Wires are probably the most important part of your life. While the craze for “wireless” has certainly taken youngsters, the fact is that even wireless objects’ underlying infrastructure still depends heavily on the right kind of wiring.
From your refrigerator to the phone or PC you’re reading this article on, wires are inseparable from your day-to-day life. Wikipedia describes wires as just “a flexible, round bar of metal.” Still, people, especially those who have not done any electrical work in their lives, probably do not know the several types and functions of electrical wires.
This is why we’re diving into the electrical wire types and their uses in this article. Let’s start.
Different Types of Electric Wires
Every electronic item needs a different type of wire; choosing the wrong kind of wire can cause potential issues like overheating, possible fires, damage to equipment or even injury. This is why it is important to pick the right kinds of wires appropriate for the projects. The different electrical wire types are:
NM (Non-Metallic) Cable
Much like “Xerox”, NM Wires are often called “Romex” thanks to a popular brand name. It is designed to be used in electrical wiring for areas with low moisture or dry areas. They often come in color-coded forms where white sheathing indicates an NM cable with 14-gauge conductors, while yellow sheathing indicates an NM cable with 12-gauge conductors.
It is the most commonly used electrical wire type in modern homes and has a protective plastic sheathing. It contains three or more wires, where one is a neutral, one is a ground wire, and the rest are “hot” wires that carry the current.
UF (Underground Feeder) Cable
Not every area is dry, right? There are areas where moisture persists, and in such cases, the UF wire is the go-to electrical wire type. It is slightly more expensive than an NM wire, thanks to its durability and is generally used in outdoor fittings. While sheathing on NM cable is a separate plastic wrap, UF cable sheathing is a solid plastic that surrounds each wire.
Much like the NM Wires, it also contains three kinds of wires, insulated hot and neutral wires, plus a bare copper ground wire. It is normally sold with a grey outer sheathing.
Low-Voltage Wire
Some circuits require a minimum voltage, even less than 50 volts. In such cases, low-voltage wires are the electrical wire type that should be used. Usually, insulated, low-voltage wires can be combined in twisted pairs or housed in cable sheathing, much like lamp cord wire. Usually quite small, these wires differ greatly from conventional circuit wiring and have a lower cost than other residential wires.
Made of copper or aluminium, wire sizes go from roughly 22 gauge to 12 gauge. Although low-voltage cables hardly cause major shocks, it is nonetheless advisable to turn off appliances before handling them.
Phone and Data Wire
Usually made of copper, phone and data wires are a low-voltage electric wire type used in landline phones and internet connections. While phone cables may have four or eight wires, Ethernet cables, for internet connections, have eight wires grouped in four twisted pairs.
The most widely used phone and data cables are Cat 5 (category 5) cable and its more modern counterpart, Cat 6, which may be used for both phone and data transmission and provide superior capacity and quality than standard phone wire. Much as low-voltage wire is, Ethernet cables are sometimes less costly than other types of home wiring, such as NM or UF cables.
Although data wires do transport some electricity, anything under 30 volts is usually considered safe (a domestic circuit runs roughly 120 volts of power). You should treat data wiring carefully and avoid touching bare wires, though, since it always runs the risk of coming into contact with domestic wiring.
Copper Wire
Copper wire is generally a single strand of copper. We obtain copper cable when several such strands are twisted together. Thanks to its minimal corrosion and great conductivity, copper is the most often used conductor in the wire business. Copper electric wires have been used for all kinds of electric wire types that were mentioned, so why write about them separately?
This is because while copper is the most commonly used conductor, it is not the only one.
Aluminium Wire
Aluminium has a better conductivity-to-weight ratio than copper and has been used as a wire for many years. It has a multitude of applications, so why isn’t it as common as copper wires? It is because while all the other stats are in favour of aluminium, it is way too brittle to be used in common wear, which is prone to wear and tear.
Now that we understand the different types of wires, it’s time to understand various scenarios where they are used.
Uses of Electric Wires
- Commercial: Commercial buildings, including retail areas and offices, call for wiring systems capable of managing greater loads and supporting sophisticated systems, including networking. They employ far more refined designs to handle heavy loads. Aluminium wiring is utilised in some commercial applications, particularly where feeders and service entries require large conductors, and its low cost and weight make sense.
- Industrial Applications: Industrial settings need wire solutions capable of supporting high-power gearboxes and heavy machinery, as well as withstanding demanding weather. In industrial automation systems, low-voltage cables are important for control circuits and instrumentation, therefore enabling communication between devices and control units.
- Residential: NM cable is used extensively in homes for indoor domestic wiring. Lighting fixtures, switches, and outlets are connected via NM cables, most of which are outdoor installations like unattached garages or lamp posts that also get power from UF wires. Their strong, water-resistant coating lets them survive both wet and underground conditions. Copper wiring is also used in homes for general wiring needs, such as outlets and lighting circuits, and is prized for its great conductivity and longevity.
Conclusion
Wires are an inseparable part of our day-to-day lives, and there are various electrical wire types and uses. At the same time, NM and UF Cables are used for residential purposes, and phone and data wires are used for networking purposes, which allows you to read this article. Get the best deals on world-class quality wires. Check out our deals at L&T-SuFin.
FAQs
Why is electrical wire useful?
Electrical wires are useful because they help function in our day-to-day lives, from our smartphones to ACs, all of which are powered by cables and electrical wires.
What is the use of electric cable wire?
Electrical Cable wires are used to power all sorts of electronics, from refrigerators to ACs.
Why do we need wires?
Wires are needed to transport the power from the power source to the unit that needs the power.
Top Blogs Url’s
Top Products