What are the types of wire and cable classifications

In fact, there is no strict boundary between wires and cables. Products with fewer cores, smaller diameters and simpler structures are generally called wires. Those without insulation are called bare wires, and the rest are called cables. Wires with a larger conductor cross-sectional area (greater than 6 square millimeters) are called large wires, while those with a smaller cross-sectional area (less than or equal to 6 square millimeters) are called small wires. Insulated wires are also known as building wires.

The complete naming of wires and cables is usually rather complex. Therefore, people sometimes use a simple name (typically the name of a category) combined with the model specification to replace the complete name. For example, "Low-voltage Cable" represents all plastic-insulated power cables of 0.6/1kV grade. Wire and cable products are mainly classified into the following categories:

(1) Bare wires and bare conductor products

The main features of this type of product are: pure conductor metals without insulation or sheath layers, such as steel-cored aluminum stranded wire, copper-aluminum busbars, and electric locomotive wires, etc. The main processing techniques are pressure processing, such as smelting, calendering, drawing, twisting/tight twisting, etc. The product is mainly used in suburban areas, rural areas, user main lines, switch cabinets, etc.

(2) Power cables

The main features of this type of product are: insulating layers are extruded (wound) around the conductors, such as overhead insulated cables, or several cores are twisted together (corresponding to the phase line, neutral line and ground line in the power system), such as overhead insulated cables with more than two cores, or an additional sheath layer is added, such as plastic/rubber-sheathed wires and cables. The main process technologies include drawing, stranding, insulation extrusion (winding), cabling, armoring, sheath extrusion, etc. There are certain differences in the combination of different processes for various products.

The product is mainly used for the transmission of strong electrical energy in power generation, distribution, transmission, transformation and supply lines, with large currents (ranging from tens of amperes to thousands of amperes) and high voltages (from 220V to 500kV and above).

(3) Wires and cables for electrical equipment

The main features of this type of product are: a wide variety of specifications and types, extensive application range, and the usage voltage is mostly 1kV and below. In response to special occasions, new products are constantly emerging, such as fire-resistant cables, flame-retardant cables, low smoke zero halogen/low smoke low halogen cables, termite-proof and mouse-proof cables, oil-resistant/cold-resistant/temperature-resistant/wear-resistant cables, medical/agricultural/mining cables

Use cables, thin-walled wires, etc.

(5) Communication cables and optical fibers

With the rapid development of the communication industry over the past two decades or so, the development speed of products has also been astonishing. From the simple telephone and telegraph cables of the past to thousands of pairs of communication cables, coaxial cables, optical cables, data cables, and even combined communication cables, etc.

The structural dimensions of this type of product are usually small and uniform, and the manufacturing precision requirements are high.

(6) Electromagnetic wire (winding wire)

It is mainly used in various motors, instruments and meters, etc.