Belden 6302UE Equal: 18 AWG 4C Security Cable

Security integrators, low-voltage contractors, and procurement teams sourcing a Belden 6302UE Equal need more than a cable with the same gauge and conductor count. When a project specification names a reference cable, the proposed alternative has to match its construction, electrical ratings, and plenum listing point by point. Windy City Wire part number 442380 fits that requirement as an 18 AWG, 4-conductor, 7x26 bare copper, non-shielded cable that is UL Listed C(UL)US CMP, rated for 300 volts, and made in the USA. For security and access control cables specified in plenum spaces, the details below show where 442380 aligns with the reference and where its documented values differ.

What Is an Equivalent Cable to Belden 6302UE?

An equal is a cable that matches a reference cable on the points a submittal is reviewed against: conductor size, conductor count, stranding, shielding, voltage rating, and flame or plenum listing. When those points align, the cable can be documented as an equivalent rather than treated as a general-purpose substitute.

Part-number sourcing is common in commercial security work because specifications frequently name a reference cable. Engineers and procurement teams then compare spec sheets side by side to confirm that a proposed Belden 6302UE equivalent meets the same construction profile. That comparison is most useful when every value is documented and any differences are stated clearly.

442380 Spec-for-Spec Verification as a Belden 6302UE Equal

Conductor and Construction

Both 442380 and the Belden 6302UE equal benchmark use 18 AWG conductors with 7x26 bare copper stranding in a 4-conductor configuration. The color code is Black/White/Red/Green on both cables, which keeps conductor identification consistent across drawings and submittals. Neither cable uses a shield or a drain wire.

442380 is cabled with a 3.5-inch left hand lay at approximately 3.4 twists per foot, in line with the 3.4 twists, left hand lay listed for the Belden 6302UE equivalent. Its insulation is low-smoke PVC at .008 inch, and its jacket is low-smoke PVC at .018 inch. The nominal overall diameter is .184 inch, compared with 0.18 inch for the Belden 6302UE equal benchmark. 442380 uses a white jacket, while the equivalent benchmark lists a natural jacket.

Electrical and Rating Details

Both cables carry a 300 volt rating and a 75°C upper temperature rating. The full temperature rating for 442380 is 0°C to 75°C.

The largest documented electrical difference is capacitance. 442380 lists a nominal capacitance of 26 pF per foot, while the Belden 6302UE equivalent lists 34 pF per foot. 442380 also documents a 72 ohm impedance, a value not shown on the equivalent's spec, along with a DC resistance of 6.66 ohms per 1,000 feet maximum at 20°C and a cable weight of 32 pounds per 1,000 feet.

What CMP and NFPA 262 Mean for Plenum Security Access Control Cables

Plenum spaces are air-handling areas within a commercial building, and cable run in them without conduit typically must carry a plenum listing. CMP is the plenum-rated listing for this class of multi-conductor cable, and it is the listing both 442380 and the Belden 6302UE equal benchmark carry.

442380 is UL Listed C(UL)US CMP and approved for plenum use without conduit per the NFPA 262 flame test. Its agency approvals also include NEC Article 800 and RoHS compliance. When a specification calls for a plenum-rated reference cable, these listings are the first items a reviewer checks, because an equal that lacks the same listing cannot be documented as a match.

Access Control Cable Applications for a Belden 6302UE Equivalent

Door Hardware, Readers, and Access Controllers

Access control points often connect several devices at a single opening, such as card readers, door position contacts, request-to-exit devices, and electrified hardware. A 4-conductor, 18 AWG access control cable can carry multiple low-voltage circuits within one jacket where the system design calls for that conductor count and gauge. Conductor requirements for each device should follow the equipment manufacturer's documentation and the project specification.

Security, Sound, and Power-Limited Control Wire Runs

Projects that specify a Belden 6302UE equivalent typically include security system circuits, intercom and paging, audio and speaker runs, and power-limited control wire applications. For security runs where the specification calls for a shielded construction instead, our Belden 6200FE Equal: 16 AWG Shielded Security Cable article covers a related option.

Identification Marking and US Manufacturing

The 442380 jacket print includes a device/zone legend (A B C D E and 0 through 9), along with 18 AWG, C(UL)US CMP, RoHS, and MADE IN THE USA. The cross-reference shows no comparable marking on the Belden 6302UE equal benchmark. Printed listings on the jacket give inspectors and facility teams a direct way to confirm cable type in the field, and the device/zone legend supports circuit identification on multi-device projects.

Sourcing 442380 as a Belden 6302UE Equal

442380 functions as a Belden 6302UE Equal by matching the core construction points: 18 AWG, 4 conductors, 7x26 bare copper, non-shielded, a matching color code, a 300 volt rating, and a CMP plenum listing. Its documented differences, including lower nominal capacitance, a .184-inch diameter, and a white jacket, are listed on the spec sheet for submittal review.

For a broader look at security and access control cables, the Security & Access Control Resource Center provides additional product information. For specification questions or procurement support, the contact page offers a direct next step. Final selection should come down to documented construction, listings, and alignment with project requirements.