Wires and cables can be classified based on their purpose and structure. Below is a detailed overview of the classification:
Classification by Purpose
1. Bare Wires
Bare wires consist of conductive materials without insulation or sheathing. These include bare single wires, bare stranded wires, and others. They are primarily used for the manufacturing of various wires, cables, motors, and electrical equipment.
2. Winding Wires
These wires are used in winding parts of equipment such as motors and transformers. Examples include electromagnetic wires and enameled wires.
3. Power Cables
Designed for the transmission and distribution of electrical power, power cables can be categorized into low-voltage, medium-voltage, and high-voltage cables depending on the voltage levels.
4. Communication Cables
Used to transmit communication signals, communication cables include telephone lines, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, and others.
5. Electrical Equipment Cables
These are used inside electrical equipment for internal connections and power supply. Examples include control cables and instrumentation cables.
6. Overhead Insulated Cables
Typically without sheaths, these cables are used in overhead transmission lines.
7. Control Cables
Similar in structure to power cables, control cables generally have copper cores and smaller conductor cross-sections with more strands.
8. Specialty Cables
These cables are designed for specific applications, such as flame-retardant cables, low-smoke halogen-free cables, fire-resistant cables, explosion-proof cables, rodent-proof cables, water-blocking cables, and more.
Classification by Structure
1. Single-Core Cables
Featuring a single conductor core, these cables are often used in low-voltage and low-frequency applications.
2. Multi-Core Cables
Comprising multiple conductor cores, multi-core cables are suitable for multi-signal transmission and power distribution.
3. Shielded Cables
These cables have a metallic shield layer outside the insulation to minimize electromagnetic interference and signal attenuation.
Conclusion
The above classifications provide a fundamental overview of wire and cable types. Each category can be further refined based on specific materials, structural components, environmental suitability, voltage levels, and other technical requirements. For example, power cables can be further categorized by insulation material, sheath material, usage environment (land or underwater), and voltage class. Similarly, communication cables can vary depending on signal type (analog or digital), transmission rate, and other factors.
