Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Guide To Wire and Cable Construction
A Guide To Wire and Cable Construction
Cable Construction
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................. 4
Corporate Profile .................................................. 4
Quality Policy ............................................................................... 4
Mission Statement ..................................................................... 4
Standard ..................................................................... 5
Standard Making Bodies ......................................................... 5
Specification ............................................................ 5
Conductor Materials ........................................... 5
Copper ........................................................................................... 5
Aluminum ..................................................................................... 5
Copperweld ................................................................................. 5
Alumoweld ................................................................................... 5
Tinsel .............................................................................................. 5
Thermocouple ............................................................................. 5
Copper Materials for Electrical Conductors ...................... 5
Annealing .................................................................. 6
Conductor Making Process ........................ 6-7
Wire Bars ....................................................................................... 6
Rod .................................................................................................. 6
Stranding ....................................................................................... 6
Bunch Strand ............................................................................... 6
Concentric Strand ...................................................................... 7
Rope Lay - Bunch Stranded Members .............................. 7
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to American Insulated Wire Corporations Guide to Wire & Cable Construction. It is designed to help you
gain a more complete understanding of the basics of wire and cable, and if you are already at that point, it will enhance
your existing knowledge. Whatever the case may be, this will be a valuable source of information for you, and it will
allow you to more efficiently service the needs of those that you work with.
This manual focuses on many aspects of wire and cable, such as basic electricity, manufacturing processes, selection
and types of materials and compounds, and different governing agencies. (American offers a separate booklet focusing
on its full line of products.)
There are a variety of end-user requirements or applications so our wires and cables are available in a broad range of
standard types and optional constructions.
Variable characteristics include:
Size (AWG or KCMIL)
Strength (Physical)
Radiation Resistance
Weight
Electrical Properties
Chemical/Oil Resistance
Moisture Resistance
Flexibility
Heat/Operating Temp.
Mechanical Damage
Mission Statement:
CORPORATE PROFILE
American Insulated Wire is a leading manufacturer and
supplier of electrical and electronic wire, including power
cable, building wire, control cable, portable cable and
flexible cord, power supply and cord set products, serving
a variety of markets through electrical distributors and
direct to OEMs. Americans breadth of products allows it to
be classified as a total source supplier of custom and
standard wire and cable products to meet diverse industrial requirements.
and lamps); 2) electrical tools; and, 3) industrial, commercial and residential buildings. American plays a vital role in
supplying the world with electrical and electronic wire,
cable and cord products. Our products can be found in
the home, steel mills, at construction sites, telephone
companies, malls, sport complexes almost anywhere
theres a need for electricity. To meet customer needs, we
serve three markets - Electrical Distribution, OEM, and
Telecommunication.
Electrical Distribution
SPECIFICATION
A specific listing of requirements which may be complete
in itself or refer in part or in total to various standards
(including gauge size, conductor, insulation and jacketing
materials, etc.).
CONDUCTOR MATERIALS
STANDARD
A standard is An agreement on a definition. By referencing standards which may be either a test method, or a
physical or electrical description, the task of obtaining a
cable having the desired properties is simplified.
Standard Making Bodies
ICEA .............. Insulated Cable Engineers Association
NEMA .......... National Electrical Manufacturers Association
AEIC .............. Association of Edison Illuminating Companies
UL ................. Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated
c(UL) ............ Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated (Canada)
CSA ............... Canadian Standards Association
CSA NRTL ........ Canadian Standard Association
CSA NRTL/C .... Canadian Standard Association
Copper
The principal electrical conductor due to its excellent
conductivity and reasonable cost.
Aluminum
61% the conductivity and .3027 times the weight of
copper. Used in power cables, overhead (ACSR), and
some building wire.
Copperweld
A thin coating of copper fused to a steel core. Used in line
wire, cable messengers and stranded with copper for
strength or extending flex life.
Alumoweld
A thin coating of aluminum fused to a steel core. Used in
line wire and cable messengers.
Tinsel
Flat ribbons of bronze, silver, or copper alloy spiraled
around a textile core of cotton, nylon, etc. Used in telephone and electronics applications as conductors in line
cords, microphone cords, and retractile cords.
Thermocouple
Special matched Alloy Conductors. Used in temperature
measuring applications.
Copper Materials for Electrical Conductors
ETP
FRTP
BASIC ELECTRICITY
Transmitting electricity is the basic function to be considered when making wire and cable perform properly. Metal
AMERICAN INSULATED WIRE CORPORATION - Pawtucket, Rhode Island
CONDUCTOR TERMINOLOGY
Gauge
A system for specifying wire size. The American Wire
Gauge (AWG), also known as Brown & Sharpe Gauge, is
used for copper. An increase of three gauge numbers:
Doubles Area & Weight, Halves D.C. Resistance.
MCM - An older term used to denote 1,000 circular mils.
KCMIL - Newer term used to denote 1,000 circular mils.
CM (Circular Mil)
A system for specifying wire size by conductor area.
Circular mils are obtained by multiplying the individual
wire diameter in inches by 1,000, squaring the result, and
multiplying by the number of wires.
IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard)
A standard of copper conductivity obtained by specifying
resistivity and temperature.
Wire Coatings
Applied over conductors to prevent some insulations from
attacking or adhering to copper. Eliminates difficulties in
soldering and prevents deterioration of copper at high
temperatures.
Coating
Tin
200C
Lead Alloy
90C
Nickel
250C
Silver
250C
ANNEALING
A process in which the conductor is heated to over 700F
and allowed to cool. Used to allow conductors to be bent
without breaking, remove stiffness and improve flexibility.
TINNING DESIGNATIONS
Bare Copper
Uncoated copper.
Tin Copper
Copper coated with tin by running through a pot of
commercially pure tin, then through wiping dies. (2 mg./
sq. in. free tin min.) Tinning prevents insulation from
attacking copper, eliminates difficulties in soldering and
prevents deterioration of copper at high temperatures.
Heavy Tin
By running through a pot of commercially pure tin then
through wiping dies. (4mg./sq. in. free tin min.) The
purpose of this is to furnish a conductor which will bond
under induction heat after insulation. The tin on the
individual strands flows, under heat, resulting in a solid
mass at the point desired, leaving the rest of the conductor unbonded with its normal flexibility. The additional tin
also enhances the soldering operation.
Sector Conductor
A sector conductor is a
stranded conductor whose
cross section is approximately the shape of a
sector of a circle. A multiconductor insulated cable
with sector conductors has
a smaller diameter than the
corresponding cable with round conductors. Rarely used.
Class K
Class M
7x38/.010
19x35/.0063
#6
7x9/.0201
250MCM
Class G
Class H
#14
7x7/.0092"
Not Recognized
#4
7x7/.0292"
19x7/.0177"
Segmental Conductor
A segmental conductor is a round,
stranded conductor composed of
three or four sectors slightly insulated from one another. This
construction has the advantage of
lower a-c resistance (less skin
effect). Now rarely used.
Annular Conductor
An annular conductor is a round,
stranded conductor whose strands
are laid around a suitable core. The
core is usually made wholly or
mostly of non-conducting material.
This construction has the advantage
of lower total a-c resistance for a
given cross-sectional area of
conducting material by eliminating
the greater skin effect at the center. Now rarely used.
Filled Strand
A substance is applied by wiping all interstices of the
strand which serves to block the flow of liquids or gases
through and along the strand. Used in some pump cables,
shipboard cables, cables in hazardous locations, and direct
burial power cables.
WIRE DRAWING
(Machinery types are Waterbury, Synchro, etc.)
Rod Breakdown Machines
Takes 5/16 rod and reduces size to:
Soft(annealed) #14-#6 AWG solid.
Hard#14-#8 AWG for redrawing on Intermediate
machines
Intermediate Machines
Redraws to smaller AWG strand sizes:
Examples #8 to #18; #10 to #22
#12 to #24 or .0147 & .0185" strand
Fine Wire Machines
Redraws #18 or #20 AWG to Fine Strand #30, #34 or
#36 AWG.
Dies
A series of progressively smaller dies are used to reduce
wire diameter to the desired size.
Carbide DiesUsed down to #14 AWG
Diamond DiesUsed on #14 AWG and smaller
Drawing Solution
A liquid soluble fat solution which is pumped over dies
and copper to cool die and prevent fusion of die and
copper.
Chemical resistance
Environmental conditions
Service Life
Reliability
Strander (Concentric)
Used to make large size concentric conductors:
Types: Watson
Flexibility
Radiation resistance
Smoke generation
Flame resistance
B-173
B-174
B-189
B-286
B-496
Insulation
Applied over conductors for electrical isolation between
conductors or from ground.
Jacket
Applied over conductor insulation or cable core for
mechanical, chemical, or electrical protection.
Classes
Thermosetting (rubbers such as neoprene,
hypalon, etc.)
A term used to describe materials which are processed
using steam, dry heat or radiation. After processing the
materials can not be made to flow under the application
of heat. Radiation, dry heat and steam processing (C.V.
Tube) use complex equipment. Production is slow.
Thermoplastic (PVC. Polyethylene, TPE, Nylon etc.)
A term used to describe materials which are processed by
an extruder. After processing the materials can be repeatedly made to flow under the application of heat. Processing on an extruder requires relatively simple equipment.
Production is fast.
Special Definitions
Fluoropolymer (Teflon FEP, etc.)
Insulations or jackets characterized by the presence of
fluorine in the formulation.
Elastomer
A material that has the ability to recover from extreme
deformation. (In the order of hundreds of percent.) It may
be thermosetting or thermoplastic.
Rubber (By ASTM Definition)
A material which is capable of recovering from large
deformations quickly and forcibly, and can be, or already
is, modified to a state in which it is essentially insoluble,
(but can swell) in boiling solvents, such as Benzene, MEK,
Thermoplastic....
Thermosetting....
Butyl
(A polymer of isobutylene and some isoprene) ( Gr-l)
Ozone and water resistant. Now rarely used.
Styrene Butadiene (SBR)
Control cable and low voltage power cable insulations and
jacketswater resistant (initially known as BUNA-S and
GRS) Limited use.
Ethylene-Propylene (EPR, EPM, EPDM)
600V and H.V. power cable insulation (90C and 105C).
Excellent weathering and ozone resistance. Control and
Power Cable insulation.
Crosslink Polyethylene (XLP, XLPE, X-LINK PE)
H.V. power and control cable insulation (90C). Special
appliance wiring material (125C).
Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
Available in thermoplastic and thermosetting versions.
Both types exhibit good resistance to oils and chemicals.
0-600V insulation, flexible cord and portable power cable
jacket.
Silicone Rubbers (150C and 200C)
High temperature insulations and some cable jackets, oil
resistant.
Natural Rubber (Rubber Tree Hevea Brasiliensis) (75C)
Insulation and jacket constituent for low temperature.
Retractile cords, Control Cables. Now rarely used.
Polyisoprene Rubber
Synthetic Natural rubber
Polyurethane (121C)
Thin wall cable jackets-abrasion, ozone, oil and fungus
resistant.
Latex
Natural Rubber in water emulsion. Obsolete.
Type 66
Used as medium grade insulation shapes.
Copolymer
Two or more of the above types.
Fluorocarbon (Fluoropolymer)
TFE
FEP
(Polytetrafluoroethylene/
Hexafluoropropylene) 200C Thermoplastic:
used for high temperature wires and
miniature coaxial cables.
PFA
E-CTFE
ETFE
PCTFE
PVF2
(Ethylene-Tetrafluoroethylene) TEFZEL
Thermoplastic: 150C. Computer back panel
wiring.
(Poly and Chlorotrifluoroethylene) 135C.
Thermoplastic: Hook up wires.
(Polyvinylidene Fluoride) KYNAR 135C.
Thermoplastic: Computer back panel wiring
(silver plated wire).
ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
Purpose of Shielding
High Voltage Cable
Prevent corona
Surge protection
Fault path provision
Control Cable
Communication
Cable
COLOR CODING
Used to identify conductors for point to point wiring and
for circuit diagrams. Color codes are used to establish a
standard for use by different manufacturers.
The first color code used colored tracers in a solid colored
braid. Most control cable color codes are adaptations of
this method. Later for ease and convenience, ink printed
versions were developed.
Telephone requirements established special color codes.
11
ICEA/NEMA Method 5
A color coding using braids. Also sometimes specified
using colored insulation and contrasting tracers as an
extension of Method I to eliminate duplicate conductors.
Up to 127 positive conductor coding are available with this
method.
Usually specified as per:
ICEA S-61-402 Table 5-1 or
ICEA S-19-81 Table 5-2
ICEA/NEMA Method 6
A color coding whereby one conductor in each layer is
identified by a braid, tape, ridge, stripe or color.
ICEA/NEMA Paired Color Code
A coding whereby one leg of all pairs is coded white and
its mate is coded in accordance with the first 21 conductors of Method 1, omitting white and repeating the
sequence as necessary.
Telephone Paired Color Code
Five colors are paired with each of five mate colors to give
twenty-five identified pairs. The color sequences are
repeated for more than twenty-five pairs using colored
binder strings for group identification.
Note: UL and the NEC restrict the use of green and white
as colors and stripes. Special color codes are available to
meet these requirements. One method is ICEA Method
E-2 which is similar to Method 1 and ICEA Method E-4
which is similar to Method 2.
12
Conductor
Number
Background or
Base Color
Tracer Color
ICEA METHOD 3
(Neutral or single color compound with surface printing of
numbers and color designations)
Conductor
Number
Printed Legend
ICEA METHOD 4
Conductor
Number
Second Tracer
Color (Narrow
Tracer)
Conductor
Number
Printed Legend
1* .............................................................................. 1
2 ............................................................................... 2
3 ............................................................................... 3
4 ............................................................................... 4
5 ............................................................................... 5
6 ............................................................................... 6
7 ............................................................................... 7
8 ............................................................................... 8
9 ............................................................................... 9
10 ............................................................................. 10
11 ............................................................................. 11
12 ............................................................................. 12
13 ............................................................................. 13
14 ............................................................................. 14
15 ............................................................................. 15
16 ............................................................................. 16
17 ............................................................................. 17
18 ............................................................................. 18
19 ............................................................................. 19
20 ............................................................................. 20
21 ............................................................................. 21
*This conductor is in the inside of the assembly.
13
Background
Cond.
or Base
Number
Color
First
Tracer
Color
Second
Tracer
Color
Cond.
Number
Background
or Base
Color
First
Tracer
Color
Second
Tracer
Color
Cond.
Number
First
Tracer
Color
Second
Tracer
Color
14
Background
or Base
Color
Background or
Base Color
Tracer Color
Conductor
Number
Background or
Base Color
Tracer Color
Conductor
Number
15
Leg #1 Color
Tracer
Leg #2 Color
Tip Conductor
Ring Conductor
Pair
Number
Tip Conductor
Ring Conductor
In cables having more than 25 pairs, each group of 25 pairs shall be distinguished by colored or imprinted binders.
16
17
Abrasion
Acid
Alcohol
Alkali
Benzol, Toluol
Degreaser Solvent
Electrical Properties
Flame
Gasoline, Kerosene
Heat
Low Temp. Flexibility
Nuclear Radiation
Oil
Oxidation
Ozone
Water
Weather, Sun
on
P
XL
Si
Bu
lic
ty
M
D
EP
BR
N
E
CS
P
re
ne
eo
p
N
Po
l
yb
at
ut
ad
al
ur
R
SB
Properties/Resistance
ie
ne
O=Outstanding
G-E
G-E
G-E
F-G
G-E
F-G
F-G
F-G
G-E
F-G
E=Excellent
F-G
G=Good
F-G
F-G
F-G
F-G
G-E
F-G
F=Fair
P-F
P=Poor
P-F
P-F
E-O
F-G
P-F
F-G
F-G
F-G
F-G
G-E
F-G
F-G
F-G
G-E
F-G
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
F-G
G-E
Abrasion
Acid
Alcohol
Alkali
Benzol, Toluol
Degreaser Solvent
Electrical Properties
Flame
Gasoline, Kerosene
Heat
Low Temp. Flexibility
Nuclear Radiation
Oil
Oxidation
Ozone
Water
Weather, Sun
18
lo
on
Te
f
.D
yl
.P
.E
Po
.
ly
pr
op
yl
en
Po
e
ly
ur
et
ha
ne
P.
E
D.
Properties/Resistance
L.
PV
C
O=Outstanding
F-G
F-G
F-G
G-E
G-E
G-E
G-E
P-F
G-E
G=Good
G-E
G-E
G-E
F=Fair
P-F
P-F
P=Poor
P-F
F-G
P-F
G-E
P-F
P-F
P-F
G-E
P-G
G-E
P-F
F-G
P-F
G-E
G-E
P-F
G-E
F-G
E=Excellent
[ ] Printing
[ ] Put-Up
[ ] Special Requirements
[ ] Printing on Jacket
[ ] Put-Up
[ ] UL Listing Required
[ ] Special Requirements
[ ] Company or Industry Specs
[ ] Color Coding
[ ] Assembly
[ ] Cable Binder: Type, Overlap, Coverage
[ ] Shield: Type, Overlap
[ ] Drain Wire (if present): Size, Stranding Bare or
Tinned
[ ] Overall Jacket: Type, Wall Thickness, Temperature,
Color
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[
[
[
[
[
]
]
]
]
]
[
[
[
[
[
]
]
]
]
]
[ ] Printing on Jacket
[ ]
[ ] Put-Up
[ ] UL and/or CSA Listings Required
[ ] Special Requirements
[ ] Company or Industry Specs
[
[
[
[
]
]
]
]
19
Glossary
AWG-Abbreviation for American Wire
Gauge.
AWM-Designation for appliance wiring
material.
Alternating Current-Electric current that
continually reverses its direction. Is is
expressed in cycles per second (hertz or
Hz).
Ambient Temperature-The temperature
of the medium (gas, liquid or earth)
surrounding an object.
American Mustang-A premium grade
thermoset cord, UL listed as SOOW or
SJOOW, CSA SOOW and SJOOW.
American Wire Gauge (AWG)-A
standard system for designating wire
diameter. Also referred to as the Brown
and Sharpe (B&S) wire gauge.
Ampacity-See Current Carrying Capacity.
Ampere-The unit of current. One ampere
is the current flowing through one ohm of
resistance at one volt potential.
Anneal-Relief of mechanical stress
through application of heat and gradual
cooling. Annealing copper renders it soft
and less brittle.
Color Code-A system for circuit identification through use of solid colors and
contrasting tracers.
Glossary
Primary Insulation-The first layer of nonconductive material applied over a
conductor, whose prime function is to act
as electrical insulation.
Glossary
flexibility, or can offer additional mechanical or electrical protection to the components it separates.
NOTES
23
DISTRIBUTED BY:
GWC/5-01 Rev.2