Category Archives: Wire & Cable

THHN

THHN/THWN: The Basics

For electrical distributors, one of the most well-known types of cable is building wire. It is generally used to carry electrical current to all external uses of power in a building or a dwelling. This product is utilized in the construction of almost every industrial, residential and commercial building. The most popular type of building wire is THHN/THWN. It’s so versatile, it’s used for wiring machine tools, control circuits .

Category Cable

Category Cable That’s Right For You: Cat5e, Cat6e or Cat6a

Category cable is a type of Ethernet cable that has been evolving since its creation. It is used for data transmission in telecommunication systems, computer networks, and security systems. At Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC), we even have our own branded category cable! As businesses, companies, and people expect more from their wire & cable, it is important to future proof systems to last. So, what kind of category .

Applied Wire: Aluminum

Aluminum wire & cable is nothing new to the electrical industry. Seen mainly in utility applications, it is now being used more and more in large scale commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Knowing the different applications that these aluminum products are used for will help you quote your customer the right product, and it can help you write the order. ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel-Reinforced) Also referred to as an .

The Aluminum Alternative

If you have a customer with an upcoming project requiring wire & cable, you want to get them what they need, when they need it. In most cases, these projects are submitted to you with tight budget parameters. A cost effective alternative to offering a traditional copper wire product is aluminum. Not all projects are a good fit for aluminum to be selected over copper, so make sure to .

Belden Equals: What’s the difference?

Name brands can be expensive, even in the electrical industry. Belden is a brand that can fall into this "premium" category. For the customer that prefers a more cost effective option over the Belden brand, Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) offers Belden equals. DWC has been stocking these products since 2011 and continues to add more variety to our inventory. Other than the brand name, what is the difference between .

High Temperature Wire Applications

Wire & Cable Facts

Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) stocks several types of high temperature wire. High temp wire is a hard to find specialty wire that is used in high heat conditions. It is used in several different applications, both commercial and industrial. Choosing the right high temp cable for high heat environments is crucial to meet your exact requirements. Knowing the application of what the wire will be used for can .

Wire & Fables: The Kingdom of Copper

Industry 411, Wire & Cable Facts

Once upon a time, in The Kingdom of Copper, there was a bustle amongst the royals and the nobles. Stories about wire & cable were being told, and uncertainty spread quickly. The Kingdom knew it had to be stopped, and they began their journey to set the record straight with tales from Wire & Fables. Chapter 1: The Prince & The Part Numbers There were so many part numbers .

Tinned Copper vs Bare Copper

Wire & Cable, Wire & Cable Facts

Bare copper is fairly resistant to corrosion, but when it is used in wet environments or places with high humidity, it can quickly become damaged. When bare copper is operating at temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Celsius, it may start to degrade. This kind of damage can result in a loss of performance. If cost is of any concern, then bare copper is less expensive than its tinned counterpart. By coating bare .

High Temp Wire: How Hot Can it Get?

High Temp Cable, Wire & Cable, Wire & Cable Facts

We all know that high temp wire is HOT, but how hot can it really get? First, let’s look at a few of the different types of high temp wire such as, MGT, TGGT and SRML. While all of these sound like a confusing group of letters, they are actually different types of wire that each have their own temperature rating. Below is a breakdown for each wire and .

PVC v.s. Plenum

Fire Alarm Cable, Plenum Cable, Wire & Cable

What to choose, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plenum? Consider asking yourself these simple questions to aid in the decision making process. If the building or wire were to catch fire, does the kind of smoke produced matter? No smoke is good for the human body to ingest, but if you had to choose… When a wire is coated in PVC and burns, it has tendency to produce Hydrogen Chloride .

DWC has Aluminum URD

If you watched the video above, you already know that we added Aluminum URD to our inventory. If you haven’t watched the video, oops! We’ve let the cat out of the bag! Our Account Managers may not have the best rapping skillz, (Seriously, watch the video!) but their quoting skillz are top-notch. Ask yours for a fastQuote on Aluminum URD today.

Can I Get a 2/0 SOOW Cord?

Wire & Cable Facts

Can I get a 2/0 SOOW Cord? The short answer is, no. SOOW isn’t made larger than 2 AWG. Don’t worry, because we have other products for you to consider. There are several mining cords that might work for you. These cords are similar to SOOW, which can be used in mines and are very flexible and durable. SOOW has a max voltage rating of 600V for both temporary and .

Shopping for VFD and More

“This month, our Procurement Manager, Robert McCord, asked us to highlight a few of the items he’s been purchasing. As you may already know, he loves to shop for wire & cable- Especially when he gets the products that can help you with your customers! VFD– Variable Frequency Drive Cable. These cables are used to carry power from AC drive systems to AC motors, and they do it very .

High Temp Wire at DWC

High Temp Cable, Wire & Cable

DWC is now stocking high temperature wire, sizes 16-10 AWG. SRML, also known as SFF-2, is rated at 150ºC and is a 600V single conductor product. It is available in black and a variety of other colors. The fiberglass, non-fraying braid that covers SRML allows it to be used in high temperature applications. For higher temperature applications like heaters, ovens and kilns, check out TGGT (Teflon Glass, Glass Teflon). .

Diesel Locomotive Cable vs. Welding Cable

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

A frequent question these days in the specialty wire and cable world is the difference between Diesel Locomotive Cable, or DLO, and welding cable. This article briefly highlights the main differences for the reader. While both DLO and Welding Cable use a stranded copper conductor, welding cable is a bare copper while DLO has a tin coating. This tin coating is highly resistant to corrosion helping DLO fair better .

Solar Energy & Photovoltaic Wire

Solar energy, along with wind energy, are by far the two most popular forms of renewable energy sources in the world today. In this article, we will shine the light on the benefits and uses of solar power energy as well discuss the different type of solar wire commonly called photovoltaic wire. Where wind energy is the harnessing of the earth’s natural winds into power, solar energy is the .

Tray Cable, Wire & Cable

This article explains a popular form of copper tray cable called XLP or sometimes referred to as XLPE tray cable. XLP tray cable is a 600 volt product that can be direct buried or installed in cable tray. XLP stands for cross linked polyethylene. The XLP is the insulation part of the tray cable. In other words, it is the material that covers the copper conductors in the construction .

Sound & Security Wire

This article talks about the various types of sound and security wire available today. Sound and security wire is most commonly purchased as a stranded copper product. These types of wires are manufactured with a riser or plenum rating. Riser, which is commonly referred to as CMR, uses a PVC construction. Plenum, called CMP, can be used in plenum applications. PVC is more cost effective than plenum rated sound .

Building Wire, Wire & Cable

XLP USE is a cross-linked polyethylene insulated single conductor stranded or solid bare copper wire. It is similar to XHHW building wire except this product is rated for direct burial applications. This product is also referred to as RHH/RHW meaning it meets the UL standard 854 for service entrance cable. XLP USE is rated for both 90 degrees Celsius in wet or dry environments and -40 Celsius rated. It .

Thermocouple Wire: JX and KX Thermocouple Grade Cable

Thermocouple & Instrumentation Wire, Wire & Cable

This article is meant to explain the various types of thermocouple wire as well as explain the difference between thermocouple grade and thermocouple extension wire. First, it is good to understand what a thermocouple sensor does. A thermocouple sensor is a device that is used to measure temperatures. Many types of industries require the monitoring of temperatures in certain areas. Some examples would be iron and steel industries where .

Cat6 Cable: Category 6 Networking Cable

Phone Cable, Wire & Cable

Cat6 Cable is a phone and Ethernet computer cable consisting of 4 pairs intimately twisted together with either a PVC (riser) or Plenum rating. Cat6 Cable is the latest standard in indoor phone and computer networking cable. It can be used in all cat3, cat5 and cat5e or enhanced applications. It is rated up to 550 MHz making it ideal for Gigabit Ethernet connections. Cat6 Cable is widely used .

Building Wire, Wire & Cable

The initials, or acronym, for XHHW stand for Cross-Linked High Heat Water Resistant Insulated Wire. This XHHW is the designation for a specific insulating material for electrical building wire and cable. The term XHHW also designates the temperature rating as well as the conditions that the cable can be used under. XHHW wire is generally used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings and installations for the purpose of power distribution. .

SIS Wire: Switchboard Wire and SIS Cable

Switchboard Cable, Wire & Cable

Switchboard Wire is most often referred to in the electrical industry as simply SIS wire. It is also at times called out by electricians and end users as UL3173. SIS wire, although simple in construction, is a very versatile cable used in many different applications. Some of those applications range from its obvious name, switchboard wiring, to panel boards, distribution boards, industrial control panels and many other applications up .

DLO Cable: Diesel Locomotive Wire and Cable

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

DLO Cable, or diesel locomotive cable, is a flexible single conductor copper cable used in motor and power leads. DLO cable can also be used to wire diesel locomotives, transit and railroad cars, oil and gas drilling rigs, telecom power supply, storage batteries and various types of earth moving machinery. Standard DLO Cable carries a (2KV) 2000 volt rating. It is rated at 90 degrees Celsius. Sizes range from .

Machine Tool Wire: Understanding MTW and UL1015

Machine Tool Wire, Wire & Cable

Machine Tool Wire, or most commonly referred to as MTW, is a stranded flexible hook up wire. MTW is used for the internal wiring of appliances including refrigeration equipment, automatic washers, air-conditioning equipment, control wiring for machine tools and in various other building applications. Although machine tool wire is qualified for many wiring applications it is a simply constructed wire that is made up of a highly stranded bare .

Mining Cords: Type W Mining Cord

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

Today’s featured article is in regards to Type W mining cable, its construction and applications in the work place. Type W is a highly flexible, durable cable that is designed for rugged applications as we will discuss in further detail below. Let’s begin by breaking down it construction to give you a better sense of its quality and traits. Type W can be made anywhere from a single conductor .

Fire Alarm Cable: PVC & Plenum Fire Alarm Wire

Fire Alarm Cable, Wire & Cable

Fire alarm cables are one of the most popular types of low voltage products on the market today. Fire alarm cable is found in all types of commercial and residential applications. Fire alarm cable is typically used on smoke detectors, fire protective circuits, fire alarms and other control signals used in fire protective circuits. Standard fire alarm cable is rated up to 300 volts. It is manufactured with a .

SOOW: SO Cable and SO Rubber Cord

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

SO cable is one of the most popular and versatile portable electrical cords made today. These are multi-conductor cords, comprised of 2 or more conductors, which can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications. This versatility allows SO cable to be utilized in a variety of environments. Although it is found in commercial, residential and industrial facilities it has gained the most popularity in mills, mines, and marinas. .

VNTC Tray Cable

Tray Cable, Wire & Cable

When it comes to functionality and diversity in the specialty wire and cable industry, it is without a doubt that tray cable stands out as the clear winner. VNTC Tray cable can be found inside buildings and factories, and in the great outdoors. It is approved for installation aerially with a messenger, in conduits, ducts and cable trays. It is suitable for installation in not only wet and dry .

High Temperature Cable: SRML, TGGT, FEP, MGT Cables

High Temp Cable, Wire & Cable

This article discusses some of the most popular high temperature cables found today. It covers both insulating and jacketing compounds as well as common usages for these specialty electrical products. High temperature cables are required in various types of applications in today’s world. Many industries, both commercial and industrial, frequently depend on high temp cables for power, control and instrumentation circuits. They run motors, fire alarm systems, appliances, furnaces .

Coax Cable, Wire & Cable

This week’s article covers coaxial cable or most commonly referred to as simply coax. Coax utilizes many types of constructions for all types of data transmission applications. Coax was originally invented in 1929. Its most common use today is in cable television and Ethernet applications. Coax cable is called coaxial because it includes one physical channel surrounded by another concentric physical channel. Both of these channels run along the .

Armored Cables, Wire & Cable

Teck 90 cable originated in Canada but is a popular product in many areas of the world today. Teck Cable is composed of bare copper conductors with cross linked polyethylene insulation giving it a XHHW rating. Standard temperature range for these Teck products is 90 degrees Celsius wet or dry with an emergency temperature range of 130 degrees Celsius. All Teck cables come with a bare ground wire in .

Submersible Pump Cable: Sub pump wire

Irrigation & Pump Cable, Wire & Cable

Today’s topic is Submersible Pump cable, or Sub Pump as its most commonly referred. This is a specialized product used to supply current/power to the Submersible Pump typically in deep wells. The cable needed for this type of application must be durable and reliable as the installation location and environment can be extremely restrictive as well as hostile. As such, Submersible Pump cable can be used in both fresh .

Indoor Phone Wire: Category Phone Cable

Phone Cable, Wire & Cable

Indoor phone and data cable is manufactured in multiple styles, sizes and pair counts. This brief article is used to explain the similarities and differences between the different categories of indoor phone wire. These twisted paired telephone cables are designed for high signal integrity. In other orders, they transmit phone and data signals such as Ethernet. Indoor phone cable is manufactured in solid, stranded, PVC, plenum and shielded and .

Medium Voltage Power Cable: MV 105 cables

Medium Voltage, Wire & Cable

This article is used to explain the most popular styles of copper medium voltage (MV) power cables and their usage. The standard range for medium voltage cables is between 5kV – 35KV. Medium voltage cables are used in main feeder, distribution and branch circuits in commercial, industrial and electric utility installations. The most prevalent insulating compounds used in medium voltage cables are ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and cross linked .

Plenum Cable: Plenum cables and plenum rated products

Plenum Cable, Wire & Cable

There are a variety of wire and cable products that are manufactured in plenum versions. The most commonly used is plenum cable. Plenum cables are used in electrical or telecommunication applications and are installed in the air spaces of most residential and commercial buildings. Plenum fire alarm cable, plenum coax cable and plenum cat 5 cable are examples of some of these applications. It is common practice to route .

Mining Cord: Type G Mining Cable

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

One of the most popular mining cords today is Type G. Standard Type G mining cord is a bare copper cord rated at 2000 volts (2KV). Type G uses a thermoset insulation, typically EPR, and a thermoset jacket, typically CPE. In other words, it looks and feels like rubber. Standard temperature range of a G Cord is -40C to +90C. However, there are many constructions of this product which .

Armored Cables, Wire & Cable

Variable frequency drives, or commonly known as VFD’s, use pulse width modulation (PWD) techniques to control AC drives. If improper cabling is used in these drives, the high frequency pulses found in VFD can cause destructive motor bearing currents. The answer to these frequency pulses is many times the uses of variable frequency drive cables between the VFD and motor. These cables are specifically engineered to protect the motors .

Outside Phone Wire: PE Style phone cable

Phone Cable, Wire & Cable

There are many different constructions for outside phone cable. This article is used to explain the most popular styles as well as help identify the correct outside plant cable for your application. 1. REA Specification PE -22 – PE 22 is an aerial and duct outside plant copper phone cable. PE-22 uses a solid polyolefin colored insulated, single jacketed aircore design that is manufactured in 26, 24, 22 and .

Building Wire, Wire & Cable

Building wire is generally used to carry electrical current to all external uses of power in a building or dwelling. This product is utilized in the construction of almost every industrial, residential and commercial building. The most popular type is THHN wire. THHN stands for Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon coated. THHN can come in stranded or solid conductors depending on the size. It is either manufactured in copper or aluminum .

Welding Cable: Welding wire and cable product details

Flexible & Portable Cords, Wire & Cable

Welding cable is a popular portable cord that is used in various welding applications as well as many power supply applications not exceeding 600V where some flexibility is required. Welding cable sizes range from 6 awg to 500 MCM. It consists of bare annealed copper per ASTM B-3. The jacket on most welding cable is thermoset, typically EPDM or Neoprene. The most widely manufactured colors of standard welding cable .