Electrical Cables are used for transmitting electricity, and consists of two or more wires joined together through twisting or braiding. The Electrical Cables or electrical wire is covered by a protective and insulating material. Electrical Cables are generally categorized based on their electrical conductivity, insulation type, type of protector, weight, cost, and other specific uses. Electrical Cables are primarily used for installation in buildings and industrial sites.
Electrical Cables can be generally classified according to their purpose and the kind of material used.
According to use:
Direct-buried or underground cables are intended to be buried below the ground. They are specifically designed in such a manner that they have high tolerance for factors such as soil acidity, heat and moisture. Mineral-insulated copper-clad cables have the distinct advantage of circuit integrity, i.e.; they have the capability to withstand extreme conditions such as a fire. They are, therefore, used in devices like fire pumps, fire alarm systems, power stations, tunnels and mines.
According to material:
Cables could be categorized depending on the material used as conductor. This includes aluminum cable, copper cable, Teflon cable, tungsten cable & so on.
Aluminum cable is widely used because of its significant properties. Aluminum is an extremely good conductor of electricity, offers high resistance to corrosion, has lightweight and could be easily manufactured and recycled. It is a high voltage cable and has the ability to efficiently transport power even through long distances.
Teflon cables have tremendously high melting temperatures. So they are generally used to provide insulation to other cables.
Tungsten cables are known for their resistance to high temperatures as well as extreme durability in unfavorable climates. Owing to its strength and ductility, Tungsten cables can be easily made into filament coils.
Copper cables are regarded as the finest material for the manufacture of electrical connectors as it is a good conductor of electricity and exhibits certain outstanding properties that include malleability, ductility, high resistance to corrosion and light weight.
Other than this, there are other types of cables too such as coaxial cables, armored cables, fiber optic cables and ribbon cables used for different purposes.
