Have you had issues figuring out manufacturers from vague markings on hook-up wire? Did the manufacturer forget or omit the manufacturer part number on the wire? You might be able to find a generic cross using the details printed on a wire, but sometimes you may prefer the original manufacturer.
The Underwriter’s Laboratory is a great resource as they have a unique way of tying their file numbers to specific companies. UL has a variety of standards when it comes to electronics products and electrical systems. The nice thing is, if you look up a UL file number online or through their ProductIQ site, usually the information is publicly available as to who the UL file is associated with. It will even tell you which category of parts it belongs to and which “category control number” the part is associated with. Remember, you would need a UL account to access the full information on that standard.
I was recently asked about a wire that had the following information printed on it: LL53776 CSA TCW 105C 600V FT1 16AWG 1.5mm2 E198296(UL). This was a 16AWG yellow/green wire but had no real indication who the manufacturer was. If you copy the file number without the “(UL)” at the end and put it into the ProductIQ search, the following information appears:
Product Category: Machine-tool Wire
File Number: E198296
Model Numbers: MTW
Company: U.I. Lapp Gmbh
The CCN (category control number) is ZKHZ. This means that the full entry for UL is ZKHZ.E198296. This public information is useful identifying manufacturers through their file numbers. The CCN ZKHZ is tied to “Machine-Tool Wire.”
The extra good news? This method would work for other UL Registered product too. If you aren’t sure who the manufacturer is and the part has a “E####” on it, that may be a file number you can refer to.