Wire Gauge
Standard 34 gauge
The standard gauge for headstage cable wire used by Plexon is 34 gauge which is flexible, yet robust. 34 gauge wire is ideal for head-fixed experiments, or for research in which the freely behaving animals are unlikely to be impeded by the cable. The standard 34 gauge wire is easy to identify as the wire insulation is multi-colored.

Ultra-fine 36 gauge
If your experiments require small animals such as mice, we recommend our 36 gauge ultra-fine wire. This thinner cable wire is lighter-weight and is less likely to impede the behavior of smaller animals. Additionally, digital headstages exclusively use 36 gauge wire. The ultra-thin wire is also easy to identify as it has white wire insulation.

Cable Wraps
Unless otherwise requested, headstage cable wires are bound using tiny shrink-wrap cuffs spaced approximately every 1.0 to 1.5 inches (shown in the images above). There are situations, however, in which the standard cuffed method may not be sufficient: if the cables may be snagged during normal use, damaged by biting animals, or if you wish to increase the cable torque transmitted to a standard, non-motorized commutator for more effective operation. In these circumstances, we recommend one of the following wraps. The wraps are presented in order of increasing strength, weight and protective qualities. All wraps are available for all cables.

Polyester Mesh Wrap
polyester mesh wrap is the lightest-weight and most flexible wrap Plexon offers. It will protect the headstage cable from damage incurred due to general use such as snagging, and is light enough and flexible enough for use with small animals, such as mice. This wrap is recommended for use on ultra-fine 36 gauge wire cables, and if working with small animals.

Clear Plastic Wrap
The next step up in strength is the clear plastic wrap. It provides some additional benefit over the polyester mesh wrap with respect to protection from damage incurred during standard use, and is slightly stiffer. The clear plastic wrap is especially beneficial if your experimental set-up includes a non-motorized, Standard Commutator. A plastic-wrapped headstage cable will transmit torque to the commutator better than an unwrapped or polyester mesh-wrapped headstage cable will.

Metal Mesh Wrap
The metal mesh wrap is stronger yet. It will provide protection from standard use damage, transmit additional torque to a non-motorized commutator, and offer a minimal degree of protection from animal bites. The metal mesh wrap provides additional protection beyond that of the previous options.

Metal Coil Wrap
The metal coil wrap is our strongest, most robust wrap. It will transmit torque to the non-motorized commutator and protect the headstage cable from animal bites and other damage. It is especially beneficial when experimental subjects are likely to become bored or quite agitated, such as with substance abuse research in which the animals become aggressive.

Cable Lengths
Headstage cable length is defined as tip-to-tip including the connectors. Plexon’s headstage cables have a default length of 36 inches and can often be cut to custom lengths. The technical specifications table will identify our most popular headstage cables with options. These are cables that we stock in inventory and are able to turn around very quickly. We do produce many cables beyond what is outlined in the table. We are happy to discuss any custom requirements that you may have or variations to what is provided to meet your needs.

Output Connectors
The headstage cables are specifically designed to connect to the headstage output connector. For maximum versatility, several headstages have been designed utilizing the same output connectors. The technical specifications table will help guide you through identifying the appropriate cable based on knowing the headstage.

Configurations
Straight Cables
The vast majority of cables requested are simple, straight cables in which there is one connector on each end, such as the photo on the top of this page.

Y-Cables
Occasionally, a bifurcated cable is necessary, such as with an experiment recording neural data bilaterally. Any straight cable we manufacture can also be manufactured as a Y-cable.

To compliment your headstage cables, Plexon offers a variety of headstages, connectors and commutators to support your research. Contact a Plexon Sales Engineer for more information or to discuss your specific needs.