What’s the Difference Between a Servo Cable and Motor Cable?

Electrical engineers often work with motor cables and servo cables, which both supply motors with electrical energy and have a nominal voltage of 600/1,000V. But what exactly are the differences between the two cables? And can I use a servo cable to connect a normal three-phase motor? Read on to discover the answers.  

What are the differences?

Cable colors and DESINA

Servo cable

The different colors of the two cable types is the first thing you'll notice. While servo cables are often orange, motor cables usually have a black outer jacket. That's because of DESINA, a standard intended to bring about uniformity in mechanical engineering. If a cable is manufactured according to the DESINA standard, outer jacket color must be chosen according to cable function.

Motor cableAccording to DESINA, motor cables have a black outer jacket and servo cables have a pastel orange one (RAL 2003).

Cable design

Servo cables almost always have an overall shield that is intended to prevent the propagation of electronic magnetic interference. Motor cables can be used with or without a shield.

An examination of the two cables’ conductors reveals their primary differences.

A typical motor cable consists of the four main conductors for connecting the three phases and a ground (or PE). Nothing more is needed to operate a three-phase motor.

Some three-phase motors have an additional connection for a temperature sensor or a built-in brake. These are normally connected to the motor terminal board via a separate cable.

Intercontec connector Series C M40

Servo motors are generally connected via a round connector (like the Intercontec connector, Series C, M40, pictured left). This connector has all the contacts necessary for supplying energy to the motor AND for connecting temperature sensors and brakes as needed.

Multiple cables cannot be fed into one of the round connectors used here. That is why servo cables have, in addition to the main conductors, shielded control pairs that are provided for temperature controllers or brakes. There are servo cables without these additional pairs, but they tend to be the exception. This means that most servo cables have one or two control pairs in addition to the four conductors for the motor.

Harnessed servo cable

Assembled servo cable

Can I use a motor cable to connect servo motors?

The answer is yes. To do this, either the servo motor must have no connection for temperature sensors or brakes, or these connections must be designed separately. Then, they can be connected via a control cable.

A normal three-phase motor can be connected via a servo cable and with the unneeded conductors cut off. 

Conclusion

The primary differences between servo and motor cables are their color and design. And yes, you can connect each of them to servo motors.

Learn more about the advantages of our chainflex® servo and motor cables here. You can also contact and igus® expert here with any questions.