Electric cables are a group of wires sheathed together to transport electrical energy between two points. These cables are of different types and use various materials, depending on the purpose. They also come in multiple colors and sizes. If you are about to work on any electrical project and are looking for the best electric cables, here are a few things you need to understand about them so that you can buy the right ones.
Cable size
The cable’s size is determined by the gauge of the wire within it. Electric cables are numbered in such a way that a thicker one would have a smaller wire gauge. The number of wires is also mentioned, along with the size. For example, a 10/3 cable means there are three 10-gauge wires in it. The only exception to this rule is the ground wire, which is only denoted by the letter “G.”
Color
The cable’s insulation color can vary depending on the wire material. The colors indicate if a cable consists of neutral, active, or earth conductors. Besides, the colors also change based on the location where the cable can be used. However, active wires are never given light blue, yellow, green, or black colors. That said, there is no standard color used across the globe.
Voltage categories
Electricity is measured in volts. So electric cables can be segregated by the number of volts they can conduct. The types are:
Understanding these factors can help you select the best electric cables for your project and avoid confusion when wiring your home.
For any electrical project, you want to make sure the cables chosen are of the best quality. Faulty wires can cause the entire circuit to break down and can even lead to severe mishaps. If you are working on the wiring for your home, you can choose from this list of the best electric cable manufacturers. These companies have proven their worth over the years and offer some of the country’s most sought-after electric cables.
Alpha Wire Co.
This company is based in Elizabeth, NJ, and provides standard wires and cables along with customization options. Its products include hook-up cables, industrial cables, and other eco-friendly options. It also offers additional inspection and testing services.
Philatron Wire & Cable
It operates from its base in Santa Fe Springs, CA, and specializes in extra-large flexible cables that range between 1/16 and 3.75 inches and can carry 12 to 35,000 volts of electricity. Its services include the production of molded cable assemblies and manufacturing wires and cables in bulk.
Lexco Cable Manufacturers
Based in Norridge, Illinois, this company produces various electrical tools, such as bridge rope, independent core, galvanized and coated wire rope, aircraft cables, and structural strands.
Lake Cable
Another famous manufacturing company from Illinois, Lake Cable, offers various standard and customized cables for utility applications, fire alarms, thermocouples, instrumentation, communication, and broadcast. The company, based in Bensenville, also produces cable jacket colors, custom packaging, and custom printing, among other products and services.
American Wire Group
Based in Miami, Florida, this company offers several wires like static, grounding, and guy, and other tools, such as fiber optic cables, portable power cables, low and medium voltage cables, armored cables, transmission and distribution cables, multiplex cables, and so on.
Belden Inc.
One of the country’s best electric cable manufacturers, Belden Inc., produces commercial and industrial cables. Based in Richmond, Virginia, its products include audio-video, copper, fiber, multi-conductor, industrial Ethernet, data bus, and VFD cables. It also provides cabinets, switches, and network connectors, among other tools.
LUTZE Inc.
Based in Charlotte, NC, the company offers many different cables and wires like network cables, server cables, actuator sensor cables, electronic cables, cabinet wiring, VFD cables, and motor cables.
EIS Wire and Cable
Situated in the town of Hadley in Massachusetts, EIS Wire and Cable manufactures cables that serve various purposes such as refining and power generation in pulp, steel, mining, automation, solar, paper, and petrochemical industries.
An electric cable consists of wires bundled together and covered in a sheathing to carry electricity. Several kinds of electrical cables are currently available in the market. Here, we look at some of these types to gain a better understanding of electric cables.
Underground feeder (UF) cables
In this type of cable, the wires are not wrapped individually but grouped together and embedded into a flexible material. These are some of the best electric cables to use outdoors as they are water-resistant. They can be used for lighting signboards and, as the name suggests, are usually buried in the ground.
Multi-conductor cables
Commonly chosen for electrical work at homes, multi-conductor or multicore cables consist of more than one individually insulated conductor. Plus, they also have another top layer of insulation for extra safety. Multi-conductor lines come in varieties such as the audio multicore cable or “snake cable.”
Armored cables
These cables come in steel or aluminum jackets and are incredibly durable. Hence, they are used in places where the risk of wires being damaged or pinched is high—for example, locations with rodents or the risk of fire or explosion.
Nonmetallic sheathed cable
Also referred to as NM cables, these have two to four wires and one bare wire for grounding. They are grouped and wrapped in a flexible plastic cover. These are one of the best electric cables used in indoor residential areas, but certain versions can also be employed underground or outdoors.
Direct-buried cables (DBCs)
These cables come in two kinds: bundled fiber-optic cables and specially-designed coaxial cables. DBCs can be buried underground without any insulation, sheathing, or piping. They consist of heavy rubber coverings, water-resistant wrapped thread-fortified tape, several layers of branded metal sheathing, and shock-absorbing gels. DBCs are the ideal choice for any transmission and communication work, as they can tolerate environmental factors like temperature changes and moisture.
Coaxial cable
This cable is generally used in data wiring; however, it has recently lost its popularity due to the introduction of HDMI wiring suited to transmit television data. The coaxial cable consists of an inner conductor covered by a round jacket. Since the line only carries a small amount of voltage, it is a safe choice for homes.
These were some of the common types of cables used for carrying electricity. They differ based on their insulation, functions, sizes, capacity, and durability and are, hence, used for different purposes.