Wire and cable are just a general term, what are their similarities and differences?

The wires we see in our daily lives are commonplace, but most cables only stay at the level of "heard of, never seen". So, what are the differences between wires and cables? Let's tell you some basic knowledge about wires and cables.

A wire is a wire used to transmit electrical energy or signals, while a cable is usually an inner core composed of two or more insulated wires, with an overall outer insulation and reinforcement layer, used to transmit electrical energy or signals. Simply put, wires are a collective term for wires, most of which are commonly used single conductor insulated wires with commonly used models such as BV, BVR, etc; And cables are relatively large, with thicker conductors, more cores, insulation, and other characteristics of wires, which are further divided into power cables, control cables, computer cables, overhead cables, communication cables, mineral fire-resistant cables, etc.

To understand it separately, it can be roughly divided into:

1. The structure of wires and cables is different, and wires are generally composed of single core or multi stranded copper wire conductors, with insulation skin added to the conductors; And cables are generally composed of one or several insulated wires, with an outer layer of insulation and a sheath. Depending on the type, purpose, and specified characteristics of each cable, the insulation and sheath materials used are also different.

2. The size of wires and cables varies. Due to their simple structure, wires are usually small wires of less than 10 square meters (10mm) ² Due to its complex structure and characteristic requirements, cables are generally made of thicker wires with a cross-sectional area of more than 10 square meters.

3. The transmission capacity of wires and wires is different. As a structurally simple small wire, the resistance borne by the conductor is also limited. However, for high-power operations, cables are definitely needed. Copper cores are generally chosen as the conductor of wires, while both copper and aluminum cores can be chosen for cables. Therefore, copper core conductors are definitely superior to aluminum core conductors in terms of transmission capacity.

4. The degree of softness and hardness of wires and cables varies. Generally, wires are commonly used for household, installation, fire protection, and lighting purposes. Depending on the usage situation, single core conductor hard wires or multi stranded conductor soft wires should be chosen; Cables, due to their unique structure, have a higher relative hardness and are suitable for engineering installation, water and electricity, peripheral power grids, and more.

5. The rated voltage of wires and cables varies. Most wires have rated voltages of 300/500V and 450/750V, while the rated voltage of cables ranges from 0.6/1KV to 26/35KV, which varies from low voltage to high voltage.

In summary, wires and cables are a general term, which can be easily understood as: wires with small diameters are called "wires", and cables with large diameters are called "cables"; Simple structures are called "lines", while complex structures are called "cables". With the continuous progress of technology, there are many types of wires and cables. You can choose the appropriate wires and cables according to your actual situation.