Wires & cables are used for the same purpose but are actually quite different. Both of them are the most frequently used in the electrical & communication field. But people sometimes get confused between these terms since they look similar. The very basic difference between wires & cables is that wire is a single electrical conductor, while the cable is the group of wires swathed insheathing. The most common material used for making these conductors are aluminum & copper.
Whether indoor or outdoor, proper installation of wires & cables is of paramount importance, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of electricity. The wire is measured in terms of diameter. Based on the diameter, wires are measured by a gauge number. A smaller gauge number represents a thicker wire. The cable comprises a neutral wire to complete the loop & a grounding wire. A cable is classified based on the number of wires included in the cable & their gauges. As per a recent research study, the GCC Wires & Cables Market is expecting around 15% CAGR during 2021-26. It attributes to the increasing number of residential & infrastructural constructions in the GCC region.
Different Types of Wires and Cables
Coaxial cable comprises the insulated center conductor and has the outer covering of PVC. The outer jacket of the cable encases the center conductor and the braided shield. The braided shield is generally connected to a zero-volt potential in most applications. It helps in providing a barrier that prevents stray fields from inducing noise voltages inside the center conductor. Coaxial cable is used to carry high-frequency electrical signals with low losses. It is commonly used in a telephone system broadband internet, high-speed computer databases, cable TV, and Internet.
Signal cables are beneficial for data transmission applications that require superior signal protection. In these applications, there is a significant demand for flexible, smallest, and highly-screened cables. Signal cables are widely used across various industries and are found in almost everything from computers, appliances, to medical equipment.
A power cable is an electrical cable, that comprises one or more cables held together with covered under a coating. It is usually used for the transmission of electrical power. Power cables are generally installed underground or underwater. Sometimes it can also be laid overhead. Power cable lines also comprise accessories, like pressure boxes and temperature warning devices. The underground power cable also includes facilities, including cable trenches, pipes, shafts, tunnels, etc.
Different Materials used in Making Wires & Cables
There are different materials used for manufacturing wires and cables, these include Copper, aluminum, glass, silver, and glass. After silver, copper is considered the standard material for manufacturing electrical conductors, in terms of conductivity. However, as compared to silver, copper is far more plentiful & economical.
Furthermore, aluminum is lightweight, which makes it the ideal material for the weight-conscious aircraft industry. Its weight is nearly 1/3 of copper and provides better performance even with its poorer conductivity. There are different types of materials used for manufacturing wires & cables. It is vital to understand the application for which the wire is needed and only then select appropriate ones accordingly.