Building Automation Pair Solid Cables

Summary: Pair Solid Cables

Building Automation Cables for Reliable, Efficient Projects

Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage SmartWire® cables engineered for the demands of commercial and industrial building automation systems. From HVAC control and equipment interlocks to sensor, actuator, and lighting control circuits, our product offering helps contractors standardize installations, streamline pulls, and reduce total installed cost without compromising performance.

SmartWire is the registered brand name of the low-voltage cable Windy City Wire manufactures in the United States. SmartWire is not a technology. It is a key part of our complete solution designed to improve jobsite safety and efficiency while helping reduce labor on every project.

Why SmartWire for Building Automation

• Consistent, code-compliant performance: 600 Volt TFN constructions suitable for conduit installations commonly used in BAS and control circuits.
• Faster pulls with less effort: SmartWire Glide Technology® is Windy City Wire’s name for the cable lubrication applied during manufacturing; it reduces friction during cable pulling by up to 70% and comes standard at no additional cost.
• Measure, manage, and minimize waste: FastFIND Footage Markers help teams quickly calculate run lengths, verify remaining footage, and typically reduce indiscriminate scrap by 15–25%.
• Clear circuit identification: Extensive jacket and stripe color options support straightforward labeling of zones, devices, and control functions.
• B2B focus, built for the field: Reliable supply, consistent quality, and product support for electrical contractors, integrators, and facility teams.

At-a-Glance Options

• Available AWGs: 16, 18
• Available Insulation: TFN
• Shielding: Non-shielded
• Common jacket/stripe combinations: Black/Red, Red/White, Yellow/Brown, Yellow/Blue, Orange/Brown, Black/Blue, Purple/Yellow, Blue/Yellow, Red/Yellow

Need to standardize your organization’s installations or match site specifications? Ask our team about SmartWire jacket and stripe color customization to simplify identification across projects and service calls.

Available Constructions

• 16 AWG 1 Conductor Solid TFN 600 Volt: A durable single-conductor choice for control power and device feeds pulled in conduit. Solid copper provides secure terminations in panels and field devices.
• 16 AWG 1 Pair Solid TFN 600 Volt: Ideal for control loops and discrete signals that benefit from pairing within a single pull. Twisted conductors support consistent signal performance in typical BAS environments.
• 18 AWG 1 Pair Solid TFN 600 Volt: A versatile, space-saving option for sensor and control runs where lower current is required. Twisted conductors help maintain signal integrity for point-to-point circuits.
• 18 AWG 1 Triad Solid TFN 600 Volt: Three conductors in one cable for command/common/feedback or multi-point sensor wiring. Twisted assembly simplifies routing and reduces conduit congestion.
• 18 AWG 1 Quad Solid TFN 600 Volt: Four conductors support devices needing multiple control or power legs within a single pathway. Twisted conductors allow tidy installations and streamlined terminations.

How We Help You Deliver

• Standardized, low-voltage control wiring that aligns with commercial/industrial installation practices and specifications.
• Built-in features that reduce pull time, simplify footage verification, and help you use more cable from every box.
• Color and stripe options that make it easy to maintain your firm’s standards across new builds and service work.

Partner with Windy City Wire on your next building automation project to gain dependable product quality, consistent availability, and field-proven features that help crews work efficiently from rough-in to turnover.

Solutions: Pair Solid Cables

Building Automation Pair Solid Cables from Windy City Wire are purpose-built for fixed building control circuits in commercial and industrial environments. These unshielded, twisted solid pairs support dependable terminations, stable signal performance, and straightforward identification across a wide range of low-voltage building automation tasks. With solid copper conductors in 16 and 18 AWG and TFN insulation rated 600 V, they are well suited for control wiring installed in raceways and control panels when a building-wire rating is required.

Where these cables fit in your projects

• HVAC and BAS controls: Thermostat loops, VAV box control, damper and valve actuators, zone sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure), boiler/chiller interlocks, and equipment safeties.
• Lighting control: 0–10 V dimming runs, relay/contactor control, occupancy/daylight sensor leads, and emergency bypass control circuits.
• General control I/O: Analog and discrete signals between controllers and field devices, dry contact closures, start/stop signals, and setpoint references.
• Energy and metering: Control loops and signal leads for submeters, flow meters, and building energy management points.
• Equipment rooms and rooftops: Control wiring in mechanical rooms, AHU/RTU enclosures, and rooftop equipment when installed in raceway per local code.
• Access and monitoring peripherals: Door position sensors, request-to-exit devices, and similar low-power peripherals where a 2-conductor pair is specified.
• Process and industrial facilities: PLC I/O field runs for non-networked control points and instrumentation loops where unshielded twisted pairs are acceptable by specification.

Industries and facility types served

• Office and mixed-use commercial buildings
• Healthcare and life sciences campuses
• Universities, K–12, and research facilities
• Data centers and technology buildings
• Manufacturing plants and process facilities
• Warehousing, logistics, and cold storage
• Hospitality, retail, and entertainment venues
• Government, municipal, and transportation infrastructure
• Multifamily and high-rise residential common areas

Why pair solid cables for building automation

• Solid copper conductors: Reliable terminations at screw, clamp, and terminal block connections; ideal for permanent in-building runs that are not subject to repeated movement.
• Twisted pair construction: Helps reduce crosstalk and manage electrical noise for many control and sensor circuits without the added bulk and cost of shielding.
• TFN 600 V insulation: Building-wire rated for use in raceways and control panels where a higher insulation rating is required by specification or local code.
• Unshielded design: Streamlines installation for typical control loops and short-to-moderate runs where shielding is not specified.
• AWG options: Available in both 16 and 18 AWG to balance voltage-drop requirements with flexibility and conduit fill considerations.
• Color-coded conductor pairs: Multiple two-color combinations support fast circuit identification across large projects and service work.

Common system uses

• Direct digital control (DDC) point wiring from controllers to field devices
• 0–10 V dimming and low-voltage lighting control interfaces
• Thermostat, sensor, and actuator loops in HVAC control
• Relay, interlock, and status signaling in mechanical and electrical rooms
• Metering pulse outputs and analog references (verify shielding needs per spec)

Available options at a glance

• Conductor: 1 pair, solid copper, twisted
• AWG: 16 and 18
• Shielding: Non-shielded
• Insulation: TFN, 600 V
• Conductor jacket color combinations: Black/Red, Red/White, Yellow/Brown, Yellow/Blue, Orange/Brown, Black/Blue, Purple/Yellow, Blue/Yellow, Red/Yellow

Selection and design tips

1. Match the gauge to the load and distance: Choose 16 AWG for longer runs or higher device current to manage voltage drop; use 18 AWG for shorter control loops or where space and fill are tight.
2. Confirm shielding requirements: For communication trunks (e.g., some RS-485/BACnet, LON, or sensitive analog signals), check the project spec to determine if shielded cable is required.
3. Plan routing to manage noise: Maintain separation from high-voltage feeders and VFD output conductors; use metallic raceway and proper bonding practices per local code.
4. Standardize color schemes: Use consistent conductor color pairs across floors and systems to simplify commissioning and long-term maintenance.
5. Follow local codes and specifications: Install in raceways and enclosures as required for TFN building wire; verify any special requirements for environmental conditions.

Whether you’re wiring out a new BAS, expanding a lighting control system, or standardizing control loops across a campus, these pair solid cables provide a straightforward, code-aligned choice for durable, repeatable terminations and dependable field performance. For assistance with takeoffs, gauge selection, or color standardization, our team is ready to help align the cable choice with your specification and installation environment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Pair Solid Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid cables?

  16 AWG and 18 AWG.

• What other colors are these SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid cables available in?

  Available paired conductor jacket color combinations include: Black/Red, Red/White, Yellow/Brown, Yellow/Blue, Orange/Brown, Black/Blue, Purple/Yellow, Blue/Yellow, and Red/Yellow. Custom colors and stripe combinations can be made—contact Windy City Wire for details.

• Are these SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid cables made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Solid copper conductors (non-shielded, twisted pair).

• What lengths are these SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid cables sold in?

  1,000 ft. At Windy City Wire we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length.

• Is SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid Cables wet rated?

  Yes. Our THHN SmartWire cable is THWN/THHN dual rated for wet locations.

• Is SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid Cables 600V rated?

  Yes, these SmartWire Building Automation Pair Solid Cables are 600 Volt rated.

• What is difference between TFFN, TFN, and THHN ratings on SmartWire cables?

  TFFN: Stranded, flexible fixture wire with a nylon jacket; 600 V; used where flexibility is needed.
  TFN: Solid fixture wire with a nylon jacket; 600 V; ideal for control circuits where solid conductors are specified.
  THHN: Building wire with thermoplastic insulation and a nylon jacket; 600 V; typically dual-rated THHN/THWN for both dry and wet locations.

• Is SmartWire Building Wire Gas and Oil resistant?

  Yes. Our SmartWire Building Wire cables are GRII rated, providing resistance to gas and oil to help prevent jacket degradation, extend service life, and maintain performance in environments with petroleum-based exposure.

• Do you offer SmartWire Building Wire in twisted pairs?

  Yes. We offer non-shielded, twisted pairs in solid copper for building automation in 16 AWG and 18 AWG (TFN, 600 V).

• How is your SmartWire Building Wire cable sold on spools or in boxes?

  Our SmartWire Building Wire is packaged in our patented RackPack carton. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you