Cables are ubiquitous in modern life and production. The electricity we use in our lives and the cars we drive cannot be separated from various types of cables.So what is the difference between power cables and control cables, and how can we distinguish them?
Control cable
Generally, cables starting with the letter K are control cables.Cables can be divided according to the requirements of the use environment: ordinary cables, flame retardant cables, fire-resistant cables, low-smoke halogen-free cables, home decoration wires, mineral insulated cables, etc. In strong electricity, cables are divided into: control cables, high-voltage cables and low-voltage cables.But remember: control cables do not transmit signals!They conduct current, and the current flowing through the control cable is generally below 5A, so the cross-section of the control cable is below 2.5mm2.
First of all, we can make a simple distinction from the aspects of shape, color, and number of cores:
Difference in core color: The color of the insulated core of control cables is usually black with white letters, while low-voltage power cables are usually color-coded.
1.Difference in the number of cable cores:
Power cables have fewer cores, including single core, two cores, three cores, four cores (three-phase four-wire system), and five cores (three-phase five-wire system). According to the requirements of the power grid, the maximum is generally five cores.However, control cables used for transmitting control signals have a larger number of cores, ranging from two cores to 61 cores or even more.Control cables also use various core structures, shielding, and other measures to achieve satisfactory electromagnetic compatibility effects.
2.Difference between wire sheaths:
Power cables require sufficient compressive strength, tensile strength, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance in the wire sheath.Control cables have lower requirements.
power cable
Then it is to distinguish from the performance and application of power cables and control cables:
1. Difference in cross section:
Power cables are primary load conductors, and the current carrying capacity increases with the increase in power.The cross section of the conductor must also increase with the increase in current.Therefore, the specifications of power cables are generally larger, up to 500 square meters (the range that conventional manufacturers can produce). The manufacturers that can produce larger cross sections are relatively few. Control cables are secondary command conductors, which control the current-carrying operation of contactors and other devices.The load current is extremely small, and the cross section of the conductor is extremely small.Therefore, the cross section of control cables is generally smaller, with a maximum of generally not exceeding 10 square meters.
2. Difference in rated voltage:
The rated voltage of power cables is generally 0.6/1 kV and above, while control cables are mainly 450/750 V.
3. Difference in function:
Control cables transmit electrical energy directly from the power distribution point of the power system to the power connection lines of various electrical equipment and appliances, while power cables are mainly used for the transmission of strong electrical energy in the power generation, distribution, transmission, transformation, and power supply lines. Due to the large current passing through them, power cables are used in the main lines of the power system to transmit and distribute high-power electrical energy.
When producing industrial electrical power cables and control cables of the same specifications, the insulation and sheath thickness of the power cable is thicker than that of the control cable.Firstly, the control cable belongs to the electrical equipment cable, which is one of the five major categories of cables.The standard for control cables is 9330, and the standard for power cables is GB12706.
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