FAQs About Cables
United Rentals carries a variety of SOOW and SH-type cables made with heavy-duty molded rubber to ensure your equipment has a safe and reliable connection. We offer cable ramps, male and female cable tails, banded cables, spider box cables, bare-to-bare cables, generator power cords, heavy-duty power cords and more to help you find the right cable or cable accessory for the job. Resistant to shock, impact and corrosion, our heavy-duty electrical cords give you a quality rental to keep your projects on schedule.
Learn more about cables in our FAQ section below.
To safely test a power cable, you’ll want to use a multimeter. Use one of the multimeter leads and touch it to one of the prongs on the AC part of the power cord. Hold the other multimeter lead to the end of the console side of the power cord. The multimeter will beep steadily if there is an electrical connection, meaning your cable is working.
When it comes to selecting a cable, there are many factors to consider, like length, diameter, capacity and more. To calculate the cable size you need, divide the voltage running through the cable by the target current. This gives you the required resistance. However, there are many free calculators online to assist you in cable selection. Selecting the right cables for generators is simple: just choose a cord that matches the most powerful outlet on the generator. Contact a United Rentals representative for assistance in selecting the right cable for the job.
In short, high-voltage (HV) cables have higher potential energy than low-voltage (LV) cables, which is what makes HV cables better for powering larger equipment than LV cords. Generally, HV cables have more shielding and semi-conductor layers than LV cables and are often much thicker.