Flat lift cable price: what decides it, and what to ask a dealer

People ask for the price of a CAT6 flat lift cable before anything else. It is a fair question and it has no single answer, because the price moves with several things that are worth understanding before you compare quotes. We do not publish a price list, as copper moves daily and the cost to you depends on the dealer and the quantity. What we can do is explain what drives it.

What changes the price

• The copper rate. Conductors are mostly copper, and copper changes through the month.
• The cable: four pairs against two pairs against 2+2, with or without GI ropes. More copper and more construction cost more.
• The quantity: one coil, or the coils for a block of lifts.
• The length: a full 180 m coil, a 90 m half, or a special roll of 200 to 500 m.
• Stock or plant: coils held in stock against lots scheduled at the plant.
• Documents: tender papers such as the manufacturer authorisation and test reports.

What not to trade away to save money

In a lift the cable sits where the repair is most expensive: inside the lift well, behind a lift company that controls access. A cheaper cable that fails in a year costs far more than the difference. Four things separate a lift cable from a cable that is only flat:

• Stranded copper conductors, not solid. Channeltech CC-8251G-90 uses 24 AWG, 7/0.195 mm.
• An FRLS (flame retardant, low smoke) jacket with a stated fire test, IEC 60332-1 for the Channeltech CAT6 Flat 4 Pair.
• A stated bend radius for continuous flexing, ≤ 4 × cable diameter for the same cable.
• A continuous length with no joint in the moving loop, supplied as a 180 m coil that is cut once per lift.

Comparing two quotes like for like

Ask each supplier for the same four things in writing, then compare:

• The part code or exact construction: number of pairs, copper strands, jacket, any rope.
• The pack length: a 180 m continuous coil, or shorter lengths that need joining.
• The datasheet, with measured values.
• The documents that come with it: manufacturer authorisation and test report if the tender needs them.

Questions to ask a dealer

• Which Channeltech part code is this, and is it stocked or scheduled?
• Is the coil continuous, and can it be cut to 90 m?
• Do you have the datasheet and the authorisation letter?
• What is the delivery time for my quantity and city?

How to get a quote quickly

Send the number of lifts, the floors each serves (for example G+12), the camera type (IP or HD) and your city. The calculator works out the part code and the number of coils, and writes the message for you. Then ask your nearest dealer; the Where to buy page explains how we connect you to one.