6 Types Of Electrical Cable Wires Found In Every Household

You will find one thing common in all electrical projects and that is electrical wiring. Knowing what sort of wire or cable you need is necessary when installing new wiring. Knowing the different forms of electrical wiring will help you learn more about the circuits that already exist in your home. For instance, looking at the junction box will be easier when you can figure out which wire goes where.

 

You must first understand some basic words before you can describe wiring. While an electrical wire is nothing more than a conductor, house electrical wiring is made of copper or aluminum. A cable, on the other hand, is formed when two or more wires are combined in a single jacket. As you read on, you'll be able to see the numerous varieties that you might use for your home.

 

1. NM Cable: The NM cable is the most prevalent type of household electrical wiring. Three or more wires are wrapped into a sheath in such cables. In dry, interior home wiring, this type of cable is widely used to wire machines, lights, switches, and plugs. Today's NM cables are colour-coded, which means the wire gauge is indicated by the colour of the cable's outer jacket. The majority of NM cables are flattened tubular and run silently through your home's walls, ceiling, and floor cavities. NM cable is used in almost all outlets and light fixtures in modern homes.

 

2. Armoured Cable: Because they must adhere to local rules, house owners in some areas are not permitted to utilise certain flexible/NM cables. Instead, they can employ AC (armoured cable) wire, often known as BX wiring. While such electrical cable has a flexible metallic covering, the conductors within the sheath are better protected. Furthermore, the electrician is prohibited from using protected cables in commercial structures.

 

3. Underground Feeder Cable: The UF (underground feeder) cable is a type of NM cable that is designed for moist areas and direct ground burial. The UF cable is required when running lines underground or to outdoor installations. Using PVC conduit underground and pushing wires through is another alternative that electricians use. This cable has insulated hot and neutral wires, as well as a bare earth wire, and is typically used to serve outdoor fixtures. Unlike the NM cable, the UF cable has a grey outer wrapping and solid plastic sheathing around each wire. This sort of cable can also be utilised for large circuit wiring.

 

4. THHN/THWN Wire: The two most popular varieties of insulated wire utilised inside the conduit are THHN and THWN. THHN and THWN wires are single conductors with colour-coded insulation, unlike NM cable, which has two or more individual insulated conductors wrapped under a plastic sheathing. These wires are covered by tubular metal or plastic conduit rather than NM cable sheathing. The letters denote the wire insulation's special properties: T stands for Thermoplastic, H stands for heat-resistant, whereas HH stands for highly heat-resistant, W stands for use in wet environments and N stands for Nylon-coated for additional durability.

 

5. Low voltage wires: Circuits that utilise less than 50 volts are wired with low-voltage wiring. For objects that do not use a lot of electricity, such as doorbells, thermostats, sprinkler systems, or landscape lighting, this type of wiring is the best option. Low-voltage wiring comes in gauges ranging from 12 to 22 and is either insulated or coated in cable sheathing. Even while low-voltage wires rarely cause shocks, it is still a good idea to turn off your gadgets before working with them. Low-voltage wires are usually insulated and can be encased in cable sheathing or twisted together in pairs, similar to lamp cord wire.

 

6. Coaxial Cable: Because other types of data wiring, such as HDMI, are increasingly being used for television data transmission, coaxial cable is becoming less widespread. A coaxial cable is a circular coated cable with an inner conductor and a tubular braided wire conducting layer. It is identified by the threaded connectors used to construct unions and device interconnections. Coaxial cable was once the industry standard for connecting televisions to antenna or cable service delivery, and it is still frequently used to connect satellite dishes to a house distribution point or to give subscription television service. It usually has black or white insulation and is precisely circular, which distinguishes it from NM cables.

 

These were some common types of electrical wire cables that you will find in every household. Visit Cabcon India if you’re interested in purchasing top quality wire cables and conductors. Learn more from their website at www.cabconindia.com!