When people come into contact with wires and cables, they often hear terms such as "S twisted", "Z twisted", "SZ twisted", and "ZS twisted". Many people confuse them and even worry that if the twisted direction is not correct, the cable will become loose and affect its use. In fact, the core function of twisting is to make the cable structure tight, not loose, and durable. This article will help you thoroughly understand the four types of twists and turns.
S twisted
How to determine:
① Facing one end of the cable towards oneself, looking from the end to the starting point, the wire core rotates counterclockwise, just like the direction of the letter "S";
② Grasp one end of the cable with your left hand, and wrap your fingers in the direction of the core's rotation, just enough to fit together, which is the S-twist (left-hand rule)
Z twisted
How to determine:
① Turn one end of the cable towards yourself and look from the end to the starting point. The wire core rotates clockwise, like the direction of the letter "Z" written on it;
② Grasp one end of the cable with your right hand, and wrap your fingers in the direction of the core's rotation, just enough to fit, which is the Z-twist (right-hand rule)
Key reminder: S and Z twists cannot be used casually!
The two must be used together, and the core principle is that adjacent layers must be twisted in opposite directions. For example, if the first layer is twisted with Z, the second layer must be twisted with S, and the third layer must be twisted with Z, and so on. This is done to counteract the "twisting force" generated during twisting, and to prevent the cable from becoming loose or rebounding.
SZ twisting and ZS twisting are a combination of S twisting and Z twisting. Many people mistakenly think that ZS twisting is "one left, one right", but in fact, it is completely different. The usage and scenarios of the two are vastly different. The key to distinguishing between them is the position of the twisting direction alternation and the usage scenario.
SZ twisting (reciprocating alternating twisting)
Core feature: Within the same cable length, alternate between S and Z twists. For example, first twist an S twist, then twist a Z twist, and then twist an S twist, looping like "SZ-SZ-SZ", just like walking with alternating left and right feet, step by step following a regular pattern.
The difference between S/Z twisting: alternating occurs in the "same section of cable", not in different layers; Within the same small segment, S and Z will not appear simultaneously, but will alternate periodically.
Where to use: Extra long cables for special scenarios, such as submarine cables, extra long communication cables, and high-voltage transmission lines.
What's the use of it: It eliminates the residual twisting force after cable twisting, avoids the "curling, rebound, and knotting" of ultra long cables after prolonged use, and makes the laying of ultra long cables smoother without tangling.
ZS twisting (layered reverse twisting)
Core feature: Alternating twisting direction between different cable layers, adjacent layers must be opposite, and the twisting direction within the same layer must be completely uniform, without changing S or Z back and forth in one layer. For example:
1st layer (center layer): Z-twisted → 2nd layer: S-twisted (opposite to 1st layer) → 3rd layer: Z-twisted (opposite to 2nd layer), and so on
When cabling (multiple cores twisted together): the inner core is twisted with S, and the outer core is twisted with Z.
S/Z is the foundation, ZS is the norm, SZ is special ", combined with the core principle of" opposite adjacent layers ". If you have any specific questions about cable specifications, please feel free to supplement and consult at any time!
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