We all know and trust the Belden brand. For over 100 years, Belden has built a reputation for quality and innovation that is unmatched in the wire and cable industry. They've earned the right to charge a premium for their products-- especially many of their high-end configurations that few other manufacturers offer. 

And while Belden items are regularly specified in project plans, it's usually the cable specifications, not the brand, that truly matter. How do we know? Simple. While we sell more Belden than any other brand, we also hear one question in particular almost every week:

"Do You Have a Less Expensive Alternative?"

Yes we do. In fact, we have dozens of items that are functional matches to popular Belden part numbers. Many of them are listed in our Belden Equivalents category. In fact, if you type a Belden item into the search bar, you may even see a generic equivalent listed for you, right below the Belden item.

The truth is, these equivalents are manufactured to the same measurements, standards and certifications as Belden. You can read their spec sheets for yourself and compare every last detail. 

The Specs You See are the Specs You Get

One of the great things about our industry is that every component used to make a cable is highly scrutinized for quality and consistency. So long as we're talking about products made in the USA (and that's all we sell here at Pro Wire), the specs you see really are the specs you get. 

From conductor size to insulation material, to shields and jackets, we always know exactly what a cable is made of. Usually, it's printed right there on the jacket legend.

Just as importantly, we know the products are tested for quality by UL, test reports are available from manufacturers, and every foot of cable can be traced from the day it was manufactured until it reaches your door. So when a cable is described as suitable for a particular application, you can be sure of it. 

Generic Cables are Not Knockoffs

As I mentioned above, regulation and transparency mean you get a high quality product that is exactly as advertised, no matter the brand you choose. 

Would it surprise you to know that most cable configurations on the market are completely interchangeable (if not indistinguishable) from one brand to the next? That's why thousands of items on our website have no brand listed in the title-- because depending on where the stock ships from, one of several manufacturers could have made it. 

That's how most of the industry works. Manufacturers make deals with master distributors to buy large orders of THHN or tray cable or SRML... take your pick. Then those master distributors sell their available stock based on the specs their customers need-- not the brand.

Because many of Belden's cable configurations are not proprietary, they are not the only ones who make a given type of cable. This includes more than 50 multi-conductor communication and control cables which are made by Prysmian Group under the Carol Brand name

The reverse is also true: sometimes we ship Belden material when an order calls for a generic tray cable. Like most manufacturers, Belden also makes plenty of items that aren't asked for by name. 

Prysmian Group is a World Leader in Cable

Most of the Belden Equivalents we carry are under the Carol Brand label. Carol was bought by General Cable back in 1992, and General Cable merged with Prysmian Group in 2017. Why share this info? Because Prysmian is among the largest and most well-respected cable brands on the planet. Their revenue last year was about six times greater than Belden's. In short: they know what they're doing. 

So, while many of the Carol Brand items you'll find may only cost ONE FIFTH the price of their Belden equivalent, you can be sure they meet the same exacting standards. It's all right there on the spec sheet. 

Click here to shop Belden Equivalents now.

If you can't find an equivalent that matches your spec, check out this Belden-Carol Cross Reference Guide which includes more than 600 items.

And if you require an equivalent that's not in stock, drop us a line and we'll see if we can source it for you!