5 Things You Need To Know About Power And Armoured Cables

Without power cables, building structures simply cannot function. How can it when there is no electricity, internet, or telephone connection?

Try asking anyone what is the first thing they think of when the term ‘building materials’ come to mind. We are pretty sure that their answers would include common objects such as wood, bricks, glass, marble, and more. Power cables are often overlooked even if it is the heart of every building structure. Without power cables, building structures simply cannot function. How can it when there is no electricity, internet, or telephone connection?

Power cables come in various shapes and sizes with a single or multi-conductor that can seem quite complicated at times. Made for personal and industrial use, power cables are specifically designed for applications that cater to various engineering expertise.

A power cable, also known as an electrical cable, is a combination of more than one electrical conductor. These electrical conductors are used for transmitting electrical power and are usually installed as permanent wiring for buildings – either underground or exposed. There is also another cable term known as Flexible Power Cables that are used for portable devices, mobile tools, and machinery.

Steel Wire Armoured cable (commonly referred to as SWA), on the other hand, is a type of hard-wearing power cable that include 22 kV and 33 kV cables. As written on Wikipedia, it is invented specially for the supply of main electricity found in underground systems, power networks, and cable ducting.

“Each power cable is unique and its life span highly depends on its capacity, durability, usage, and industry-specific characteristics.” - DNF Cable

Now, you have a rough idea of what they can do and how important they are in any building structure. In this article, we are laying out some facts that you really need to know about power and armoured cables.

1.     Brand new power cables do not essentially last as long as you think they do.

One of the reasons why brand new power cables do not last long is because there are simply so many electrical companies that manufacture power cables and each cable that they produce has a different life span which can last for a specific period of time only. The life span can be quite subjective as it varies.  

Secondly, there are so many types of power cables. Much like human beings, each power cable is unique and its life span highly depends on its capacity, durability, usage, and industry-specific characteristics.

Last of all, the life span of a cable also heavily depends on the way the installation is done. If an installation is not done well, it can affect the cable’s life span so precision during the set up process must be a priority.

2.     Cable armours do not protect a cable from any form of physical impacts or even moisture.

Most people believe that cable armour’s role is to protect cables against any sort of physical impact but they are wrong.  Actually, if power cables are exposed to a negative environment or physical stress, it is definitely possible for a cable to be damaged due to the impact and it will likely be provoked by the armour itself.

This is because most cable armours are made from steel tape or wire that helps increase the tensile measure of cables instead of protecting them from unforeseen physical impacts.

3.     Quality copper wire may be an ideal choice for power cables but it is not a better conductor than aluminium.

Yes, good quality copper produces exceptional power cables. It has even been dubbed as a better conductor for electricity than aluminium. As years go by, however, people are beginning to prefer aluminium as an electrical conductor and research has found that there are quite a few factors that can back this fact up.  

Aluminium is the preferred choice of conductor because it has a low density and high conductivity, allowing electric current to be transported with minimal losses. At the same time, it is also very light, making large support structures redundant. So, if high-voltages of electricity are required in the long run for a building structure, it makes more economical sense to use aluminium cables instead of copper.

4.     Power cable manufacturers should be responsible for proper quality management of all their cables.

All power cable manufacturers usually practice a highly effective quality management that leads to complete customer satisfaction. These manufacturers ensure that their product offerings are aligned with international standards and are approved by relevant authorities before they are allowed to be installed into any building structures.

5.     It is a standard requirement that all power cable installations are done by highly trained professionals.

Not every Tom, Dick, or Harry is a qualified professional that is capable of getting power and armoured cables installed. Most power cable manufacturers would hire employees that are highly trained with the required technical skills and are dedicated to ensure that only the products that meet stringent quality standards are delivered to all customers.

Member of Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia, EM(C) 2688

ISO 9001 : 2015 | MYQ7172893

Registered Manufacturer under JKR Electric | MS 2112-3:2009

SIRIM QAS International Product Certification License | PE028301

Qualified and registered under Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga) | SJT161309114172015

Looking for a reliable manufacturer that has the expertise to achieve all of your power cable needs?

DNF Cable Sdn Bhd is the one you should look out for.

Established in 2003, DNF CABLE SDN BHD (DNF) is a manufacturer of wiring and cables for power distribution that offers PVC cables, multicore cables, and twin flat cables, amongst others. They are recognised as one of the leading development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of cables and wires in Malaysia, catered to the energy, industrial, and specialty and data-telecommunications industries.

DNF also takes pride in delivering high standards of products and services.  Since its inception, DNF successfully developed a number of innovative ideas as well as industry-leading products that helped expand its geographic access, allowing them to provide solutions to clients nationwide. As one of the largest cable manufacturers in the country with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, DNF is constantly working on expanding their product range to further enhance its position as a major supplier of power and data-telecommunication cables that provides for local industries and soon, to increase its prominence abroad.

If you need more information or would like to get some valuable advice about power cables, click here to consult in the DNF Cable Sdn Bhd team.

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