In an industrial robot cell, cables are not “accessories.” They are moving, flexing, electrically sensitive lifelines. When a signal cable degrades, you rarely get a clean failure. Instead, you get intermittent encoder or feedback issues, nuisance faults, unexplained position drift, random stops, and the kind of downtime that burns hours while everyone argues whether the culprit is the motor, the drive, the controller, or “the software.”
ABB 3HAC2530-1 is an ABB-listed spare part described as a “Control cable signal 15m.” In other words, it’s a purpose-built signal/control cable intended for ABB robotics applications where maintaining signal integrity under motion matters. Multiple industrial spare-part channels categorize it under ABB Robotics spare parts and place it in contexts related to controllers (IRC5 / IRC5C Compact Controller) and robot application equipment.
While many sellers add their own wording, the core value is consistent: this is a 15-meter ABB signal control cable identified by a specific ABB part number, meant to restore the original wiring standard when replacing a damaged or aging cable.
What This Cable Does (And Why It Matters)
Signal cables in robot systems typically carry feedback and control-level signals rather than power. Depending on the robot and configuration, that can include encoder feedback, sensor lines, and other low-level signals that must remain clean while routed through a moving harness and exposed to vibration, oil mist, and repetitive bending.
Some resellers explicitly describe 3HAC2530-1 as an encoder signal cable (15 m) used to transmit encoder signals between an encoder and a drive/controller. ABB’s own short description stays general (“control cable signal”), but the important engineering implication is the same: this cable is about reliable, low-noise communication, not simply “making a connection.”
Product Identification and Key Data
Below is a consolidated set of identifiers and practical details you can use for purchasing, inventory labeling, and technical cross-checking.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ABB |
| Part number | 3HAC2530-1 |
| ABB catalog description | Control cable signal 15m |
| ABB type designation (as listed by some suppliers) | 15 m |
| Cable length | 15 meters |
| Typical classification in the channel | Cables / Robotics spare part |
| System context (as categorized by some suppliers) | Robotics controllers (IRC5 / IRC5C Compact Controller) and application equipment categories |
| Compatibility note seen in the market | Some suppliers describe it as “for IRC5 IRB 1400, IRB 1600” |
| Lifecycle note seen in the market | One supplier lists “Product phase: Obsolete” (verify against your local ABB channel if lifecycle is critical) |
Important reality check: compatibility in robotics is configuration-dependent. Even when a reseller lists robot families, your best practice is to confirm against the robot’s spare-parts list, harness diagram, or controller documentation for your exact system build. (The part number is the anchor; the robot model claim is supportive, not definitive.)
Where ABB 3HAC2530-1 Fits in a Robot Cell
In many ABB robot installations, signal cables live inside the dress pack/harness routing where repeated motion is guaranteed. That environment creates a specific set of design requirements:
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Flex life: The cable must survive continuous bending cycles without micro-cracking conductors.
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Stable signal quality: Any change in shielding effectiveness, conductor geometry, or connector contact quality can show up as feedback instability.
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Serviceability: A 15 m length is often chosen to match cell layout realities—controller placement, routing paths, and slack management.
Suppliers often group 3HAC2530-1 under ABB Robotics parts associated with controllers and robot application equipment. That aligns with how signal cables are typically treated: not as generic wiring, but as system parts tied to ABB’s mechanical routing and electrical performance expectations.
Selection Guidance: Avoid the Common Procurement Mistakes
Robotics buyers regularly get burned by cables because the purchase process treats them like commodity items. If you want fewer returns, fewer commissioning surprises, and fewer “it almost works” headaches, apply this checklist:
| Checkpoint | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Exact part number | Prevents “close enough” substitutions | 3HAC2530-1 on label and paperwork |
| Correct length | Too short forces bad routing; too long causes snag/slack issues | 15 m requirement confirmed |
| System context | Some channels tie it to IRC5 / IRC5C and specific robots | Confirm against your robot/controller spare parts list |
| Cable function type | Signal/feedback cables are not interchangeable with power cables | Ensure it’s specified/used as “signal control” cable |
| Lifecycle expectations | If a supplier flags “obsolete,” lead times may vary | Ask for confirmation if project is long-term spares planning |
Installation and Maintenance Notes (Field-Focused)
Even the right cable can fail early if it’s installed like a generic wire.
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Respect bend radius and routing discipline. Tight bends at the wrist or near clamps are classic failure points in robot harnesses.
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Use proper strain relief. Let the cable move where it’s designed to move, not at connector backshells.
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Inspect connectors during replacement. A cable swap that leaves contamination or worn connector contacts in place can recreate the same intermittent faults.
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Document the replacement. Record the part number, cable path, and install date; signal cable wear is often cycle-dependent, not time-dependent.
If you’re doing preventive maintenance, treat signal cables as consumables in high-duty cells. A robot that runs three shifts, fast accelerations, and tight dress-pack geometry will “eat cables” faster than a lightly used cell, even with identical part numbers.
Summary
ABB 3HAC2530-1 is an ABB-identified 15 m control/signal cable intended for ABB Robotics applications. ABB’s own listing calls it “Control cable signal 15m,” and industrial parts channels consistently catalog it within ABB Robotics spare parts contexts related to controllers (IRC5 / IRC5C) and robot application equipment. Some suppliers further describe it as an encoder/signal cable and mention compatibility with specific ABB robot families such as IRB 1400/1600 under IRC5 environments, but your final validation should always be based on your system’s official parts documentation.
For buyers and maintenance teams, the key takeaway is simple: with robot cables, correctness is not just part number—it’s also length, routing, and signal integrity expectations. Buy it like a system component, install it like a moving component, and your robot will behave accordingly.
