Aug 30, 2022
What Is Electrical Wire?
Electrical wire is an essential component of commercial buildings all over the world. Some cables need to stand up to harsh environments, while others just need to get a signal from point A to point B. These different cables can include features like shielding and flexibility to offer the best possible performance in a wide variety of applications. However they’re made, you need to use the right one for reliable wiring.
What Is Electrical Wire?
There are many different types of electrical wiring with design features to support different environments and applications. They may need to stand up to elements like heat, high electromagnetic interference (EMI) or moisture. You can find electrical wire coated in a variety of materials or shaped in unique ways.
Some types of wire we carry, both alone and as part of a larger cable, include:
- THHN and T90 Nylon: TTHN stands for thermoplastic high heat-resistant nylon-coated wire, which is typically used in dry locations and temperatures below 90℃. It is a great choice for general building wiring.
- THWN-2 and TWN75: THWN stands for thermoplastic heat and water-resistant nylon-coated wire, and TWN refers to thermoplastic water-resistant insulated wire, nylon jacketed. Similar to THHN, THWN-2 and TWN75 are appropriate for wet environments, but at temperatures below 75℃.
- MTW: Machine tool wire (MTW) is a flexible, stranded hook-up wire, common in machine and appliance wiring and control schemes. They are appropriate in temperatures from -25℃ to 90℃.
- AWM: Appliance wiring material (AWM), as the name suggests, is often used in appliance wiring as well as general and control circuits.
Most of these wires must meet certain standards to be considered reliable and meet code requirements. These regulations include:
- ASTM International standards
- UL Standards 83, 1581 and 1063
- Federal specification AA-59544
- National Electric Code NFPA 70
- National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA) WC-70 Construction Requirements
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) compliance
Buy electrical wire online from WesBell for quality products and expert service. Reach out today if you have any questions!
