Electrical Wiring Basics- Types of Wires

Electrical wiring can be understood as insulated conductors that carry electricity and the associated devices. This article aims at making you understand the basics of electrical wiring along with the types of electrical wires. After reading it, you will be able to understand as to what all electrical wires do and which type is best for what purpose. This information about working of electrical wires types is useful in general monitoring of home home electrical system, especially if you are planning toi build or remodel home.

General Electrical Wiring In Homes
There are many types house wire cables, in your home too. All these types of electrical wires and fuse wires have specific application to accommodate the load and conditions it is exposed to. Below are mentioned the electrical wire types that are used in the electrical system of any home.

Triplex Wire- This is an aerial cable used by the utility companies to feed the power pole. Triplex wire ties to the wires sticking out of the weather head.

Main Feeder Wires- These wires are generally type THHN wire. They are rated for 125% of the load required. Main feeder wires are generally black insulated wires coming out of the service weather head.

 

Panel Feed Wires- This is another type of THHN wire. A typical 100-amp service has a #2 THHN set of wires. They are rated at 125 amps. This protects the wires if the amperage was a full 100 amps.

 

Non-Metallic Sheathed Wire (NM)- Often called Romex, NM is a plastic coated wire that has either two or three conductors and a bare ground wire. This can be termed as the typical wiring used in most of the houses. The rating for non-metallic sheathed wire is either 15 amps, 20 amps, or 30 amps, based upon the installation.

Single Strand Wire- This type of electrical wire is insulated and many of them can be pulled into the same pipe. Generally THHN wire is used for this type of installation.

Electrical Wires Types - Metal Wires
Different metals and their alloys are used to make various types of metal wires for electrical wiring requirements in a home. These electrical wires types can be described as explained below.

Copper Electrical Wire
Copper has the most repautable status among all types of electrical wiring. Copper cables are preferred as home wiring solution and also for electrical appliances because copper is a very good conductor of electricity and is very easy to mold and bend. The price of copper wires too are reasonable for residential use.

Aluminum Electrical Wire
Aluminum has more resources than copper and thus is cheaper too. Although aluminium cables are less conductive material, they can be easily shaped. However, if using aluminum wire for carrying the same amount of electricity as is expected of copper wires than it should be have greater diameter. There are certain disadvantages of aluminum wires regarding electrical safety in homes. Problems have been faced due to excess heat when aluminum wires carry the same load that a copper wire of the same size can normally carry. It also poses fire hazard. Aluminum wiring (in larger diameters), today is mainly used for commercial purposes. Some modern electrical appliances too have aluminum wires.

Alloys and Silver Wires
Electrical wires that are made from alloys generally use aluminum and copper to get advantage of both performance and cost effectiveness. However, this type of electrical wiring is normally not found in homes. As far as silver wires are concerned, this metal is the best conductor of electricity and is used in electrical wires for high temperature conditions. However, there are certain problems with silver wires- first, silver is not so easy to bend and secondly it costs much too higher. Many people use silver wiring in their homes audio and video equipment. This makes signals travel better through pure silver but the cost factor is really a concern. Also the amount of silver makes a difference as many of these wires contain a percentage of copper. A small amount of silver in wiring, naturally, doesn't make noticeable difference in signal quality for any home electronics.

These were some basic facts about home electrical wiring along with the options available in electrical wires types. Now, its upto you as to how you decide which electric wire to choose for your home wiring- based on your budget, advantages, disadvantages of electrical wire types as well as electrical safety issue!

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