How many types of electrical cables are there

There are a large number of electrical cables today, each with different features and functions, each tailored to the specific task of said cable . Without a doubt, it is necessary to have a general knowledge of wiring and light cables.

If you want to fix something that has to do with electricity, since if this knowledge is ignored, it can result in serious problems.

Well, if you want to avoid having a very serious inconvenience with electrical cables, don’t worry. Here we are going to show you everything related to them. From its applications, if it is a conductor, what types are there, characteristics, different insulators. Even the classes, if they are about wires, models and electricity cables .

Types of ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS and their USES – CABLES

Index( )

  1. What exactly is an electrical cable?
  2. What are the parts of an electrical cable?
    1. electrical conductor
    2. The padding layer
    3. Insulation or insulating layer
    4. Deck
  3. Types of electrical cables and their classification by models
    1. Black, brown or gray cable
    2. white or blue wire
    3. green or yellow wire
    4. colored wires
    5. colored wires with stripes
  4. What other characteristics define electrical cables?

What exactly is an electrical cable?

Electric cables are a series of wires of a specific metal, through which electricity is conducted. Said threads are made of copper and insulating wires , since this is a metal that has a great conductivity of electricity and is very resistant.

But in the same way, some cables use aluminum wires, which can also work, but unlike copper, this metal has lower conductivity and lower quality, but you can find it for a lower price. These are used to make electrical structures such as earth wells and others.

What are the parts of an electrical cable?

Electrical cables are not only made up of the series of metal wires ‘copper, wires or aluminium’. If not, they need other compounds to function correctly, without generating any type of danger.

This has been adapted to the different models of electricity cables, as well as to the other types that exist. So much so, that ways have been sought to make conductors more insulating and more efficient and safer for people .

electrical conductor

They are a series of metal wires, which are made of copper and in some cases aluminum or other wires. Said metal is responsible for electricity moving from one place to another, without its applications being dangerous for people and workers .

The padding layer

This is an insulating material, whose main function is to wrap the conductors of electricity and wires of electrical cables. In this case, the metal wires and give them that circular shape that light cables have. So that its features are more aesthetic and better visible.

Insulation or insulating layer

This is one of the most important components of the electrical cable, since with which, the circulation of current outside the cable is prevented, avoiding the waste of current and in the same way electrical short circuits.

Deck

The cover or cover is the most resistant layer of insulating material that makes up a cable, its main function is to protect all the components that make up the cable. Protects insulation from metal wires, sun rays, high temperatures and water.

There are many types of covering for power cables or other wiring. Everything will depend on what you are looking for and where you are going to use them.

Types of electrical cables and their classification by models

You can find a wide variety of low voltage electrical cables, each one with different characteristics and for different purposes. Each one has a different colored insulation , with which you can identify what you can use it for and what agents the electric cable resists.

It should be noted that each of these specifications can be found on the outside of the cable cover, usually the information will be in English.

All these types of cables vary, since there are colors of these that are similar, but they are different models and classes. A clear example is the RJ45 driver for the internet. This is usually Blue, gray and sometimes black. and some current wires are black or gray.

Black, brown or gray cable

Each cable color that we can visualize has a specific meaning and function, as is the case with black, brown or gray cables . In the case of black wires, this is a phase wire and we can usually see this color of wire in many stores.

The last mentioned is used more in the field of high voltage light wiring wires . Whether for a building or for houses, black light cables are a good conductor.

Likewise, brown or gray cables are also phase cables . However, on many occasions these are used in this color to improve the aesthetics of the place where they will be installed or the device to which they will be connected.

white or blue wire

We can also find blue and white cables, which are neutral cables and these can also be used as ground wires . These wires are also used to connect to a transformer to bring power back.

In the case of blue, we can talk about internet wires. Like the RJ45 mentioned before. Although they are the most sensitive and weak, their models and colors vary depending on their performance and resistance. However, their characteristics are the same.

green or yellow wire

Other very particular colors that we can see in the cables are green and yellow, which are ground cables. These colors were not the ones that identified this cable. If not they were gray or white, but these created confusion with the other cables.

That is why the color green or yellow was designated for this type of cable. It was to give it something more aesthetic and not to be confused with other tones and wires in the electrical cables.

colored wires

We can also find colored cables and which are current or charging. Also, these cables are very easy to identify and it makes it easy to connect them in the right place.

However, there is a cable that is colored, but has a stripe, it does not have the same function, but another. Therefore, we must be careful when identifying such cables to connect them.

Something that can be highlighted in the RJ45 cables, there are colored wires. Brown, green, blue, a yellow in a few cases. These are conductors of internet information. Your applications are the same if your cover is different. However, the characteristics of the wrapper classes and types do change.

colored wires with stripes

Apart from finding colored cables or a specific color, we can also find colored cables, but with stripes. Likewise, colored light cables with stripes or also called guides. They are neutral wires and these are often used to identify which neutral wire will go with which colored wire.

What other characteristics define electrical cables?

Each electrical cable has a gauge or measurement to withstand a certain amount of electricity. That is why there are different types of electrical cables with different types of thickness. In addition, each one has a specific function such as the cables used for internet routers .

For example, low voltage cables are those electrical cables that can withstand from 1 V to 750 V, each depending on the gauge or thickness of the electrical conductor.

Similarly, there are the medium voltage cables, which range from cables capable of withstanding 1 kV (1000 V) up to 36 kV (36000 V) . These are mostly used to distribute electricity. From electrical substations to transformer plants.

There are also high voltage cables, which range from 36 kV (36,000 V) and are used to transport electricity. From electricity generating plants to electrical cable substations and other types.