Security & Access Control Cables
Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cable in the United States for commercial security and access control systems. Our product line helps integrators, OEMs, and contractors design consistent, code-compliant installations that are easier to pull, identify, and terminate across door hardware, panels, readers, REX devices, sensors, power supplies, and building automation tie-ins. Every construction is engineered for dependable signal transmission, clean terminations, and long-term reliability in demanding commercial environments.
SmartWire is a registered trademark of Windy City Wire. SmartWire cable is part of our complete solutions approach to help improve jobsite safety and efficiency while reducing labor on every project. SmartWire cables come standard with SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication applied during manufacturing to reduce pull friction by up to 70%—without residue you can see or feel—so you spend less time on each pull and avoid needless conduit stress.
From plenum-rated (CMP/CL3P) and riser-rated (CMR/CL3R) constructions to non-plenum, direct burial, and multi-listed tray/fire alarm options (TC/PLTC/FPL), our portfolio covers common access control and security cable needs: overall shielded (OAS) for noise-prone runs, individually shielded pairs (IPS/EPS) to isolate critical reader signals, and low-capacitance designs for longer distances. Color and stripe options help standardize your installations; custom jackets and stripe combinations are available to support your organization’s identification standards—please contact our team to discuss customization.
Why choose Windy City Wire for security and access control cable?
Standard lengths: 1,000 FT
Available shielding options: Shielded (overall), Individually/Each Pair Shielded (IPS/EPS), Non-Shielded, Aluminum braid with foil combinations (as specified per construction)
Ideal applications: Door controllers and panels, card readers, REX and door contacts, mag locks/electric strikes, credential/keypad runs, alarm zones and devices, intercom and control, CCTV/SDI backbones, and select building automation/control interfaces.
Available Constructions
How we add value to your next project
Ready to build a standard for your access control and security installations? Windy City Wire delivers the products and solutions to help you install faster, meet code, and maintain long-term system performance—project after project.
Security & Access Control Cables
Windy City Wire designs and manufactures low-voltage security cable purpose-built for commercial and industrial projects. From door access control to intrusion detection, video surveillance, intercom, and building automation, our portfolio supports the full range of security and life-safety infrastructures. With options spanning plenum (CMP), riser (CMR), and general-purpose (CL3P/CL3R) ratings, as well as direct-burial constructions, contractors can standardize on reliable, code-appropriate cable for every pathway and space type.
What these cables connect
Cable constructions that solve real jobsite needs
Where these cables belong
Benefits for security integrators and electrical contractors
Quick selection guide
Integration-ready across platforms
Whether you are standardizing door kits across a portfolio or value-engineering a single site, Windy City Wire security and access control cable helps you deploy reliable, code-appropriate infrastructure with fewer pulls and cleaner terminations. For assistance with takeoffs, gauge selection, or BOM consolidation, contact our team.
Available in multiple sizes to match your application: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 AWG.
Available color codes include: Black/White, Black/Red, Black-Red/White-Green, Black/Red/White/Green, Black/White/Red, Black/White/Red/Green, Black/White/Red/Green/Brown, Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue, Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue, Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow, Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/, Black/Red, White/Green, Brown/Blue, Black/Red/White, Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow, Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Purple/Gray/Pink/Tan, Black/Red, Green/White, Brown/Blue,, Green/White, Black/Red/Green/Yellow, Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/, Black/Red, White/Green, Blue/Brown,, Black/Red, White/Green, Black/Red/Green/White, Black/Yellow/Red/Green, Blu/Wht, Org/Wht, Grn/Wht, Brn/Wht, Gry/Wht, Blu/Red, Org/Red, Grn/Red, Brn/Red, Gry/Red, Blu/Blk, Org/Blk, Grn/Blk, Brn/Blk, Gry/Blk, Blu/Ylw, Org/Ylw, Grn/Ylw, Brn/Ylw, Gry/Ylw, Blu/Pur, Org/Pur, Grn/Pur, Brn/Pur & Gry/Pur, Pair - Black/White, Single - Yellow, White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, Black/Red/Blue/Orange, Black/Red/Orange/Blue, Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown, Black/Red/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Brown/Pink/Purple.
Most SmartWire® Security & Access Control constructions use stranded bare or tinned copper for flexibility and durability. Select specialty items (such as certain coaxial constructions) use a solid bare copper center conductor. Review the specific part number for exact stranding.
Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire® Security & Access Control cable in 1,000 ft as the standard length. Additional lengths available on select items include 500 ft, 250 ft, 200 ft, and 2,500 ft.
BACnet is a building automation protocol that commonly runs over RS‑485 (BACnet MS/TP) or Ethernet (BACnet/IP). For MS/TP, use a low-capacitance, twisted, shielded pair similar to RS‑485 cabling.
RS‑232 is single‑ended, point‑to‑point, short‑distance signaling; it typically uses 2–3 conductors (TX, RX, GND) and is not designed for multi‑drop networks.
RS‑485 is balanced, differential signaling optimized for longer runs and multi‑drop bus topologies; it typically uses one twisted pair (sometimes two), characteristic impedance around 120 ohms, and shielding is recommended in noisy environments.