How to Use P Clips

Keeping your cables and pipes secure is incredibly important - both for safety and the longevity of your systems. P clips then, are a great example of a simple fix that can make a big difference. But, how do you use P clips, and where are they best suited?

In this guide from the team at The Hosemaster, we’ll take you through what a P clip is and how to use them properly to ensure you can make the most of this small but useful piece of kit. Keep reading to learn more…

What is a P clip?

Cable clips as a whole are incredibly useful for containing wires and cables because they help to keep systems organised, and can protect the casing materials from accidental damage. P clips are primarily used for securing hoses or cable bundles against walls or other flat surfaces. They’re often used parallel to other pipes, and allow you to create a neat and tidy cable management system.

Fun fact - P clips are a type of cable clamp that gets its name from the shape it makes when closed - it looks like the letter P.

A P clip

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Alongside making sure your cables and pipes are neatly organised, using P clips helps to reduce the impact of vibration and chaffing throughout your system. This can protect your cables or pipes from damage, and improve the lifespan of your hoses or wires - saving you money over time.

You can also use P clips to guide hydraulic pipes and other hoses. By securely attaching these pipes to walls, or edges of the floor, you can create a safer working environment for everyone - and reduce accidental injuries from trips and falls.

Of course, using P clips helps to keep your machinery running - which is essential regardless of what industry you’re working in. As an added bonus, P clips can either be installed permanently or temporarily, depending on your needs at the time.

Where do you use P clips?

P clips can be used wherever there is a need to attach cables, pipes, hoses, or wires to a surface - and where a screw fitting works best. Some examples of this are:

Mechanical applications - within cars and other machinery.
Domestic wiring and appliances.
Electrical systems.
Industrial applications - affixing pipes and hoses in place.

Using P clips across these industries helps to reduce the risks of slippage or movement, which could have dangerous consequences. They’re also low maintenance, which can save you time, energy, and money in the long run.

Types of P clip

As with most attachments and accessories, P clips come in a selection of materials. These will impact how suitable they are for various industrial purposes, as different substances can withstand higher temperatures or contaminant damage. P clips tend to be made of metal or plastic, which can have an impact on how you use them within your workspace.

Metal P clips

Metal P clips are incredibly durable and hard-wearing, which is ideal within a mechanical context where they’re more likely to be subjected to strenuous applications and wear and tear.

Most metal P clips are made from either stainless steel or mild steel. Due to the chromium alloying agent used in stainless steel, P clips made of this metal have a much higher impact and chemical resistance. This makes them more valuable in an industrial or mechanical setting, even with the higher cost.

However, mild steel P clips are still valuable as they’re durable and long-lasting, and often cheaper than stainless steel - which is perfect for applications in commercial or domestic settings.

Top tip - metal P clips are capable of holding heavy loads, which is perfect for heavy-duty applications within industrial settings.

In addition to their metal body, most metal P clips have a type of rubber lining which is designed to protect pipes and wires from abrasion from within the clip. This lining also acts as a shock absorber, reducing the risks associated with vibration.

Metal P clip lining is frequently made from EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber because it’s an incredibly durable synthetic rubber, with an excellent water and chemical resistance. Alternatively, the lining may be made from TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) which is a type of durable treated plastic that has rubber-like qualities.

M6 P clip

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Plastic P clips

On the other hand, plastic P clips may be more suited to your needs. Many plastic P clips are made from nylon, which is a type of durable polyamide plastic. Nylon is very strong and damage resistant, however it will still break easier than metal. Whilst this means they’re not best suited for industrial or rigorous use, plastic P clips are ideal within a domestic setting - either with domestic appliances, or by neatening the cables around a kitchen or living room.

Plastic P clips are also excellent electrical insulators because they’re non-conductive, which makes them much safer to use within electrical wiring systems to protect from accidentally passing on a charge.

How to use P clips

So, with all of this in mind, how do you actually use a P clip? Well, these are actually a relatively simple piece of equipment to install - simply follow the steps below.

Insert the clip around the material you want to affix to a surface (pipes, cable bundles, hoses etc).
Close the clip by pushing the bottom pieces together and lining up the holes.
Insert a bolt or screw into the hole.
Hold in place in the desired location and screw or bolt into place.

Top tip - make sure you measure your P clip and hose accurately to make sure you have the right size for your needs. If in doubt, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for more information.

P clips come in a wide variety of sizes, which means that you need to make sure you’re using the best one for your needs. To make things easier, you may want to consider buying a selection of P clip sizes at once to ensure you’re not stuck waiting for the right size.

A box set of P clips