LAPP ÖLFLEX® Control Cables Explained: HEAT 180, CLASSIC 110 & CONTROL 110 Compared

Walk into any control panel or machine wiring setup, and the cable you pick determines a lot more than whether the signal gets from A to B. Temperature exposure, core count, flexing requirements, and voltage rating all shape which cable actually belongs in that specific application — and picking the wrong one shows up later as a failure nobody expected.

This guide compares three LAPP ÖLFLEX® control cables — the high-temperature HEAT 180, the standard CLASSIC 110, and the higher-core-count CONTROL 110 — so you can match the right cable to the right job.

Why Control Cable Selection Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

Control cables look broadly similar on the surface — multiple insulated cores, a protective outer sheath, flexible construction. But underneath that similarity, they're engineered for very different operating conditions: how hot the environment gets, how many separate signals or circuits need to run through a single cable, and how much flexing or movement the cable will see in service. Getting this match right is what keeps a cable performing reliably for its full service life instead of degrading or failing early.

ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 GLS 3G1 — Built for Extreme Temperature Environments

The ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 GLS 3G1 is a high-temperature resistant silicone insulated cable, purpose-built for harsh industrial environments where heat — not flexing or core count — is the primary challenge. It features fine-stranded tinned copper conductors, silicone insulation, and a braided glass fibre sheath with an additional galvanized steel wire braid for serious mechanical protection.

What sets this cable apart is its temperature range: -50°C to +180°C, remaining flexible even at low temperatures while withstanding sustained high heat that would degrade a standard PVC-insulated cable quickly. It's rated for 300/500V, comes in a 3G1 configuration (3 cores + green/yellow earth), and is both flame retardant and halogen free.

Best suited for: steel plants, glass factories, furnace construction, heating systems, and any industrial machinery operating in sustained high-temperature conditions where a standard control cable simply wouldn't survive.

ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 7G0.5 — The Reliable General-Purpose Control Cable

The ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 7G0.5 is a premium-grade flexible control cable built for everyday industrial control wiring — machinery, automation systems, and control panels where multiple signals need to be carried reliably without the extreme conditions the HEAT 180 is designed for.

This variant features a 7-core configuration at 0.5 sq.mm conductor size, using fine-stranded Class 5 copper conductors for good conductivity and flexibility. The PVC insulation and outer sheath are oil-resistant and flame-retardant, and the cable is rated 300/500V, with a temperature range of -40°C to +80°C fixed and -5°C to +70°C flexing. It complies with IEC and VDE standards, and includes color-coded cores with a green-yellow earth wire for straightforward identification during installation.

Best suited for: control panels, industrial machinery, conveyor systems, automation setups, HVAC systems, and machine tools — essentially the default choice for standard indoor industrial control wiring where extreme heat isn't a factor.

ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 16 x 0.75 1100V GY — Higher Core Count for Complex Wiring

The ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 16 x 0.75 1100V GY steps up significantly in core count, offering 16 finely stranded copper conductors at 0.75 mm² each — designed for applications where a single cable needs to carry many separate control signals or circuits at once, reducing wiring complexity in dense automation setups.

It carries a grey PVC outer sheath (GY) with strong resistance to oil, abrasion, and mechanical stress, is flame retardant, and notably supports a higher rated voltage of up to 1100V, compared to the 300/500V rating on the CLASSIC 110. Its temperature range matches the CLASSIC 110 at -40°C to +80°C, and it's built for both fixed installation and occasional flexible use.

Best suited for: industrial automation systems, control panels, machine tools, and conveyor systems where you need to run many control or power circuits through a single cable — particularly where the higher 1100V rating matters for your specific circuit design.

Quick Comparison: HEAT 180 vs CLASSIC 110 vs CONTROL 110

Feature	ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 GLS 3G1	ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 7G0.5	ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 16x0.75
Core Configuration	3G1 (3 cores + earth)	7G0.5 (7 cores)	16 cores x 0.75 mm²
Insulation	Silicone rubber	PVC	PVC
Outer Sheath	Braided glass fibre + steel wire braid	PVC (oil resistant)	PVC (grey, oil resistant)
Temperature Range	-50°C to +180°C	-40°C to +80°C (fixed)	-40°C to +80°C
Rated Voltage	300/500 V	300/500 V	Up to 1100 V
Primary Strength	Extreme heat resistance	General-purpose flexibility	High core count + higher voltage
Typical Use	Furnaces, steel/glass plants, heating systems	Control panels, machinery, HVAC	Dense automation wiring, multi-circuit control

How to Choose the Right Cable for Your Application

• Is your cable routed near or through a high-temperature zone — a furnace, kiln, or heating system? Choose the HEAT 180, since standard PVC cables will degrade quickly in that environment.
• Is this standard indoor control panel or machinery wiring without extreme heat exposure? The CLASSIC 110 is a reliable, cost-effective default for this job.
• Do you need to run many control signals or circuits through one cable, or need a higher voltage rating? The CONTROL 110 with its 16-core configuration and 1100V rating is built for exactly that.

Where to Go Next

If you're also specifying single-core power cables for busbar or feeder connections inside the same panel, our ÖLFLEX® UNIPLUS single core cable guide covers that side of panel wiring.

Why Buy Genuine LAPP ÖLFLEX® Cables from SB Smart

SB Smart supplies genuine LAPP ÖLFLEX® cables across the Control cable, Glass cable, Multicore 110, and UNIPLUS ranges, with GST invoicing, competitive B2B pricing, and PAN India delivery. If you're unsure which control cable fits your specific temperature, core count, or voltage requirement, their technical team can help confirm the right choice before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the main difference between ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 and ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110?

ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 uses silicone insulation and a glass fibre/steel braid sheath to withstand temperatures from -50°C to +180°C, while ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 uses standard PVC insulation suited to general industrial environments up to +80°C.

2. When should I use ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 instead of CLASSIC 110?Choose CONTROL 110 when you need a higher core count for complex, multi-circuit wiring or require a higher voltage rating (up to 1100V) compared to CLASSIC 110's 300/500V rating.

3. Is ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 suitable for control panel wiring?

ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180 is specifically designed for high-temperature environments like furnaces and heating systems rather than standard control panels, where CLASSIC 110 or CONTROL 110 would be more appropriate.

4. What does the core configuration (like 7G0.5 or 3G1) mean?

The number indicates the total core count, "G" denotes the inclusion of a green/yellow earth core, and the following number indicates the conductor cross-sectional area in sq.mm.

5. Are these cables flame retardant? Yes, all three cables — HEAT 180, CLASSIC 110, and CONTROL 110 — are flame retardant, an important safety feature for industrial and control panel wiring.

6. Can ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 be used in outdoor applications?

ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 110 has limited UV resistance and is preferred for indoor use; for outdoor exposure, a cable specifically rated for UV resistance should be considered.

7. What voltage rating does ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 support?

ÖLFLEX® CONTROL 110 16x0.75 is rated for up to 1100V, higher than the 300/500V rating of both HEAT 180 and CLASSIC 110.

8. Where can I buy genuine LAPP ÖLFLEX® control cables in India?

SB Smart supplies genuine LAPP ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180, CLASSIC 110, and CONTROL 110 cables with GST invoicing, technical support, and PAN India delivery.

Final Thought

Choosing between ÖLFLEX® HEAT 180, CLASSIC 110, and CONTROL 110 comes down to matching the cable's core design to your specific operating conditions — extreme heat, standard indoor wiring, or high core-count automation circuits. Getting this match right upfront means your control wiring performs reliably for its full service life, instead of quietly failing in an environment it was never built for.