Cable Gland Selection Guide
A cable gland consists of a body, seal, clamping cap and locknut; when choosing, check the thread system, the sealing points, and whether the nut and O-ring are included.
This guide covers what to look at when choosing products in the Cable Glands category.
Gland parts and sealing points
A cable gland consists of a body, a seal, a clamping cap that presses the seal onto the cable, and a locknut that fixes the body into the sheet-metal hole. Sealing is achieved in two separate places: between the seal and the cable sheath, and between the body and the enclosure surface. The enclosure side is sealed by the O-ring under the body flange; for its standard polyamide series, Ortaç gives the IP68 rating together with the O-ring.
If the product name does not say "with plastic nut", "with metal nut" or "set", confirm before ordering whether the nut is supplied with it; nuts, O-rings, flat washers and multi-hole seals are listed separately under Gland Accessories.
IEC 62444 defines the tests for cable retention, pull-out anchorage, impact resistance and degree of protection of glands.
Cable gland types
- Standard watertight type: mainly general-purpose polyamide glands with PG threads.
- Euro-metric watertight type: polyamide glands with a metric thread of 1.5 mm pitch, such as M 16x1.5, M 20x1.5 and M 25x1.5.
- Long thread watertight type: models with an extended connection thread. On Ortaç PG 16, the thread length is 9 mm on the standard model and 15 mm on the long-thread model; they are used with thick-walled housings and thick sheet metal where the standard thread is not long enough for the nut.
- Closed-seal watertight type: a series with a special seal for dust resistance. Ortaç gives the protection rating of this series as IP65; for an entry that requires IP68, compare it with the standard watertight series.
- Spiral-end watertight type: the spiral cap at the outlet prevents the cable from bending sharply at the gland mouth; it is intended for flexible and frequently moving cables.
- Nickel-plated brass: brass glands with a nickel-plated body and cap; used at machine and enclosure entries where mechanical stress is high.
- EMC type grounded: a conductive contact element inside the body touches the cable shield and connects the shield to the enclosure through the metal body.
- Stainless steel: in Ortaç data the body is grade 1.4305 (AISI 303) or 1.4404 (AISI 316L); confirm which one it is before ordering.
Straight type glands are listed in PG sizes, and Ortaç gives this series as IP54. Reduced models offer a smaller clamping range for thin cables on the M 25 thread. SR type glands have a special seal for RJ-45 data cables; they are listed in PG 21 and M 25 threads. If a spiral conduit is to be connected instead of a cable, you need not a cable gland but Spiral Conduit Fittings, selected according to the type and diameter of the conduit.
How to read thread size and clamping range
In a metric gland, the notation "M 20x1.5" indicates a thread with a 20 mm nominal diameter and a 1.5 mm pitch. The number in a PG size, on the other hand, is not in millimeters: the outer diameter of a PG 13.5 thread is 20.4 mm, of PG 16 is 22.5 mm, and of PG 21 is 28.3 mm. Read the thread system of the gland to be replaced from the marking on it; if the marking has worn off, compare the thread outer diameter you measured with a caliper against these values.
The same thread is produced with more than one clamping range: in the Ortaç metric polyamide series, the M 16x1.5 thread has bodies with 4-8 mm and 5-10 mm ranges, and the M 20x1.5 thread has bodies with 6-12 mm and 10-14 mm ranges. The K suffix in product names distinguishes these bodies, but it does not mean the same thing across brands: the Ortaç M 20 K with stock code OMRB04 is 6-12 mm in the manufacturer's table, the Gwest GW-20MKG is 10-14 mm, and the GW-20MG without K is 6-12 mm. Look at the clamping diameter, not the suffix: on Gwest product cards this value is written out, while for Ortaç products it is verified from the stock code in the manufacturer's dimension table. The cable's outer diameter must fall within the range; the seal cannot grip a cable that is too thin, and a cable that is too thick will not pass through the body.
Housing material and operating conditions
A polyamide gland is lightweight and insulating, and it does not corrode. Ortaç gives the continuous operating range for the standard series with a PA6 body as -20 °C to +100 °C and offers UV resistance on request; for a gland to be used outdoors, confirm this feature before ordering. In nickel-plated brass glands, the body and cap are metal, the cable holder is polyamide, the seal is TPV and the O-ring is NBR; where oil and chemicals are present, check the suitability of the seal material from the manufacturer's data. In explosive atmospheres the additional requirements of the IEC 60079 series apply; selection is made according to the project and the manufacturer's certificate.
Brands in this category
- Ortaç: present in all subgroups; polyamide, nickel-plated brass, EMC and stainless steel glands are listed in metric and PG sizes.
- Gwest: polyamide glands with GW codes; in PG and metric series, in gray and black.
- TP Elektrik: polyamide glands with plastic nuts and glands with metal nuts; for some metric models, the wall housing they fit (for example 63 A rear entry) is stated in the name.
- Isıso: polyamide glands with IPG codes and PG threads; in gray and black.
Ordering notes
Products are listed by the piece. Expressions such as "(50 pcs/kutu)" in Ortaç product names are the quantity per box; the product card separately states in what pack quantities the product is sold, so enter the quantity accordingly. A portion of the products is listed as made-to-order, and for these products the lead time is confirmed before ordering. You can reach a product directly by typing manufacturer codes such as GW-32MS or 3193-547-0600 into the site search.
Cable Gland Thread Standards and Material Comparison Table
| Cable Gland Type | Thread Size Range | Body Material and IP Rating | Typical Application | Category Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric (M) Polyamide Cable Gland | M12×1.5 – M63×1.5 | Polyamide (PA66) · IP68 with seal | Standard automation enclosures, junction boxes and sensor entries | Cable Glands |
| PG Thread Polyamide Cable Gland | PG7 – PG48 | Polyamide (PA66) · IP68 · Spiral strain-relief option | Machine housings, motor terminal boxes and flexing cables | Cable Glands |
| Nickel-Plated Brass / Metal & EMC Gland | M12 – M63 · PG7 – PG48 | Nickel-plated brass / Stainless · IP68 | Heavy industry, shielded cables (LIYCY/2YSLCY) and high mechanical stress | Glands |
Frequently asked questions
Can an M 20 gland be fitted in place of a PG 16 gland?
It cannot be fitted into a threaded hole: the outer diameter of a PG 16 thread is 22.5 mm, while an M 20 gland has a metric thread with a 20 mm nominal diameter and a 1.5 mm pitch. In an unthreaded sheet-metal hole the size is also different; in gland manufacturers' mounting tables the hole diameter is given as 23.0 mm for PG 16 and 20.3 mm for M 20x1.5. In an oversized hole, the body and O-ring may not seat fully on the surface. In a new enclosure, choosing a single thread system and buying the glands, nuts and blanking plugs in the same thread avoids confusion.
Why are there different cable diameter ranges on the same M 20 gland?
The thread size defines only the enclosure hole, while the clamping range defines the cable outer diameter the seal can grip, and manufacturers offer the same thread with different bodies. In the Ortaç metric polyamide series, the M 20x1.5 thread is produced with bodies of 6-12 mm and 10-14 mm ranges. Because the K suffix in the name indicates a different body depending on the brand, choose the gland not only by thread size and suffix but by comparing the cable's catalog outer diameter with the clamping diameter.
What does an IP68 gland mean, and is it waterproof under all conditions?
According to IEC 60529, the first digit 6 means no ingress of dust, and the second digit 8 means continuous immersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer; Ortaç gives this condition as 5 bar for its polyamide and brass glands. The value applies with a round-section cable whose diameter fits the clamping range, a tightened cap, and an O-ring seated on the enclosure surface. This degree is not achieved with a cable of the wrong diameter or a missing O-ring.
Which cables is an EMC gland used with?
It is used with braided-shield cables when the shield is required to be connected to the body at the enclosure entry; shielded cables between a frequency converter and a motor and shielded signal cables are typical examples. The conductive contact element inside the gland touches the shield. For the connection to work, the enclosure surface on which the gland sits must be conductive; brass EMC nuts are listed separately in the gland accessories.
Can more than one cable be passed through a single gland?
A standard seal is designed to wrap around a single round cable; when two cables are passed through side by side, a gap is left between them and the seal cannot provide sealing. Multi-hole seals are used for several thin cables; these are listed in the gland gaskets group under gland accessories by body size, such as PG 16 / M 20. Verify the number of holes and the hole diameter before ordering.
Should I choose a polyamide gland or a brass gland?
A polyamide gland is lightweight, does not corrode, and is used at general cable entries of plastic or sheet-metal enclosures. A nickel-plated brass gland is preferred on machine housings with high impact and vibration, where a conductive connection with a metal body is wanted, and in EMC applications. In a corrosive environment, a stainless steel body is considered. Because temperature limits vary from series to series, check the manufacturer's data for each product.