Armoured Cables

Armored cables, as the name suggests, are the type of electrical cables with a lot of protection. These armored cables are covered with strong steel strands wrapped round the cable. They contain insulated electrical wires protected by a flexible steel covering. Unarmored electrical cable, on the other hand, has no protective flexible steel covering but only a plastic covering. There are many types of armoured cables such as Steel Wire Armoured Cable (SWA), 11kV Cable and 33kV Cable etc.

What are Armored Cables Used For?
Armoured cables are generally used for transferring power either as underground or overhead electrical cable. They are mostly used for burial wiring because the ordinary mains cable may be damaged by the hit of a spade or other sharp tools. Steel wire armoured cable which is a power cable, especially designed for the supply of mains electricity, is used mostly in underground systems, power networks and cable ducting.

Structure of Armoured Cable
Armoured cable manufacturers provide these cables with three layers of protection. The innermost core is generally multi strand and each one is individually sheathed from each other. There may be two, three, or four strands depending upon the application. Then an overall plastic sheath covers these individual strands altogether in a single unit. Further it is covered by a protective wire armour. Finally there is the outer sheath to hold it. The three core cables - live, neutral and earth - is mostly used in domestic installations while the four core cable is used where there is a three phase supply.

Applications of Armored Cables

Installation of Armored Cables
Installation of armor cables should not be done on own level. It should always be done by professional electricians or contractors. Although it is not much difficult to install armoured cables but due to safety implications it is not advised to do it on your own.

Steel Wired Armoured Cable (SWA)
Armouring wires are designed for use in mains electricity supply. For underground installation, steel wired armoured cable is widely accepted as the standard one. It makes the underground and underwater wiring easy and safe. The chances of accidents or any harming situation is minimized because mechanical protection is provided with them for external or burial use.

Features of SWA Cables

Aluminium Wire Armoured Cable (AWA)
Steel Wire Armour is used only on multicore cables that contain a number of different cores. When SWA Cable has only one core then in place of steel wire, an aluminium wire armour (AWA) is used. Aluminium cable is used because aluminium is non-magnetic. A magnetic field is produced by the current in a single core cable. This would induce an electric current in the steel wire, which could cause overheating.

Tags:- Armoured Cables Manufacturers, Armoured Power Cables

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