Armor-Clad (AC) Cable: AC cable includes THHN-insulated conductors with 16-gauge aluminum bond wire placed inside the armor to act as a grounding conductor.
Automotive Cable: This is a general-purpose thermoplastic (GPT) wire, also referred to as primary wire. Normal applications are within motor vehicles with limited exposure to fluids, physical wear and abuse.
Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) Cable: BNC cables are small, quick-connect/disconnect radio frequency connectors used for coaxial cables.
Category Cable: This is used for phone systems and data networking systems. Cat 5e is the most common variety of category cable that’s used for computer networking on internet service installations. The conductor pairs are twisted together to prevent cross-talk and interference from other paired conductors in the cable, as well as external interference. The higher the megahertz (MHz) capability, the more twists per foot.
Coaxial Cable: This is a metallic cable that carries television and video signals. It connects to video equipment and features a central conductor with a dielectric insulator, metallic shield and plastic jacket.
Doorbell Wire: Doorbell wire is used to connect a wired doorbell or video doorbell to a home’s electrical system. 18-gauge wire is the variety most often used.
Dual Armored Cable: This is a durable cable that offers protection without employing electrical conduit, elbows, offsets (which can be expensive) or conduit couplings. For areas where the cable may be exposed to moisture, metal-clad armor prevents corrosion.
Flexible Cord: Typically used for industrial machinery, washing machines and large appliances, portable tools, equipment, and extension or power cords, flexible/power cord has its own naming convention based on a letter code, with a common option being SJEOOW.
Lamp Cord: Used with lamps, small appliances, radios and other similar products that don’t exceed 300 volts, lamp cord is available between 18- and 12-gauge sizes in a variety of colors.
Landscape Lighting Low-Voltage (LV) Cable: This underground cable is suitable for outdoor accent lighting, landscape lighting and security lighting. Applications shouldn’t exceed 150 volts. It’s used for direct burial, is suitable for sunlight and is available between 16- and 8-gauge sizes.
Metal-Clad (MC) Cable: MC cable is used heavily in commercial electrical work, for running through concrete or in other commercial environments. Individual THHN wire conductors are run through an aluminum interlocked armor. It includes a grounding wire.
Mobile Home Feeder: This connects a mobile home to a supply of electricity where permanent wiring is required, and it’s suitable for direct burial and underground service entrance cable. It includes four RHH or RHW-2 conductors, with a white stripe for neutral and a green ground conductor. It’s sunlight-resistant.
Network and Data Cable: This comes in three types — fiber-optic, twisted-pair and coaxial cable — and is used to connect multiple networking devices or computers in a network.
NM-B: This is a non-metallic sheathed cable that’s used as a residential building wire for branch circuits for outlets, lighting and other residential applications. NM-B is available between 14 AWG and 6 AWG with two or three conductors.
Preassembled Whips: These are pre-cut lengths of armored cable designed to increase jobsite productivity. Assembly comes with pre-stripped THHN conductors and pre-installed zinc die-cast, snap-in fittings.
Residential Grounding Wire: This is bare copper wire that’s available in 4-, 6- and 8-gauge solid and stranded construction. It’s used to ground the residential electrical system, usually at the meter before it enters the dwelling. It’s also used for grounding the perimeter surface around pools.
Service Entrance Cable: This includes individual conductors rated XHHW-2 or THHN/THWN and feeds power from a main breaker to a subpanel. It can be exposed to direct sunlight and used in wet or dry locations.
Speaker Wire: Made of copper and designed to transport a low-voltage electrical current, speaker wire has a variety of wiring uses, including doorbells, thermostats, home security sensors, landscape lighting and other low-current systems.
Sprinkler Wire: Multi-conductor sprinkler wire is suitable for direct burial on applications up to 30 volts. It’s used in central controls for underground sprinkler systems and is available in 18-gauge construction with up to 25 conductors.
Submersible Pump Cable: This includes THWN copper conductors that are heat-, moisture-, oil- and gasoline-resistant. It’s suitable for temperatures below 75 degrees Celsius with two or three conductors. It’s used for power and circuits for submersible pump systems.
Thermostat Wire: Used in heating and air conditioning systems, along with bell and alarm systems, thermostat wire is available in 20- or 18-gauge sizes with up to 10 conductors.
Underground (UF-B) Wire: A copper wire used for underground purposes, including direct burial, it comes in a gray jacket and can be used for deck lighting, outdoor water features, landscape lighting and air conditioner compressors.
Underground Residential Distribution (URD) Cable: Used for secondary distribution and underground service applications at 600 volts or less, it’s suitable for direct burial or placement in ducts. It’s acceptable in wet locations in triplex or quadruplex. Conductors are stranded, compressed aluminum. The neutral conductor has a yellow, triple-extruded stripe.
Introducing several types of power cables suitable for outdoor use
In this post, you will know the information below, let us have a quick look.
What cables are used outdoors?
How to extend the outdoor cable?
How to protect outdoor cables
Is PVC cable suitable for outdoor?
Can the flexible cable be used outdoors?
Let us work on your cable project!
Are you planning to "elevate" your outdoor experience? You need an outdoor cable.
How do you choose the right cable for your outdoor electrical needs?
When choosing the ideal cable for your outdoor project, you need to keep in mind that it must be able to withstand the adverse conditions of the outdoor environment.
Some of these adverse conditions include extreme temperatures, rodent infestation, and water.
Outdoor cables must have protection against the above-mentioned adversities.
The need to shield against such adversity has created several outdoor wire types.
It is also important to note that there are different methods and materials used to protect against external adversity.
Frankly, if you're cable-savvy, you'll find it difficult to choose the right cable.
Fortunately, this article is the ultimate guide to choosing the right outdoor cable and everything else you need to know.
Several cables are ideal for outdoor use.
Most of us mistakenly think that outdoor wire is similar to outdoor cable.
A wire is a single conductor whereas a cable is a group of conductors made of a common material.
There are different types of outdoor cables. The most commonly used outdoor cables are outdoor-rated cables and direct buried cables.
Outdoor-rated cables are usually used when electrical installations require cables to run outdoors.
When choosing an outdoor cable, there are various environmental adverse factors to consider.
For example, if you plan to bury the cable in the ground, it is recommended that you choose an outdoor waterproof cable.
However, it is important to note that some types of cables are available in direct burial and outdoors.
Why do some outdoor cables have both outdoor and direct burial?
Well, the answer is simple. You might want to hook up some electronics in your backyard.
Running extension cables underground can keep your backyard looking neat and tidy and reduce the risk of your loved ones tripping over the cables.
For this purpose, it is recommended to use an outdoor ground wire.
There are many reasons why you might want to extend an outdoor cable.
When doing external expansion, the most important step is choosing the right cable for the job.
Whether you need power outdoors for the short or long term, you should always use an outdoor cable.
This type of cable is designed to withstand water, temperature changes, and sunlight.
Cables are not everything. Therefore, you must choose an outdoor extension cable that can withstand the wattage of multiple connected appliances.
A 12-gauge cable is a good example of a cable that can withstand the power of many types of equipment.
You should consider investing in this type of cable that works.
If you plan to use outdoor extension cables for long-term uses like lighting lawns, you need a permanent solution for electrical safety.
Basic extension cords are not recommended for long-term power needs. Instead, you should consider using outdoor underground cables.
This cable is more feasible than a basic extension cable. It can withstand a variety of external adversities for a long time.
Plus, because you have to bury it in the ground, it eliminates common risks like electrocution.
As mentioned earlier, several external adversities tend to do a lot of damage to cables.
Unless you're using heavy-duty outdoor cables, you'll need to take certain steps to protect your cables.
There are several techniques for protecting outdoor cables.
However, the easiest and most practical option is to avoid any cables that require extra protection.
Several outdoor cables can withstand all external adversity without any reinforcement.
To be honest, this cable is much more expensive than normal outdoor cables.
Rest assured, a cable that can resist any external limb is worth it. Plus, you don't have to spend more for extra protection.
Cables are considered suitable for outdoor use, provided they have adequate protection from direct sunlight and other external limbs.
So, the important question is, does PVC provide adequate protection from external extremities?
In its pure state, PVC does not provide adequate protection for all external limbs.
However, it can be made sufficiently resistant to external adversity by adding specific additives.
Carbon black is one of the most commonly used additives to strengthen PVC cables.
Therefore, you need to check and confirm that the PVC cable you are interested in purchasing is outdoor-rated cable.
When it comes to the suitability of outdoor electrical installations and PVC cables, certain things must be considered.
Are you going to install the PVC cable above ground or underground?
If you plan to install the cable underground, you'd better choose a more reliable outdoor underground cable.
As the name suggests, this type of cable is designed to be buried in the ground.
Also, when choosing an underground cable, you need to consider the environment you live in and the risks that may exist underground.
For example, if you live in a rodent-infested area, you'll need to buy outdoor armored cables. This type of cable is strong enough to withstand rodent attacks.
No practical rules are preventing you from using flex cables outdoors.
Essentially, the same rules apply to flex cables as any other cable.
The main question you should ask when considering purchasing a specific flexible cable is:
Is it suitable for use as an outdoor cable? For a cable to be considered suitable for outdoor use, at least it must be weather resistant.
Typically, weather resistance requires protection against signature ambient temperature ranges, UV rays, ozone, and water.
While some flexible cables fall within the range of outdoor-rated cables, some flex cables cannot withstand external extreme conditions, such as UV light.
The best thing to do when buying an outdoor cable is to check the specifications of the cable you choose to make sure it is suitable for outdoor use.
Where can I find the specifications of the cables? Well, cable specifications are usually printed or prefabricated on the cable jacket.
If you can't find the specifications, it is recommended to ask the store staff for help.
While you can always find flexible outdoor cables, flexible cables are not always recommended.
When using flex cables, things can get messy due to the sag between the clips.
Essentially, you may be forced to buy a ton of clips to keep your flex cable installation neat.
If you like a neat installation, rigid cables are better than flexible cables.