When looking for durable, high-strength cable protection, the biggest question that comes up is “will my cables fit in this model?” The simple answer is that the outside diameter of your largest cable, hose or pipe should be less than the inside channel width of the cable ramp for a comfortable, fully-protected fit.

How to Measure the Outside Diameter

Hoses, PVC pipes and other tubes are labeled based on inside diameter (ID). While that’s a nice measurement to have when you’re using the hose or pipe, it doesn’t take the thickness of the tube wall into account. It’s this outside diameter (OD) that you will need to measure to make sure the cable ramps you select has a channel that is larger than the whole diameter of the hose. There are two simple ways to determine OD:

Calipers: Use calipers to measure the measure the outside diameter (with very large pipes, a tape measure might suffice, however calipers will be the most precise option)

Tape measure: Use a flexible tape measure to find the outside circumference of the pipe, then divide that number by pi (3.1415 etc., round as needed) to find the outside diameter

Finding the Cable Ramp with the Right Channel Size

Because cable ramps are our specialty, we want the shopping experience to be as seamless as possible so that you can find the cable ramp that meets your needs in seconds, not hours. Once you know the outside diameter of your largest pipe or hose, choose the application that best fits the working environment.

Light-duty applications include foot traffic, office or commercial locations. Medium-duty options usually max out at about 19,000 lbs. per axle weight capacity, and can handle most moderate vehicle traffic up to loaded pickup trucks and smaller construction equipment. Heavy-duty applications include construction sites, large events with continuous traffic, and work zones with a flow of heavy trucks and larger equipment traffic.

Elasco’s Top Cable Ramp Picks by Max Diameter Size

= Excellent = Good = Average