SOOW Cable (600-volt)
Service, oil-resistant and water-resistant (SOOW) cable is an excellent choice for portable electrical power. It provides flexibility and the necessary durability for portable applications, like resistance to abrasion, chemicals and ozone. These characteristics make it appropriate for heavy-duty applications, like battery chargers, industrial tools and heavy equipment, as well as less-demanding jobs, like motor leads.
You can use appropriately rated SOOW cable indoors and out, as well as for permanent or temporary applications. It is relatively simple to make and is UL-approved, so affordable prices and reliability are easy to find.
SOOW cables are available from sizes 2 to 18 AWG. Conductor counts available for SOOW cables can go from 2 to 60 depending on your chosen SOOW cable American Wire Gauge (AWG) size.
What’s the Difference Between SOOW Portable Cord and Type W Power Cable?
After SO cord, there’s the industrial power cord called Type W cable, which is basically the same as SOOW cable but much bigger and more heavy-duty. It will most likely be dragged across job sites and run over by heavy machinery all day, so it’s made with a much tougher rubber jacket to withstand the impact. It’s also a 2000-volt power cable usually made in American Wire Gauge (AWG) sizes #2 and up. The Type W has the same size ground wire with green insulation and it’s included in the conductor count.
You may also come across Type G-GC cable, which is the same as Type W cable but made with ground wires and a ground check.
Type W cables possess the same conduction and jacketing materials used in SO cables. While the two can seem similar, Type W cable is more flexible and often preferred by big industries because it is more durable than SOOW cables. A Type W cable can be bought as a single conductor or multiconductor cable, and you can find many kinds depending on the size and the conductor counts you need. Type W cables range from sizes 500 thousands of circular mils (MCM) down to 8 AWG and are available with up to five conductors.
While both SOOW cable and Type W cable types can be very useful for a range of applications, they differ in many respects. SOOW cables are rugged, but if you are looking for a more robust, tougher cable for industrial needs, then you may need a Type W cable. SOOW cables are meant for use with average types of equipment or portable tools like small motors or portable appliances you have at home. Type W cables are very useful in large industrial applications, such as powering conveyors, lifting magnets, loaders, large cutters, pumps, drills, diesel-electric locomotives, cranes and more.
The WesBell Advantage for SOOW Cables
Since there are a lot of electrical cables to choose from, all useful for different types of jobs, you have to know which cable fits your needs. If you’re still not sure if SOOW portable cable is the right cable for the job, reach out to us. We’re happy to talk about your project and help you choose the right one.
If it turns out you need an extension cord, we have some available for sale, with the same build as an SOOW portable cable but with plugs on the ends. We also have power cords with a plug on one end and stripped other end to attach it manually for certain applications. And, of course, we carry a wide range of standard SOOW cables, from sizes 18 to 2 AWG.
With all of our products, you get support from the experts at WesBell Electronics. We’ll help you match your cable to your application and even offer a wide range of services to help prepare wiring and cables for the task at hand. Browse our SOOW cables above or contact us if you have any questions.