installation method, required listings, conductor count, and environment, and the Automation Distribution team will help you match the right Turck Reelfast cable.
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