Electric wires and cables refer to materials used for power, communication, and related transmission purposes. Many people are not very clear about electric wires and cables, often confusing them and finding it difficult to distinguish between them. This is understandable, as there is no strict boundary between "electric wire" and "cable." Generally, products with fewer cores, smaller diameters, and simpler structures are called electric wires; those without insulation are called bare wires, and others are called cables. Conductors with larger cross-sectional areas (greater than 6 square millimeters) are called large wires, and those with smaller cross-sectional areas (less than or equal to 6 square millimeters) are called small wires. Insulated wires are also called building wires.
Wires and cables mainly include bare wires, magnet wires, insulated wires for motors and electrical appliances, power cables, communication cables, and optical cables.
Wire and cable naming:
The complete naming of electric wires and cables is usually quite complex, so people sometimes use a simpler name (usually a category name) combined with the model specification to replace the full name. For example, "low-voltage cable" represents all plastic-insulated power cables of the 0.6/1kV class. The product range of electric wires and cables is quite comprehensive; in fact, simply writing down the standard model specification of an electric wire or cable can identify the specific product. But what is its complete naming?
The naming principles for wire and cable products are as follows:
1. Contents included in the product name
(1) Product application occasions or category names
(2) Product structural materials or type;
(3) Key or additional features of the product
The naming generally follows the order mentioned above. Sometimes, to emphasize important or additional features, the features are written at the beginning or before the corresponding structural description.
2. The order of structural description
The product structure is described from the inside out: conductor --> insulation --> inner sheath --> outer sheath --> armor type.
3. Simplify
Where it will not cause confusion, some structural descriptions are omitted or abbreviated. For example, aluminum conductors are not allowed in automotive wires or flexible wires, so the conductor material is not described.
Example:
8.7/15kV flame-retardant copper core cross-linked polyethylene insulated steel tape armored PVC sheathed power cable
"Rated voltage 8.7/15kV" - Application/voltage level
"Flame retardant"—an emphasized characteristic
"Copper core" - conductor material
Cross-linked polyethylene insulation – Insulation material
"Steel belt armor" - Armor layer materials and types (double steel belts wrapped around the perimeter).
"Polyvinyl chloride sheath" - Inner and outer sheath materials (both inner and outer sheath materials are the same, so the inner sheath material is omitted).
"Power Cable" - a major product category
The corresponding model number is written as ZR-YJV22-8.7/15. See the explanation below for how to write the model number.
model:
The model composition and order of wires and cables are as follows:
[1: Category, Application][2: Conductor][3: Insulation][4: Inner Sheath][5: Structural Features][6: Outer Sheath or Derivative]-[7: Usage Characteristics]
Items 1-5 and 7 are represented by pinyin letters, and polymer materials are represented by the first letter of their English names. Each item can be 1-2 letters; item 6 is 1-3 numbers.
Omission rules in model designations: Copper is the primary conductor material used in wire and cable products, so the copper core designation "T" is omitted, except for bare wires and bare conductor products. Bare wires and bare conductor products, power cables, and magnet wires do not specify the major category code. Electrical equipment wires and cables and communication cables are also not listed, but the sub-category or series code is provided.
Item 7 is a marking for various special uses or additional special requirements, indicated by pinyin letters after the "-". Sometimes, to emphasize this item, it is written at the beginning. Examples include ZR- (flame retardant), NH- (fire resistant), WDZ- (low smoke halogen-free, enterprise standard), -TH (for use in humid and hot areas), FY- (termite resistant, enterprise standard), etc.
Numerical markers
Armor layer
outer sheath or outer jacket
0
none
---
1
Interlocking Armor
Fiber outer layer
2
Double steel strip
PVC jacket
3
thin round steel wire
Polyethylene jacket
4
thick round steel wire
5
Corrugated (rolled) steel strip
6
Double aluminum (or aluminum alloy) strip
8
Copper wire weaving
9
Steel wire braid
