Decoding of marking of wires and cables

Intended use

The purpose of the cipher is to display the main characteristics, namely:

• material of the veins;
• assignment;
• type of insulation;
• design feature;
• cross-section of the product;
• rated voltage.

The main variety of

To date, for electrical work, cords, cables and wires are used. Before decoding the markings, it is necessary to understand what these products represent and what are their differences.

Wires

A wire is an electrical product consisting of one or more stranded wires, without insulation or insulated. The shell of the vein, as a rule, is light, not of metal( although wire winding is also found).

Bare conductor Insulated wire

Such products can be used in electrical work( for example, the installation of electrical wiring in a wooden house), as well as in the manufacture of the winding of the motor. To date, there are wires with copper and aluminum conductors. The copper variant quickly oxidizes in open space and has a high price, but at the same time is able to pass through itself higher current loads. In addition, copper is more elastic, which means it will not break so quickly. Aluminum is more fragile and does not connect with copper( except that only through terminals), but for that have a low cost. Today, aluminum wiring is used less and less often.

It should also be noted that the contacts can be insulated and bare. The latter option is used for power lines. The insulated wire can be protected and unprotected. Protection is another layer of insulation( made of plastic or rubber), which covers the sheath of the veins.

The latest classification is carried out depending on the purpose: installation, power and installation. The installation wire must necessarily be copper, it is used, as a rule, to connect the elements of the electrical circuit in the board, as well as to connect the circuit to the radio equipment. Power( as well as installation) for us is better known, becauseIt is used outdoors and indoors.

Cables

An electrical cable is a product of several wires that are under the same insulating sheath( of PVC, rubber, plastic).In addition to this shell, additional protection can be present - an armored shell made of wire or steel tape, which must be indicated in the marking.

Aluminum wire Copper contacts

There are 5 main types of electrical cables:

• power;
• control;
• for management;
• for communication;
• radio frequency.

Let us briefly consider the conditions for using each of the products.

Power is used for power transmission in power and lighting electrical appliances. There are products of various types and purposes. In general, power cables are used for external wiring( both air and underground) and internal( in residential and non-residential premises).Power cables can have both aluminum and copper conductors. Preferred to give the last option. The insulating layer can be PVC, paper, rubber, polyethylene, etc.

Control is used to operate electrical devices that transmit an information signal to control any devices. This kind can also be with aluminum and copper veins.

control cable is a copper conductor with a protective shield. It is used in various automation systems. The protective screen serves to remove interference, as well as protection against mechanical damage.

The connection cable is used to transmit information using currents of different frequencies. Transmission of local communication lines is carried out by low-frequency conductors, and long-distance lines by high-frequency conductors.

Radio frequency cable is used in radio equipment. The main purpose is the transmission of video and radio signals.

Cords

The cord consists of several( at least two) elastic wires with a small cross-section( up to 1.5 mm square).The cores of the cord consist of a set of interwoven wires, the insulation of which is carried out by a nonmetallic shell. Usually cords are represented by stranded products, but there are also two-core cords, which are used if the body of the appliance does not require a special grounding. To date, cords are used to connect household appliances to the network( for example, a refrigerator or microwave oven).

Cord for household electrical appliances

Here we have figured out the main differences of all three kinds of electrical products. We hope that the information was available to you. We also recommend viewing the video in which this information is provided more graphically:

General differences

All the conductors may differ in the following features:

1. Cross section. There are veins cross-section from 0,35 mm.kv.up to 240 mm.kv.
2. Material of manufacture: copper, aluminum, alumina( special composite of two metals).
3. Rated voltage( for example, it can withstand 220 or 380V).
4. Number of cores( solid or stranded).
5. Insulation material( PVC, rubber, paper).
6. Material of the containment( rubber, plastics, metal).

Marking

General information

The basic standards for marking wires, cables and cords in accordance with GOST are the same, so first consider the decoding of the alphanumeric code.in the electrician.

Example of the cipher

Letter No. 1 characterizes the material of the core. Aluminum is assigned the letter "A", a copper letter is not assigned.

Letter number 2 in the marking characterizes the type of wire or cable sheath material. For the wire, the second letter means "P" - flat, "M" - mounting, "K" - control, "MG" - mounting with flexible residential, "P( Y) or S" - installation.

Letter number 3 describes the material for insulation of cores. The letter "B" or "BP" means that the insulation is polyvinyl chloride, "R" - rubber, "H" or "HP" - naira( rubber that does not burn), "P" - polyethylene, "K" - kapron, "F"- metal( falson)," ME "- enameled," L "- varnished," SH "- polyamide silk," O "- polyamide silk as a braid," C "-glass fiber," E "- screened insulation,"T "- insulation with a supporting cable," G "- insulation with a flexible core.

In addition, it should be noted that the rubber-insulated wire can be additionally protected by the following type of sheath: "H" - nairit, "B" - PVC.We draw your attention to the fact that these letters are placed in the marking after the insulation material of the core itself is indicated.

Letter number 4 characterizes the design feature. If the letter "A" is written, then the product is asphalted, "B" - armored ribbons, "G" - without protective cover( if the cable) and flexible( if the wire), "K" - armored with round wires, "T" - intendedfor laying in pipes, "O" - is protected by braiding.

Decoding of the digital signage:

The number 1 always indicates the number of cores, if there is no digit before the letters in the cable or cable marking, then the conductor is solid.

Digit number 2 characterizes the cross-sectional area in mm.kv.

Digit No. 3 displays the rated voltage of the network.

The marking of the cords is represented by the letter "Ш".

To the readers of "Sam Electrician" understand the whole point, we give this example:

Decoding of the cable marking ВВГ 4 * 2,5-380.So:

• the letters "P" and "A" are not present, means, copper lived;
• the second letter "B" indicates that the insulation is polyvinyl chloride;
• also indicates the second letter "B", which means another protection with a PVC sheath;
• last letter - "G" indicates that the protective cover is missing;
• first digit "4" - four cores;
• "2,5" - cross-section in mm.kv.;
• 380 - Rated voltage of 380 V.

We hope that you now understand the markings. If you have any questions, we immediately ask them in the category "Question-answer"!

Russian products

Marking of Russian cables:

Designation of domestic wires and cords:

Foreign products

Foreign marking marking tables:

Foreign marking marking tables:

Tables

Brands and purpose of popular wires:

Brands and purpose of popular cables:

Brands and destinationspopular cords:

Using these tables and information you can easily determine the characteristics and purpose of any conductor during installationin your own house or apartment!
Also read:

• Wire color coding
• Wiring methods in the junction box
• How to find a short circuit in the wiring?