Electricity is one of the main ways that people get energy. Electricity must flow through a cable so that it can be used. So, the choice of electrical cables must also be thought about so that the electrical installation can work and keep people safe while it is in use.
When you want to buy an electric cable, you need to know a few things, one of which is the types. There are many different kinds of power cables on the market, and each has its shape and job.
Check out the explanation below to learn more about the different kinds of power cables.
1. NYA Power Cable
The NYA power cable is the most common electrical cable used for home wiring. This cable is small, measuring between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm. Most of the time, this cable is used to put in lights and plugs.
The NYA power cable is shaped like a cylinder and has a single core. The part that goes around the core is insulated with PVC. But this cable has some problems, especially in the insulation. Rats can easily bite it, and it’s too thin and not waterproof.
2. NYY Power Cord
NYY power cable is a type of cable that is usually black and has anywhere from 2 to 4 cores. Because it has a thicker and stronger insulation layer than NYA power cables, this cable is often used for underground cable installations.
So it makes sense that this cable can’t be chewed by rats and is also waterproof. But, to make the NYA power cable safer, it’s a good idea to wrap it in a pipe, especially if it’s used to carry high-voltage electricity.
3. NYM Power Cord
The next type of electrical cable is the NYM type, often used in buildings or homes for electrical installations. This NYM power cable has between one and four cores and two layers of PVC insulation, making it safer than NYA power cables.
The NYM power cord is also good because it can handle dry and wet environments. But this kind of cable can’t be buried like the NYY cable.
4. NYAF Power Cable
The next type of electrical cable often used in home wiring systems is the NYAF power cable. This type of cable is perfect for panels that need to be flexible and for areas with sharp turns or corners.
Copper is used to making NYAF cable, and a PVC insulator keeps the copper safe. NYAF power cables are flexible and work well in dry places where the weather doesn’t affect them directly.
This is because the NYAF cable only has one layer of insulation, so it shouldn’t be used in open areas. The cable’s protective layer will be broken and show if you don’t.
5. Cable Type NYFGbY/NYRGbY/NYBY
This kind of cable has many cores, and each core is wrapped again with a different insulation color. When looked at more closely, the NYFGbY cable has many parts, including the conductor, insulator, inner sheath, armoring, and outer sheath.
This cable has a low voltage and is known as a ground or planting cable. So, the NYFGbY cable is a good choice for places like basements or open ducts where it won’t be affected by other things. This cable is used to power the lights in street lamps, red power lights, and connect panels.
6. NYYHY Power Cable
Power cables, part of NYYHY cables, can be used for many things. This cable has more than one copper core and is made of copper fibers, making it flexible and less likely to break.
Many electronic installations use NYYHY power cables (washing machines, generators, electric stoves, air conditioners). It has a handy cable that makes it easy to move from place to place. Even this cable can be used underground because it can handle being in a wet and humid environment.
7. NYMHY Power Cord
The fibrous copper core of the NYMHY power cable makes this type of cable flexible. The NYMHY cable is also made with PVC insulation and PVC on the outside to protect it.
The nominal voltage of the NYMHY cable is between 300 and 500 V, making it great for indoor electrical installations, use with high mobility, heat resistance under 85 degrees Celsius, and hand power tools.
8. BC Power Cable
BC (Bare Copper) cable is a type of lightning rod cable that is just a cable core and doesn’t have an insulator to protect it. Lightning often strikes high-rise buildings, so this cable is often used in them. Lightning strikes can speed up the process of induction when this cable is there.
Because it doesn’t have a shield-like most electrical cables, the BC cable must be wrapped in PVC conduit when it’s being put in place. This cable works like a normal lightning rod because it is a passive cable.
9. NYMHYO Power Cord
Fiber cable is what NYMHYO power cable is made of. This power cord has more than one layer of protection around its core. In other words, NYMHYO cables have a sheath on the inside and a sheath on the outside.
Large amounts of electricity flow through this cable. The problem with this cable is that it doesn’t stand up well to heat, so you should only use it indoors.
NYMHYO cables work well with sound systems, loudspeakers, and audio equipment.
10. ACSR Power Cable
ACSR cable is a type of cable that is used to send electricity over a large area. So, this cable is usually made for big companies like PLN (State Electricity Company), like in the network of electricity distribution towers.
Aluminum is used to make ACSR cable, which has a steel wire core. This cable is the only one that doesn’t have a protective isolator. This is because insulators can keep the cable from getting too hot.
If the cable has an insulator, the temperature can go down if it carries a lot of electricity. Because of this, ACSR cables do not have a layer of insulation to keep the temperature stable.
These are some of the most important types of electrical cables and what they are used for. Each cable has its own needs, so make sure the one you use fits those needs to keep things from going wrong.