Security & Access Control: BAC NET™ | RS-232/485 Outdoor Cables
Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage Security & Access Control BAC NET™ | RS-232/485 outdoor cables designed for dependable communications in commercial and industrial environments. Built for building automation, access control, and security system integrations, these shielded twisted-pair constructions support BAC NET™ MS/TP, RS-485, and RS-232 signaling with stable performance in outdoor and direct-burial applications. Tinned copper conductors resist corrosion, pair shields help block electromagnetic interference, and select low-capacitance designs assist with longer data runs and improved signal integrity.
All cables in this category are U.S.-manufactured SmartWire® low-voltage products. SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing and reduces friction during pulls by up to 70%, helping crews move faster with less rework and fewer cable handling issues. Options include 18, 22, and 24 AWG constructions and both Non-UL and CM/AWM types to align with project specifications. Where applicable, direct-burial and sunlight-resistant jackets are available for long-term outdoor durability. These access control and building automation cables are suitable for device drops, trunk runs, and interconnects in a wide range of security and life-safety installations.
To standardize identification in the field, SmartWire offers extensive jacket and stripe color options. Contact our team to discuss custom jacket and stripe colors for your organization’s standards.
At-a-glance benefits
How this product family delivers value
Available constructions
Typical applications
Choose SmartWire® Security & Access Control BAC NET™ | RS-232/485 outdoor cables to standardize on reliable, low-voltage, shielded twisted-pair products that help your team install with confidence and maintain signal performance across your facility portfolio.
Security & Access Control BAC NET™ | RS232/485 Outdoor Cables from Windy City Wire are engineered for reliable, noise-resistant serial communications in commercial and industrial environments. Built around shielded twisted pairs of tinned copper conductors, these low-voltage security and access control cables support BACnet MS/TP, RS‑485, and RS‑232 signaling across campuses, parking facilities, manufacturing sites, and other outdoor spaces where durability and signal integrity matter.
Available in multiple conductor sizes and pair counts—including 1‑pair and 2‑pair constructions in 18 AWG, 22 AWG, and 24 AWG—these outdoor-rated, non-plenum, direct-burial cables help contractors right-size their design for distance, baud rate, and device power needs. Low-capacitance dielectrics (as low as 12.5 pF/ft) and comprehensive shielding deliver stable performance over longer runs and in electrically noisy areas. For planning flexibility, select items are offered in 1000 ft and 500 ft lengths.
Where these cables fit
Ideal outdoor and campus applications
Why contractors choose this category
Typical device connections
Integration scenarios
Design and installation considerations
Key attributes at a glance
Whether you are deploying a BACnet MS/TP backbone across a campus, linking OSDP readers to door controllers, or integrating Modbus RTU devices in an industrial yard, Windy City Wire’s Security & Access Control BAC NET™ | RS232/485 Outdoor Cables provide the low-voltage foundation for dependable communication in demanding outdoor environments. Contact our team for assistance with cable selection, submittals, and takeoffs tailored to your project.
These SmartWire outdoor/direct-burial cables are available in multiple gauges: 24 AWG, 22 AWG, and 18 AWG.
Available in Black/White. SmartWire can also be produced with custom jacket and stripe color combinations to meet organizational standards—contact Windy City Wire for details.
These cables use tinned copper conductors. Construction is typically stranded to provide durability and flexibility for outdoor and direct-burial installations; please contact us for solid options or to confirm strand counts by part number.
Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks this SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in 1,000 ft as the standard length. Select items are also available in 500 ft lengths.
- BACnet (MS/TP over RS‑485): Building automation protocol typically using a shielded, low-capacitance twisted pair (often 22–24 AWG) for multi‑drop networks in noisy environments and long runs.
- RS‑232: Point‑to‑point, single‑ended signaling for short distances; typically fewer conductors and not designed for multi‑drop or long outdoor runs.
- RS‑485: Differential, multi‑drop bus supporting longer distances and higher noise immunity; commonly uses one shielded twisted pair (sometimes two) with 120 Ω nominal impedance.