Power Cable

There are many different types of power cables including Welding cable, DLO (locomotive), Type W, Type G-GC and Stage lighting (Entertainment Cable). These are all made with a rubber neoprene jacket, but they each have differences in insulation thickness and application. This article will explain the differences and help you understand how each power cable is used.

Welding Cable is the most basic because it’s just the copper stranding and the insulation. The pricing is incredibly volatile because copper is a commodity which changes the pricing daily. Welding cables, and the rest of the power cables listed, are made with 30 gauge fully annealed bare copper stranding. It has good flexibility, abrasion-resistant, and good color retention. It’s mostly used for secondary voltage resistance welding leads.

DLO cable (Diesel locomotive cable) is a Power Cable made with 24 gauge tinned copper stranding. Since it’s made with the thicker gauge size it makes the cable less flexible. DLO cable is made with a thicker CPE (Chlorinated Polyethylene) jacket. Basic applications for locomotive cable are oil and gas drilling rigs, diesel electric locomotives and telecom power supply.

Type W and Type G-GC and multi-conductor power cables used in heavy duty industrial applications. They’re made similar to SOOW portable cord products, but are much larger and handle more amperage. Type W and Type G-GC are made with 30 gauge bare copper stranding to make up 3 or 4 conductors. Those conductors are insulated and then covered with an overall heavy duty neoprene jacket. The only difference between these two power cables is the Type G-GC have 2 smaller ground wires and a ground check wire as well. The Type W only has 2, 3, 4, or 5 same size conductors.

Stage lighting cable (Entertainment cable) is used in the industrial lighting market for theatre, television, night clubs, motion pictures and spot lights. It has 30 gauge bare copper stranding and a neoprene jacket. It’s very similar to the welding cable but with a slightly thicker jacket and a temperature rating of 105°C instead of 90°C.

It may seem like these power cables are only slightly different, but they have been analyzed many times by industry professionals that these differences are needed. Make sure to use the correct cable for the longest life possible or you’ll find yourself replacing is far sooner than needed.

Does your Welding Cable come in different colors?

Yes. Black, Red and Super Vu-tron Orange.  The super vu-tron is the 34 gauge bare copper strands to make it a more flexible welding cable.  It also has a tougher jacket to be more impact resistant.

Is there a minimum purchase quantity of your power cables?

NO! No mins on power cable! It's very expensive per foot and we understand that.  If you only need one foot then buy it from us! We'll take the order.

Do you have smaller gauge size power cables?

Yes! Take a look at our SOOW portable cord section.  They carry less amps so they're cheaper and smaller.