A spiral shield is a metallic shield of fine stranded wires applied spirally, or helically, around a cable core rather than braided.
A spiral shield, also called a served shield, is a shield made of fine stranded wires wrapped spirally, or helically, around the cable core, rather than woven into a braid. The spiral application lays the strands side by side around the cable in a single direction. This construction is very flexible and economical, making it suitable for cable that must flex repeatedly, though it generally provides less complete and less stable shielding than a braid, especially at high frequencies.
Because the strands are wrapped rather than woven, a spiral shield can open up as the cable bends, which is why it is used where flexibility is the priority and high-frequency shielding demands are modest. It offers a good balance of flexibility and shielding for many audio and lower-frequency applications.
In commercial and industrial cable, spiral shields serve flexible applications where their balance of flexibility and shielding is appropriate. Recognizing the construction helps in understanding the options among shield types.
Because the strands are wrapped rather than woven, a spiral shield can open up as the cable bends, which is why it is used where flexibility is the priority and high-frequency shielding demands are modest, offering a good balance for many audio and lower-frequency applications.
At Windy City Wire, attention to shielding details such as spiral shields reflects a focus on matching cable to its application. Recognizing how a spiral shield balances flexibility and shielding helps illustrate the range of shielded cable available for commercial and industrial use.
Also called served shield