LAPP 221404, LAPP 2170893, and the Best Multimeter for Automotive Diagnostics: A Buyer's FAQ

I manage buying for a 30-person automation company. For the last six years, I have ordered LAPP cables, connectors, and glands for automotive test stands and plant-floor control panels. This FAQ is based on purchase orders, supplier quotes, and the occasional mistake that ended up in my cost tracking spreadsheet. Prices mentioned are what I saw in January 2025; check current pricing before you place an order.

If you searched LAPP 221404 or LAPP 2170893, you probably want a direct answer. Here it is: match the part to the latest datasheet first. Then use the questions below for the practical side of buying and troubleshooting.

What is LAPP 221404?

LAPP 221404 is a cable order number from the ÖLFLEX CLASSIC 110 control cable range. It shows up in machine documentation that was written years ago, and I still see it when we replace cables on automotive production equipment.

LAPP has changed numbering systems over the years, so the current LAPP catalog might list the same cable under a different article number. That is normal. The exact conductor count and voltage rating are printed on the cable jacket and in the latest datasheet. Do not rely on a cross-reference from memory.

In my first year, I matched the LAPP number but ignored the temperature rating. The overall quote looked like it saved us about $1,500 for the year. Then the cable got soft near a heat source and the customer rejected the panel. Rewiring cost more than the savings. Lesson learned: the datasheet is part of the part.

What is LAPP 2170893?

LAPP 2170893 is an EPIC rectangular connector part number. It is the hood or housing side of an industrial connector system, not a cable. If a supplier says 221404 and 2170893 are the same because both are LAPP, walk away. Different product families, different purposes.

On older drawings, you might see the legacy type code 8110 instead of the seven-digit number. The current LAPP ordering system uses long article numbers, while older machinery documentation often used short type codes. They frequently point to the same connector family, but confirm thread size and hood type before ordering.

I hit confirm on a 2170893 order and immediately wondered if the 8110 on the existing drawing was the same part. The connector arrived with an M25 entry; the drawing called for M20. A $70 part cost us $240 in extra freight and a late afternoon of rework. Compare dimensions, not just numbers.

What does LAPP technologies mean?

People search for technologies because LAPP sells connection technology, not just reels of cable. A complete LAPP system can include the cable, the EPIC connector, the SKINTOP cable gland, and the label. For a buyer, that means the engineering standard spans the whole wiring system.

In practice, I buy the cable and connector from the same authorized distributor whenever the project allows it. That gives us one invoice and one source for the technical documents. When I bought components separately, I was the one sorting out mismatches.

Is genuine LAPP worth the extra cost?

Cable is a commodity until it fails. For a fixed, indoor, low-risk circuit, a non-LAPP cable with the same approvals and published specifications can be acceptable. I have approved substitutes when the end customer did not specify a brand.

The lowest unit price is not the lowest total cost. In our 2024 purchasing log, a generic cable was $0.28/m less than the LAPP cable. On 2,000 m, that was $560 of apparent saving. Then one failure on a moving axis cost about $1,300 in labor and freight. The saving disappeared.

I also compare at least three quotes. LAPP part numbers are fixed, but distributor pricing is not. We have seen more than 30% difference between suppliers for the exact same stock item.

What should I check before ordering LAPP 221404 or 2170893?

I put five items on every purchase order:

• Current LAPP article number and any older reference.
• Voltage rating and temperature range.
• Conductor count and gauge for cable; thread size and frame size for connectors.
• Approvals required by the plant or the final customer.
• Traceability documents and test certificates, if required.

For orders over $500, I ask the supplier to send a photo of the label before shipment. That simple step caught a wrong stock pick and a third-party substitution in the last year. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of freight.

What is the best multimeter for automotive diagnostics?

If you reached this page for multimeter advice, here is the short version: the best multimeter for automotive diagnostics is the one rated for the highest-energy circuit you may touch. For 12V and 24V systems, a CAT III 600V true RMS meter is enough. For hybrid or EV work, use a CAT III 1000V meter and leads rated for the system voltage.

I have used several meters on our own benches. Fluke 88V is the classic automotive choice; street price is around $430. Klein Tools MM600 is around $110 and handles most daily checks. Innova 3340 is around $35 and is fine for basic use. Prices are as of January 2025; verify current pricing.

LAPP does not make multimeters. But when I am troubleshooting a LAPP cable or an EPIC connector, a good meter is how I find the bad crimp, the open conductor, or the voltage drop.

Can a multimeter replace a cable tester?

No. A multimeter can measure continuity, resistance, and voltage drop. It cannot detect an intermittent open inside a flexing cable while the cable is moving, and it cannot confirm that a connector was terminated with the right tool.

If a LAPP cable fails twice in the same place, stop metering and inspect the mechanical installation. Is the bend radius tight? Is the cable strain-relieved? Is the connector entry straight? Those questions will save you more money than another meter.

Why are LAPP 221404 and 2170893 often in the same search?

Because a typical machine drawing lists both. The cable is 221404; the connector is 2170893; the old drawing may say 8110 for the connector. It is a confusing combination, but it makes sense once you separate cable SKUs from connector SKUs.

My final procurement advice: buy to the specification, file the datasheet, and do not let a short code on an old drawing make you guess. And if you need a multimeter for automotive work, buy one with a safety rating that covers the vehicle you will be working on.