Armoured Cables

Armoured Cables



Armored cables, as the name suggest are the type of cables covered with a lot of protection. These armored cables are covered with strong steel strands wrapped round the cable. They are usually used for transferring power either underground or overhead. Armored cables are mostly used for burial wiring because the ordinary mains cable may be damaged by the hit of a spade or other sharp tools.

Armoured Cable

Structure of Armoured Cable
The armoured cable is constructed of 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 a outer sheath to hold it. The three core cable - live, neutral and earth - is mostly used in domestic installations while the four core cable is used when there is a three phase supply is in use.

Applications of Armored Cables

* Armored cables are used for power networks, underground, outdoors, indoors and in cable ducting.

* Armored cables are used particularly where fire, smoke emission and toxic fumes create a major threat.

Installation
Installation of armor cables shouldn't be done on your own level. It should always be done by professional electricians or contractors. Though it is not so much difficult to install armoured cables but due to the safety implications it isn't advised to do it on your own.

Steel Wired Armoured (SWA) cable
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

* They are either PVC insulated or XLPE (Cross Linked Polyethylene) insulated.

* The armour used in these cables is Galvanized Steel Wire Armour.

* The conductor used is stranded or solid plain annealed copper.