Electrical wires: The ultimate guide with safety tips (Buy here)

Electrical wires must be installed correctly to keep the electricity running safely through your home. More often than not, people tend to overlook the electricity aspect while designing or revamping a home. To enable proper flow of electricity you need wires and cables. Electrical wires are generally made of aluminium or copper, these are then insulated with a sheath to bring electricity to various parts of your home. The selection of the electrical wires for a house also depends on numerous factors like the price, colour coding and types among others.

If you are planning to design your house, knowing about the electrical wires will certainly make your job easy. You must have a basic knowledge of the types of electrical wires used in residences and commercial spaces. 

In this article, we have discussed the main difference between a wire and a cable, the reason why wires are of different colours, and the most used types of electrical wires. You can also browse through our recommendations for the best electrical wires from the top electrical brands in India and send an enquiry to know more. 

Wire vs Cable

Image Source: Pinterest

Although the terms wires and cables are often used interchangeably there is a significant difference between the two. A wire refers to a single electrical conductor, whereas a cable refers to multiple conductors or a group of wires with encased sheathing.

Electrical wires are generally made of copper or aluminium. They are either covered in a thin layer of PVC, insulated or bare. If they have a PVC covering, the PVC is also colour coded to indicate if it is the ground, hot or neutral wire.

Cables on the other are a combination of hot, neutral and ground wires. These wires are bonded or twisted together with a metallic or non-metallic outer sheath to make a cable. Additionally, a cable is distinguished by the number of wires it is made of and its gauge. However, if many electrical conductors are twisted together without insulation, they are considered as a single wire.

Importance of colour coding the wires

Image Source: Electronics Hub

To ensure the safety of users, it is essential to follow the colour coding guide for electrical wires as per the Indian government’s directive. The colour of a wire also tells you its purpose. The old standard for electrical wires states:

• Red: use Red for a live or hot wire.
• Black: Used for a neutral wire.
• Green: Should be used for the ground or protective wire. 

However, as per the new standard,

• Brown: is used for the hot wire.
• Blue: Used for the neutral wire. 
• Green: This colour is used for the ground wire. 

When three-phase wiring is done, a combination of Blue, Yellow and Red is generally used for the active conductors. Additionally, while using wires it is important to be careful and treat all wires like live wires to ensure your safety.

Different types of electrical wires 

NM Cable

Image Source: Getty Images

A Nonmetallic (NM) cable is presently the most common type of cable used in a home. The NM cable consists of three or more individual wires generally wrapped together in a flexible sheathing made of plastic. The cable is made of a combination of hot, neutral and ground wires. Also, the cable is colour coded to indicate its type. Flat and tubular in shape, this cable runs invisibly within the walls, floor cavities and ceilings of your home. 

Underground Feeder Cable

Image Source: Penna Electric

×

The Underground feeder (UF) cable is a nonmetallic cable specifically designed for outdoor fixtures and wet conditions. Similar to the common NM cable, the UF cable contains a bare copper ground wire along with hot and neutral wires. UF cables generally have a solid plastic sheathing which makes them comparatively more expensive than an NM cable. This cable type is also used for major circuit wiring where they carry high voltage power.

Low voltage wire

Image Source: Csijax

When circuits require less than 50 volts, low voltage electrical wires are generally used. Some common examples of low voltage wires are doorbell wires, speaker systems, sprinkler systems, and thermostat wires. The size of the wires generally ranges from 12 gauge to 22 gauge. Made with aluminium or copper, the price of these sheathed electrical wires tends to be comparatively lesser than other household wires.

Armoured Cable

Image Source: Norden Communications

Local bodies decide the type of cables which can be used for electrical wiring. Sometimes, they may not permit the use of NM cables. In places where NM cables are not allowed, you can use Armoured Cables (AC). Moreover, these wires are specifically made with flexible and metallic sheathing, which basically protects the conductors.

THHN/THWN wire

Image Source: Jypto Cables

THHN and THWN are basically the most popular types of insulated wires. These wires generally have single conductors and are colour coded. The wires also have tubular plastic or metal conduits. Used chiefly in unfinished areas like garages and basements. The letters in the name of the wire also indicate their properties:

• T-means thermoplastic
• H-stands for heat resistance 
• W-means the wires are rated for wet locations.
• N stands for nylon which significantly adds a layer of protection

Phone and data wire

Image Source: Cablematic

The wiring for the internet and phones particularly uses low-voltage wires and is made of copper. These cables generally use up to eight wires. The most popular type of cable used for this is the Category 5 or Cat 5 cable which also contains eight wires wrapped in four pairs. Although data and telephone wiring do not contain high voltage wires, you should still be careful while touching any wires.

Coaxial Cable

Image Source: Element

The coaxial cable is a type of electrical wire made up of four layers arranged along a common axis. At the centre of the coaxial cable is the conductor which makes the first layer. This is then encased in an insulated plastic layer, which is further sheathed with a metallic coating. This metallic coating also has another layer of plastic insulation. Generally used for high-frequency signals these types of electrical wires can be found at the best price.

Top 10 brands for electrical wires with price (Enquire here)

Top brands for electrical wires #1 – Havells Life Line Plus

Top brands for electrical wires #2 – Polycab PVC insulated wire

Top brands for electrical wires #3 – Anchor by Panasonic Advanced FR Cable

Top brands for electrical wires #4 – Finolex FinOptic Cable

Top brands for electrical wires #5 – V-Guard Superio Wire

Top brands for electrical wires #6 – GreatWhite Multi Core Cables

Top brands for electrical cables #7 – RR Kabel Superex

Top brands for electrical cables #8 – Syska FR

Top brands for electrical cables #9 – Rhino House

Top brands for electrical cables #10 – Unistar PVC FR

Conclusion

The correct electrical upgrade can transform your home and increase its aesthetic value. Therefore, it is important to understand the various types,  the price and colour coding of electrical wires. Always select a wire which is specifically made for the purpose for which you use it. For example, a UF cable is perfect for the outdoors, while the NM wire can be used wherever the wire needs to be hidden.

Now, you know how to select the best electrical wires from top brands keeping in mind the types and uses. So, go ahead and submit your enquiries to get a buying quote and more details.

*The featured image used in this article is from Nickle Electricals