UP SPOFC Classic XKE Starquad Cable

 

Van damme classic starquad is used for balance analogue audio applications in areas of high electronic interference. It has better rejection of EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio frequency interference) than conventional twisted pair microphone cables and is the analogue standard for the outside broadcast industry. In addition the tightly packed construction and 98% coverage braided screen used for this cable make for a mechanically excellent cable which is more than capable of standing up to the rigours of outside broadcast use.

The cable uses a mixture of Ultra Pure Silver Plated Oxygen Free Copper (UP SPOFC) and Ultra Pure Oygen Free Copper (UPOFC) for its conductors. The additional advantage of UP SPOFC is that silver is approximately 5% less resistive than copper. High frequencies which gravitate to the outside of the conductor due to the skin effect, are conducted slightly more efficiently than the lower frequencies which tend to saturate the UPOFC conductor. In addition silver is less susceptible to corrosion than copper and so the plating offers a barrier between the conductor and the insulation or free air.

Cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) is used for the conductor insulation. Although considerably more expensive than conventional Polyethylene it offers distinct advantages over other insulation materials. XLPE has a low dielectric constant (2.2 at 1KHz), essential for minimising high frequency signal losses and is stable at high temperatures. This temperature stability ensures that the insulation material resists shrink back during the soldering process. It has good abrasion and stress cracking resistance yet remains flexible down to - 40° C. XLPE is also less environmentally damaging than other insulation materials as it releases carbon dioxide and water during combustion with no halogen emission.

The term starquad refers to the construction method for this type of cable. Four insulated conductors are tightly twisted together with natural textile fillers and overlaid with an anti-static paper seperator. The overall braided screen uses 128 strands of 0.1 mm tinned copper giving 98% coverage and unsurpassed screening and mechanical strength. The overall jacket is anti abrasion PVC / Neoprene composite which is tough yet remains flexible even in sub zero temperatures. The four inner conductors of this cable are colour coded white (2) and blue (2). To maximise the cables resistance to interference the 2 white conductors should both be connected to the hot (+ve) signal and the 2 blue conductors should both be connected to the cold (-ve) signal.

The cable is available in 10 colours which can be used for application / colour coding.

 

 

 

Cable Specifications:

 

Mechanical pair specifications:
Cable type ~ Van damme Classic quad microphone series
Conductor material # 1~ Bare silver plated ultra pure oxygen free copper wire
Stranding ~- 7 x 0.08 mm
Conductor material # 2 ~ Bare ultra pure oxygen free copper wire
Stranding ~ 32 x 0.08 mm
Insulation material ~ Cross linked polyethylene ( XLPE )
Diameter ~ 1.35mm ± 0.10 mm
Colour coding ~ 2 x white 2 x blue
Screen ~ 128 x 0.11 mm Tinned OFC braid 98% optical coverage

Electrical pair specifications:
Conductor resistance ~ 93.2 Ohm/km
Shield resistance ~ 23.5 Ohm/km
Insulation resistance ~ < 1200 Mohm/km
Core to core capacitance ~ 50 pf/m average
Core to shield capacitance ~ 94.6 pf/m
Test voltage ~ 1000v no cracks

Overall jacket properties:
Jacket material ~ Flexible PVC / Neoprene composite
Overall diameter ~ 6.00 mm
Tensile strength ~ 0.85 kg/mm²
Elongation ~ > 250%
Heat shock ~ 120 ªCx h no cracks
Temperature range ~ -10ª C to +60ª C
Cable weight ~ 65 Kg / Km
Cable colours ( code ) ~ Black ( 000 ) ~ Brown ( 010 ) ~ Red ( 020 ) ~ Orange ( 030 ) ~ Yellow ( 040 ) ~ Green ( 050 ) ~
Blue ( 060 ) ~ Purple ( 070 ) ~ Grey ( 080 ) ~ White ( 090 )