Core cable

It is not always necessary or desirable to lay cables and lines with multiple cores. For these applications, the eibabo® technology store offers you individual cores with different diameters and insulation. Read here what you should pay attention to when using and buying.

Classic cables and lines usually consist of several individual and separately insulated wires. The conductive material of these wires consists mainly of copper, in certain cases also of other metals. The nature of the conductor itself can also vary. A solid wire is possible, but also a bundle with a multi-core core structure, so-called stranded wire. If you want your installation to be more mobile, reach for the stranded wire. Use solid wire for permanent installations. You can get individual wires, but also ready-made cables and wires from us in our online shop at reasonable prices.

What are cables, wires and cores?

Electrical cables, wires and individual wires all serve the purpose of transmitting electrical energy or data signals over a certain distance.

core lines

The core cables offered in this catalog are individual solid metal cores or strands, which are surrounded by insulation. Core lines for the transmission of electrical energy usually consist of two parts, a metal core and a surrounding insulating layer. The metal core made of copper or aluminum serves as a conductor for the direct transmission of the electric current. The core of the wire can be monolithic (solid wire) or twisted from several fine wires. Copper conductors are mainly used for wires with small and medium cross-sections. The insulation of the wires serves to protect them from contact.

cables and wires

In contrast, cables and wires consist of several cores, which are combined under a common insulating layer. The term cable is used in German when it is a fixed installation outside of buildings. Cables are used inside buildings. The type of cable or line is selected according to the type of installation, the planned load and the environment.

What is the significance of the colors of the core cables?

First of all: We always recommend that you have work on electrical equipment carried out by an experienced installer.

When you see an electrical installation or look at a loose end of a cable, you are confronted with wire cables of different colors. In Germany these are typically black, brown, blue, gray and green-yellow. If you understand the color coding for electrical cables, you will be able to use the individual cores correctly. This is particularly important because other people later rely on the correct assignment of the colors when checking or making changes and derive the function of individual wires from this.

Notice

The color codes are slightly different internationally. When choosing the color, please refer to the applicable standards in your country.

Non-metallic electrical cables consist of the outer plastic sheath and the inner, color-coded cores. Markings are usually applied to the sheathing, which provide information about the number of wire lines and their diameter. The color of the wire determines its purpose. The following rules apply in Germany and the EU: The basic colors are brown, blue and green-yellow. There are also the extended basic colors black and grey. Alternative colors are white, orange, red and purple.

The brown wire is phase 1 (L1) and is always used for the so-called 'hot wire'. The term 'hot' is used as a synonym for wire lines that transport the electrical current from the power source to the device (lamp, socket or similar).

The blue wire is the neutral wire (N) and must not be switched independently. Please don't let the term 'neutral' fool you. It is easy to believe that this is a non-electrified line. Even neutral lines can potentially carry electricity. While the brown wire carries power from the power source to the device, the neutral wire carries power back to the source. Therefore, both 'hot' and neutral lines have the potential to cause electrical surge injuries.

All electrical devices must be grounded. In the event of a fault, grounding provides a safe path for current to flow back to ground or earth. The green-yellow wire is intended for this. This is called the protective earth conductor (PE) and is connected to electrical devices such as switches, sockets and fittings as well as metal frames or metal housings.

The extended basic colors black and gray are used when it is a three-phase AC installation. Colloquially, one also speaks of power current, three-phase current or site current. The term 'strong current' is also often used. However, this is not correct. The term 'high current' is only used in connection with systems with a nominal voltage of 1 kV or more. The black wire represents phase 2 (L2), the gray wire represents phase 3 (L3).

You can choose the alternative colors white, orange, red and violet as a supplement for certain installations, for example as a corresponding cable for alternating circuits or cross circuits.

Which cross-section do I have to pay attention to with core cables?

The required cross-section of an electrical cable depends on numerous conditions. These include the type of current (direct current, alternating current), the level of the operating voltage, the amperage, the length of the line, the type of installation, the voltage drop and the phase angle. These parameters result in a calculation formula that can be used to determine a cable cross-section. Due to the many variables, we cannot make any general recommendations for the use of certain cross-sections at this point for safety reasons.

Picture: Various manufacturers H07V-U 1.5 core cable solid

What are the differences between solid conductors and stranded conductors?

Electrical wires are the basis of every electrical circuit. In addition to the color of the insulation and the cross-section of the conductor material, we also distinguish between solid conductors and multi-core core structures. Choose cables, wires and cores with solid conductors for permanent installations, for example in walls, floors, ceilings or in the ground. In these environments, the solid conductors have a number of advantages over flexible strands. These are:

• Cheaper to Manufacture – Given the amount of wiring and wiring in a building, this has a huge impact on investment costs.
• Rigid and mechanically more stable - This makes it easier to lay through channels and openings.
• Easy and convenient to connect - The connection in terminals can also be made quickly and safely without ferrules.

Stranded conductors are used in flexible installations and offer the following advantages over solid conductors:

• Plenty of surface area for the current to flow – With the same load, the diameter of a stranded conductor can be smaller.
• Greater Surface Area for Less Resistance - Power dissipation is less than a solid conductor of the same size.
• Lots of flexibility and smaller bending radii – stranded conductors have a longer service life than solid conductors when it comes to movement, twisting and stretching.

Catalogue content:

Item overview:

• Bell line
• Bell sheathed wire
• Bell wire
• Core line
• Energy connection
• Installation wire
• Jumper wire
• Mounting wire
• Multi-standard line
• Plastic hose line
• Power cable
• Power connection
• Power line
• Silicone line
• Stranded wire
• Wiring line

from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Core cable:

• Diverse
• Eupen
• Helukabel
• Huber+Suhner
• IRCE
• Jung
• Lappkabel
• Leoni Kerpen
• Leoni Studer
• Weidmüller