With the increase in voltage, the thickness of the insulation and outer sheath is increased to maintain a dielectric strength that is adequate for the application. For example, an outdoor armoured cable will need an outer sheath resistant to UV light and weathering.Įach type of armour cable is manufactured with a specific voltage rating. The application will usually dictate the type of sheath used. The final layer is the outer sheath which can be PVC, LSZH, or PE. To withstand mechanical stresses, armouring is sometimes applied in multiple layers. STA is a thinner steel tape that is wrapped around the bedding layer. The armour layer can be steel wire armouring (SWA) or steel tape armouring (STA). The armour of armour cable is the component that makes it suitable for more hazardous applications. It is a protective layer between the insulation and the armour. The bedding layer is a polymer such as PVC, which helps to protect the inner components of armour cable from abrasion and mechanical damage. The excellent dielectric strength of XLPE makes it the preferred choice for many high voltage applications. The application and the operating temperature will usually dictate the type of insulation used.įor example, armored wire for shed use will not need to withstand the same temperatures as armoured power cables used in industrial applications. The conductor’s insulation is usually a polymer such as PVC or XLPE. The armoured wire size (cross-section) of the conductor can be varied to suit the application, but the most common sizes are 16mm armoured cable, 25mm armored cable, and 35mm 4 core swa.Īrmoured cable 10mm requires a smaller conductor than 16mm armoured cable as the armoured layer takes up more space, whereas the 6mm swa cablecan have a smaller conductor.

The conductor of the armour cable is usually made from stranded copper or aluminium. Different armored electrical cables, including aluminum armoured cable and copper armouredcable, consist of the following components in their construction. The armoured cable is manufactured with a range of cores such as 2 core armoured cable, 3 core armoured cable, 4 core armoured cable, and even up to 36 cores. But, adding the armoured layer or layers makes it suitable for more hazardous applications.

There are various armored cable cable types but most common type used today is steel wire armouring (SWA), a galvanized steel wire braid surrounding the inner sheath of the cable.Īrmored cable construction is not much different from other types of power cable. The construction is similar, whether it’s a SWA armored cable or PVC armoured wire. Let’s dive in and learn more about the armour cable. Furthermore, armour cable is characterized by strong anti-corrosion performance because of the good material selection. The armoured power cablemainly applied to railways, subways, high buildings, and other special occasions.Īs the name suggests, armored cable has a protective layer, which can protect the inner wire of armour cable and ensure the safety of workers. The armouredcable can have better mechanical strength, which can resist external forces, so it is suitable to be laid in various complex environments. Armour cable is an electrical cable specifically designed for use in potentially hazardous areas. With the development of the power industry and modern technology, the armoured cable is increasingly widely used for long-distance transmission projects of direct or alternate current.

Armored cable connector