Lighting Control Cable

Summary: Lighting Control Cable

Pro AV Cabling for Commercial Integration

Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage SmartWire® solutions purpose-built for professional audio-visual environments. From conference rooms and training centers to auditoriums, houses of worship, hospitality, retail, and education, our pro av cable offering supports signal transport, device power, and system control in demanding commercial installations. Whether you are deploying AV over IP backbones, integrating control processors, or coordinating lighting control and shade control alongside media systems, our SmartWire cables help streamline design, pulling, and termination while maintaining signal integrity and code compliance.

SmartWire is the brand name of the low-voltage cable we manufacture in the United States. Every SmartWire cable ships ready for the job, featuring our SmartWire Glide lubrication that reduces pulling friction by up to 70% for faster installations and tighter routes through congested pathways. FastFIND Footage Markers make it easy to estimate remaining cable, plan pulls, and reduce waste across projects. For organizations standardizing site identification and workflows, SmartWire offers extensive jacket and stripe color options; contact our team to discuss custom color combinations that align with your standards.

Where Pro AV teams use SmartWire

• AV signal and control: networked video transport, Dante/AVB audio, DSP and control processors, wall plates, and extenders.
• Room automation and building systems: integration with automation and lighting cable for touch panels, keypads, occupancy sensors, lighting control, and shade control devices.
• Performance and presentation spaces: display/projector endpoints, amplifier to device control, and back-of-rack interconnects.

Why SmartWire for Pro AV

• Low-voltage, commercial-grade constructions designed for plenum and non-plenum pathways in commercial facilities.
• Shielded options help mitigate interference from lighting, motors, and RF sources common in mechanical and equipment rooms.
• FastFIND Footage Markers support accurate job costing and help reduce scrap by enabling installers to use remaining lengths efficiently.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication is standard at no additional cost and supports long pulls with fewer re-lubes and less rework.
• Custom jacket and stripe colors available to simplify field identification across trades and phases.

Typical Pro AV Applications

• Pro AV backbones: shielded Category 6A and Category 5e for AV over IP and control networks.
• Device and keypad runs: low-capacitance shielded pairs for control stations and peripherals.
• Integrated automation: combining pro av cable with automation and lighting cable to simplify pulls to touch panels and controllers.

Lengths
Standard length: 1000 FT.

Available Constructions

• 23 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum CMP: Category 6A, shielded (overall foil) and swept tested to 660 MHz for high-bandwidth AV over IP and low-noise control backbones in plenum spaces.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Plenum CMP: Category 5e, shielded (overall foil) for reliable data/control runs where EMI reduction and plenum compliance are required.
• 24 AWG 4 Pair Solid Bare Copper Non‑Plenum CMR: Category 5e, shielded (overall foil) for vertical risers and general non-plenum pathways in commercial facilities.
• 24 AWG 2 Pair Tinned Copper Plenum CMP/CL3P: Shielded, low-capacitance control pair set for precise signal performance to touch panels, sensors, and control peripherals in plenum spaces.
• 24 AWG 1 Pair Tinned Copper Plenum CMP: Shielded, low-capacitance pair for single-channel control or sync lines where noise immunity and plenum rating are critical.
• 24 AWG 1 Pair Tinned Copper Non‑Plenum CMR: Shielded, low-capacitance pair for riser pathways and device-to-controller runs in non-plenum areas.
• 16 AWG 1 Pair Solid Bare Copper FEP Plenum CMP: Unshielded, FEP insulated and FEP jacketed pair for keypad power or device circuits where a robust plenum-rated construction is needed.

Composite and Combo Options for Pro AV

• Two-element plenum composites that combine a shielded Category data element with a low-voltage pair to enable a single cable pull for power/control plus network/control data to the same endpoint.
• Three-element plenum composites for multi-signal drops to equipment racks, podiums, and wall stations, reducing conduit fill and installation time.
• Combo cable options designed for Lutron keypad integrations to simplify device wiring to control processors and panels.

Color Identification
Standard conductor color codes support fast terminations, and SmartWire offers custom jacket and stripe color combinations to align with your organization's labeling and identification practices. Contact Windy City Wire for custom color options.

How Windy City Wire Adds Value to Your Next Project

• Consolidate pulls and reduce labor by choosing composite constructions that bring multiple signals to a single endpoint.
• Maintain performance with shielded options that help preserve signal quality next to lighting and power infrastructure.
• Improve scheduling and cost control with FastFIND Footage Markers that simplify tracking remaining footage and planning the next run.
• Streamline installation with SmartWire Glide lubrication, cutting pull resistance and helping crews finish faster with less fatigue.
• Standardize across jobs with consistent, US‑manufactured SmartWire constructions and optional custom color schemes.

Ready to plan your next Pro AV deployment?
Partner with Windy City Wire for low-voltage SmartWire solutions that align with commercial codes, reduce labor in the field, and deliver dependable performance from rack to endpoint.

Solutions: Lighting Control Cable

Lighting Control Cable for Professional AV and Building Systems

Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage lighting control cable engineered for commercial and industrial projects where reliability, code compliance, and installation efficiency matter. From centralized lighting control to networked fixtures, keypad stations, shade control, and sensor networks, our pro av cable options support both traditional and IP-based architectures. Standard 1000 ft lengths help contractors execute large-scale pulls across campuses, towers, and multi-room venues with fewer changeovers and consistent performance.

Where Lighting Control Cable Fits in Your AV Integration

• Meeting spaces and collaboration rooms: Connect keypads, touch panels, occupancy/daylight sensors, and dimming modules to enterprise AV and building controls.
• Auditoriums, theaters, and performance spaces: Support DMX512 and show lighting control alongside audio and video infrastructure; reduce interference with shielded constructions.
• Networked and PoE lighting: Use Category 5e and Category 6A shielded plenum cable as the data backbone for intelligent fixtures, gateways, and controllers.
• Campus, hospitality, and retail: Run long control lines for centralized lighting control, shade control, and signage illumination with low-capacitance, plenum-rated pairs where required.
• Healthcare and education: Tie in sensors, nurse call lighting indicators, and classroom AV controls to lighting zones while meeting plenum requirements.
• Industrial and warehousing: Integrate high-bay dimming, aisle-based occupancy controls, and daylight harvesting into automation and lighting cable paths with robust shielding options.
• Houses of worship and public assembly: Coordinate stage lighting, architectural scenes, and AV presets via central processors and remote keypads.
• Transportation and arenas: Extend lighting control and monitoring to concourses, suites, and bowl lighting with composite cable that carries power and control in a single pull.

Systems and Protocols Supported

• 0–10V dimming: 18 AWG control pairs for analog dimming lines to drivers and fixtures.
• DALI and other two-wire buses: Twisted, low-capacitance shielded pairs for reliable, addressable lighting control.
• DMX512: Shielded twisted pairs and low-capacitance constructions for entertainment and architectural lighting control runs.
• Ethernet-based control and PoE lighting: 4-pair shielded Category 5e and Category 6A plenum cable for controllers, gateways, and luminaires.
• Keypads and touch interfaces: Purpose-built combinations, including combo cable for Lutron keypad applications, streamline station wiring and reduce device home runs.
• Shade control: Dedicated control pairs or composites carry both low-voltage power and signals for motorized shades and drapery tracks.

Why Contractors Choose Our Lighting Control Cable

• Composite designs reduce pulls: 2- and 3-element Pro A/V plenum composite cable combines an 18 AWG control/power pair with a shielded data backbone, minimizing conduit fill and labor.
• Plenum-first safety: CMP-rated constructions support code-compliant installation in return-air spaces and across mixed-use facilities.
• EMI performance: Overall-foil shielded pairs and shielded Category cable help protect sensitive lighting and AV control signals in dense electrical environments.
• Distance and flexibility: Available in 16, 23, and 24 AWG options to match run lengths, power needs, and termination requirements.
• Clean terminations: Clear color-coding on conductors (such as Black/Red or White-Blue/Blue, White-Orange/Orange, White-Green/Green, White-Brown/Brown) speeds identification and reduces wiring errors.
• Spec-ready performance: Category 5e and Category 6A shielded plenum cables, with swept testing on Cat 6A to support high-bandwidth control and monitoring.

Recommended Uses by Application

• Centralized lighting control panels to zones: Run 18/2 or combined 18/2 + Cat 5e/6A for scene control, room combine/divide, and timeclock integration.
• Networked fixtures and gateways: Use shielded Category 6A plenum for Ethernet-based control and monitoring where bandwidth and noise immunity are critical.
• Keypad stations: Deploy composite cable designed for keypad power and data, including options aligned to popular keypad ecosystems.
• Shade control: Route low-voltage power and control with shielded or unshielded pairs as required by the motor/drive specification.
• Sensor networks: Connect occupancy, daylight, and scene sensors to controllers with low-capacitance shielded pairs to maintain signal integrity over long runs.

Selecting the Right Cable

1. Define the control method: Choose 18 AWG pairs for 0–10V and relay/contact signals; use shielded Category 5e or Category 6A for IP-based lighting control.
2. Check the environment: Use plenum (CMP) in air-handling spaces; select shielding when runs share pathways with power or motors.
3. Plan for combined pulls: Where devices need both power and data, a composite lighting control cable can simplify installation and reduce termination points.
4. Account for distance and load: Select 16, 23, or 24 AWG based on current draw, voltage drop, bandwidth, and maximum run length.

Industries and Facilities Served

• Corporate offices and multi-tenant buildings
• Healthcare facilities and labs
• Higher education and K–12 campuses
• Hospitality, casinos, and entertainment venues
• Retail, mixed-use, and public spaces
• Industrial plants, distribution centers, and logistics hubs
• Government, civic, and transportation infrastructure
• Houses of worship and cultural institutions

How this supports your project goals

• Faster installation: Composite pro av cable options allow a single pull for power and control, reducing labor and change orders.
• Clean, reliable control: Shielded and low-capacitance constructions help maintain signal integrity for lighting control and shade control in busy electrical spaces.
• Future-ready: Category 6A backbones provide headroom for expanding automation and lighting cable networks as systems evolve.
• Consistency at scale: 1000 ft lengths support standardized pulls across large projects and multi-building rollouts.

SEO notes for specifiers
If you are searching for pro av cable for lighting control or shade control, our shielded Category 5e/6A and composite automation & lighting cable options provide a clear, code-compliant path from controllers and processors to fixtures, keypads, and sensors—helping integrators deliver reliable automation and lighting cable infrastructures on time and within budget.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lighting Control Cable

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable cable?

  Multiple gauge options are available: 16 AWG, 23 AWG, and 24 AWG.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable cable available in?

  Available color codes include: Black/Red; Blue/White; White-Blue/Blue; White-Orange/Orange; White-Green/Green; White-Brown/Brown; Orange/White; Violet/White; Orange; White/Violet.

• Is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Both are available, depending on the specific construction and application.

• What length is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable cable sold in?

  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in a 1,000 ft standard length. This Lighting Control Cable is offered in 1,000 ft as standard, with additional lengths of 100 ft, 250 ft, and 500 ft available.

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

  Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to help maximize labor savings and installation efficiency. 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
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