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Visit our "Selecting Parts" guide to find the perfect components for your suspension system
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A basic guide on how to select parts for your suspension system:
This guide has covered the essentials of choosing parts for your suspension system.
For more advanced insights and to explore complex aspects, continue reading to deepen your understanding of selecting parts.
Contact us if you require any assistance.
The table below shows various wire diameters along with their working load limit (maximum weight of the suspended product) when used with our grippers in a vertical direction. The working load limit is 20% of the minimum breaking load of the system, based on a 5:1 safety factor*. The minimum break load is the minimum weight when the combination of the wire and gripper breaks. Learn more under section Weight Guidelines.
*Please note that there are exceptions for some products regarding working load limit.
| Wire diameter | Working load limit | Minimum break load |
|---|---|---|
| Ø 0.8 mm | 4 kg | 20 kg |
| Ø 1.0 mm | 8 kg | 40 kg |
| Ø 1.2 mm | 12 kg | 60 kg |
| Ø 1.5 mm | 18 kg | 90 kg |
| Ø 1.8 mm | 24 kg | 120 kg |
| Ø 2.0 mm | 28 kg | 140 kg |
From a design perspective, a thin wire is often preferred. It is less visible and doesn’t distract from your suspended product. However, a thicker wire can offer a greater sense of security. These are additional factors to consider when selecting wire diameter, in addition to the weight guidelines above.
In combination with a gripper, the steel wire construction shall be 7×7. It is a wire made of 49 small wires which are twisted into strands around a core. The core of a rope is central to its structure and plays a crucial role in determining its overall properties.
The 7×7 wire is flexible and can take high loads. It is also an optimal choice to use with a gripper, for fully friction locking. Wires are also to some extent available in 1×19 construction, such as for safety wires and 7×19 construction for more flexible and thicker wire diameters.
The wires are available in both galvanized and stainless steel. Special materials or surface treatments are available on request.
Stainless steel wire has a versatile use, making it suitable for almost any installation. The cost is slightly higher in comparison with galvanized steel wire, but it offers better corrosion resistance and appearance. Stainless steel wire is also possible to make in even smaller wire diameter than galvanized wire.
Stainless steel’s high corrosion resistance comes from its chromium content, which is our stainless steel wires graded as AISI304. They are ideal for use in moist or harsh environments, such as those with salty conditions. For even higher requirements and in a highly corrosive environment, a bit of molybdenum is added which is stainless steel wires graded as AISI316.
Galvanized steel wires are steel coated with a layer of zinc, providing good corrosion resistance but not as high as for stainless steel. Due to being coated steel, it is generally more affordable.
Wire can also be supplied with PVC or nylon coating in different colors.
If you are unsure about how to choose the wire for your suspension system, please contact us for technical support.
Determine the type of ceiling the attachment will be attached to. There are a variety of solutions depending on your installation. Clips for grid ceilings, ceiling attachment for straight or angled suspension, magnets, carrying rails or ceiling covers.
For ceiling attachments, consider the best way to secure your attachment to the ceiling. Make sure you use suitable plugs and screws for sufficient anchoring. Remember that the performance of the suspension system is irrelevant if the ceiling itself cannot support your product’s weight.
Depending on the choice of attachment and the specific installation conditions, find a suitable wire end. For instance, if your ceiling is in an angle, you use an attachment with a slit and a ball-shaped wire end to prevent the wire from bending. If there is only a self-tapping hook in the ceiling, use a wire with loop.
Attachment used with grippers allows you to make height adjustments at the ceiling level, instead of product level. Visit our section Attachments with grippers (these attachments can also be mounted on your product if desired). The wire end that will be inserted into the gripper must be the side without any ending and the molded or swaged end will be assembled to your product.
The gripper is one of the most interesting parts of a suspension system. It allows you to easily adjust the height of your product along the wire. This feature is particularly useful when suspending multiple products from the ceiling and aligning them to the same height. It also allows for swift installation by just pushing a steel wire through the gripper and it will automatically lock without tools needed.
First, consider how the wire will exit the gripper. Grippers generally fall into two categories:
A gripper with a bottom exit is usually used to be concealed within your product. In cases of lighting fixtures assembled with bottom exit grippers: the product must be designed to remove the risk of damaging components if the wire end is moving inside the fixture. Also, if there is a tight space inside the product, the product should be designed so the wire can exit from the gripper without poking any walls to allow for smooth height adjustments.
A side exit is preferable when there isn’t enough space for the wire to exit inside your product. You will also be able to choose in which direction the wire will exit by turning the gripper. In these cases, the height will be adjusted to its final position and then the wires can be cut off or rest on top of the product to allow for lowering height adjustment in the future.
Always try to add features that will make the installation easier and minimize the headaches. Our team is ready to support you with these product design solutions. Contact us now.