14 AWG Shielded Cable
14 AWG is the heaviest conductor size in the Heizka shielded security and control range, and it is specified when a low-voltage circuit has to carry meaningful current, cover a long distance, or both. Every cable in this category is an aluminum-foil-screened, twisted construction with HDPE insulation and a gray PVC jacket, rated 300V and supplied in 305m boxes with sequential length markings printed on the jacket. The category is part of the wider Heizka Security Control Cable program.
Why Specify 14 AWG Instead of a Smaller Gauge
Conductor gauge governs two things that matter on a control circuit: how much current the conductor can carry without excessive heating, and how much of the source voltage survives the trip to the load and back. A 14 AWG conductor has roughly four times the cross-sectional area of an 18 AWG conductor, so loop resistance per unit length falls by about the same factor. Heizka publishes a maximum conductor resistance of 8.2 Ω/km at 20°C for the 14 AWG construction, which is the number to use when you calculate volt drop on a long feed.
That matters most on circuits with a real current draw and a narrow voltage window. Electric strikes, maglocks, powered sirens, motorized dampers, remote power feeds to door controllers and long 12V or 24V distribution runs all behave badly when the delivered voltage sags. Where run length and load current push a smaller gauge outside tolerance, moving up to 14 AWG is usually cheaper than adding a local power supply.
Published Construction and Specifications
The 14 AWG detail page publishes an aluminum foil shield at 100% coverage with a drain wire, HDPE insulation, an insulation test voltage of 1000V AC, capacitance of 97 ± 3 pF/m, an average jacket thickness of 0.6mm and an overall diameter of 9.8 ± 0.3mm. A foil shield with a continuous drain wire gives full-circumference coverage against capacitively coupled noise and provides a low-impedance path back to a single grounding point, which is why it is the standard screen for audio, intercom and detector circuits routed near power wiring.
| Product | Part number | Insulation | Shield | Jacket | Rated voltage | Put-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heizka 14AWG Shielded Cable | HEW14S2PC | HDPE | Aluminum foil, 100% coverage, drain wire | PVC, gray | 300V | 305m/box |
| 14AWG Shielded Cable 2 Pair | HEW14S4PC | HDPE | AL-Shield | PVC, gray | 300V | 305m/box |
Both constructions are offered in stranded bare copper and solid bare copper, and Heizka notes that stranded conductors provide additional flexibility. Both are ISO 9001:2008 manufactured and RoHS compliant, and both are specified for indoor applications.
Installation Consequences of the Larger Gauge
A heavier conductor changes the mechanics of the job, not just the electrical result. Overall diameter is larger, so conduit fill calculations tighten quickly. Minimum bend radius grows with diameter, and pulling tension is higher because the cable is stiffer and heavier per meter. Plan larger raceway, wider sweeps at bends and shorter pull segments with intermediate boxes.
Termination hardware also has to match. Many alarm panel and door controller terminal blocks are sized for 18 AWG to 22 AWG conductors and will not accept 14 AWG cleanly. Where the panel terminal is the limit, land the 14 AWG feed on a distribution block or terminal strip rated for the gauge and tail down to the panel with a short jumper. Choose the stranded version where the conductor is dressed into a crowded enclosure or has to flex during service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does 14 AWG compare with 16 and 18 AWG in this range?
All three share the same aluminum-shielded, HDPE-insulated, PVC-jacketed 300V construction. The difference is conductor size, and therefore current capacity and volt drop per unit length. See 16 AWG Shielded Cable for mid-range control runs and 18 AWG Shielded Cable for low-current signal and detector loops.
Is this cable suitable for outdoor or direct-burial use?
No. Heizka lists these cables for indoor applications. For anything outside that scope, ask us to quote an appropriate alternative.
Should the drain wire be grounded at both ends?
General practice for a foil-screened control circuit is to bond the drain wire to ground at one end only, normally the panel end, to avoid a ground loop through the shield. Follow the panel manufacturer’s instructions and your local code.
What length does the cable ship in?
305m per box, with sequential length markings printed on the jacket so remaining footage can be read directly off the reel.
Heizka Cable manufactures this range to order for distributors, integrators and OEM accounts. Browse the full product line or review the published datasheets in our documents library, then contact us for a quote with your gauge, pair count, conductor type and quantity.
