SILVER JUBILEE GOVT.

COLLEGE [A],KURNOOL

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

ELECTRIC cables
A STUDENT RE-SEARCH PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY
R.PRAKASH REDDY
III B.Sc [mpc] e/m
14136

GUIDED BY
R.suneetha [madam]
Lec. In physics
 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

This is to certify that R.PRAKASH REDDY a student of III B.Sc [MPC]

E/M has successfully completed the research project on the topic
ELECTRIC CABLES under the guidance of R.SUNEETHA madam
lecturer in physics. This project is absolutely genuine and does not indulge
in plagiarism of any kind.

Signature (subject In charge) Signature (examiner)

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my

lecturer R.SUNEETHA madam as well as our principal S.ABDUL
KHADAR sir who gave me the golden opportunity to do this
wonderful project on the topic ELECTRIC CABLES which
also helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to know
about so many new things and I am really thankful to them.
Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends
who helped me a lot in finalizing this project within the
limited time frame.

R.P
RAKASH REDDY
I
II B.Sc [MPC] E/M
1
4136
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project work entitled ELECTRIC

CABLES is submitted to the department of physics, Silver
Jubilee Govt. College [A], Rayalaseema University is a
record of an original work done us under the guidance of
R.SUNNEETHA madam faculty member of physics.

DATE:
R.PRAKASH
REDDY
III B.Sc [MPC] E/M
1
4136
 CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SIZES IN WIRES

3. WIRE LETTERING

4. TYPES OF WIRES

5. COLOUR CODES

6. WIRE GAUGE, AMPACITY, WATTAGE LOAD

7. SELECTION AND PROPER USAGE OF WIRES

8. FUSION POINT OF WIRES

9. APPILCATIONS OF WIRES

10.CONCLUSION

11.BIBILOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

WIRE:
A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear
mechanical loads or electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed
by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Wire gauges come in
various standard sizes, as expressed in terms of a gauge number. The term wire is also used more
loosely to refer to a bundle of such strands, as in "multistrain 7nded wire", which is more correctly
termed a wire rope in mechanics, or a cable in electricity.

Further wires have been classified into two types. They are copper wires and aluminum wires. Mainly copper
wires are used for home supplies of current where as aluminum wires are used for long range supply if TGE
current like in the fields, from the electricity production area to the supply area. The conductors used in wire
mainly are Aluminium and copper.
Size of Wires
Each application requires a certain wire size for installation, and the right size for
a specific application is determined by the wire gauge. Sizing of wire is done by the American
wire gauge system. Common wire sizes are 10, 12 and 14 a higher number means a
smaller wire size, and affects the amount of power it can carry. For example, a low-voltage
lamp cord with 10 Amps will require 18-gauge wire, while service panels or subpanels with
100 Amps will require 2-gauge wire.
Wire Lettering

The letters THHN, THWN, THW and XHHN represent the main insulation types of
individual wires. These letters depict the following NEC requirements:.

T Thermoplastic insulation

H Heat resistance

HH High heat resistance (up to 194F)

W Suitable for wet locations

N Nylon coating, resistant to damage by oil or gas

 X Synthetic polymer that is flame-resistant

Types of Wires There are mainly 5 types of wire: .

Triplex Wires : Triplex wires are usually used in single-phase service drop conductors,
between the power pole and weather heads. They are composed of two insulated aluminum
wires wrapped with a third bare wire which is used as a common neutral. The neutral is
usually of a smaller gauge and grounded at both the electric meter and the transformer.

Main Feeder Wires : Main power feeder wires are the wires that connect the service weather
head to the house. Theyre made with stranded or solid THHN wire and the cable installed is
25% more than the load required
 Panel Feed Wires : Panel feed cables are generally black insulated THHN wire. These are
used to power the main junction box and the circuit breaker panels. Just like main power
feeder wires, the cables should be rated for 25% more than the actual load.

Non-Metallic Sheathed Wires : Non-metallic sheath wire, or Romex, is used in most homes
and has 2-3 conductors, each with plastic insulation, and a bare ground wire. The individual
wires are covered with another layer of non-metallic sheathing. Since its relatively cheaper
and available in ratings for 15, 20 and 20 amps, this type is preferred for in-house wiring.

Single Strand Wires: Single strand wire also uses THHN wire, though there are other
variants. Each wire is separate and multiple wires can be drawn together through a pipe
easily. Single strand wires are the most popular choice for layouts that use pipes to contain
wires.

Color Codes Different color wires serve different purposes, like:.

Black : Hot wire, for switches or outlets.

Red : Hot wire, for switch legs. Also for connecting wire between 2 hardwired smoke
detectors.
 Blue and Yellow : Hot wires, pulled in conduit. Blue for 3-4 way switch application, and yellow
for switch legs to control fan, lights etc.

White : Always neutral.

Green and Bare Copper : Only for grounding.

Wire Gauge, Ampacity and Wattage Load

To determine the correct wire, it is important to understand what ampacity and wattage a wire can
carry per gauge. Wire gauge is the size of the wire, ampacity is how much electricity can flow through
the wire and wattage is the load a wire can take, which is always mentioned on the appliances..
HOW TO SELECT AND PROPERLY USE WIRE
Wire is designed to tolerate specific conditions and to do only those jobs for which it is intended. It is advisable
to understand the popular uses of the most common types of wire used in residential, farm, and small workshop
applications before you begin your job. We will also give some general wiring information that pertains to good
wiring practices. All wires, except those used to rewire existing buildings where the wires are fished into the
walls, must be stapled or strapped at least every 4-1/2 feet and within 12 inches of entry to any metal box or
within 8 inches o f en try to any nonmetallic box without clamps. Some areas require 4 or 6 for nonmetallic
boxes so verify with your local Grover staff. Care must be taken while driving staples or tightening clamps to
make sure that the cable is no t injured . See NEC article 334.30 . * Pigtails at least 6" long must be left at all
boxes for making up device connections or splices. Ground wires should be connected together at all switch,
receptacle, fixture, and junction boxes at the time of rough-in. Metal boxes should be grounded by using an
approved ground clip or screw to bond the box. If a grounded device is to be installed in the box, a pigtail
should be left for this purpose. It is advisable to make up all wiring joints, except for the installation of devices
at the time of rough-in while the cables are still visible. It is also good practice to run a continuity test on all
wiring prior to covering. See NEC article 300-14.*Poor wire connections cause nearly all electrical failures.
This segment of your work deserves particular emphasis. All splices and connections must be made in an
approved box that will always be ac-cessible. Twist-on connectors do a good job. They must be tightened
securely. When making aluminum or copper to aluminumsplices, make sure that the connectors are approved
for that use. A liberal coating of corrosion inhibitor should be applied to all aluminum wire joints. See article
300 and 300-15 of the NEC for additional general wiring information.

NMB CABLE
NM stands for nonmetallic. It refers to the most commonly used type of wire. It is alsocalled loom wire,
Loomex or Romex (trade names) or just plain building wire. It can be run through holes drilled in the center of
wall studs, floor and ceiling joists, and rafters. It must be concealed by cover material such as sheet rock,
plaster, plywood, etc., in all areas except where access is so limited that it would be unlikely that the wire would
be subject to injury. Areas where cover is usually not needed are crawl spa ces under houses and non-accessible
attics beyond six feet back from the scuttle hole. When wires are run across the tops of joists in accessible
attics, they should only be run outside the ra fter supports or near the edge where the clearance between the
joists and rafters is less than 18 inches. An accessible attic is one that is equipped with a permanent stairway.
We stock copper NM-B cable from #14-2 to #2-3. We suggest that you read articles 300 and 334 of the National
Electric Code before commencing work with NM cable.

SEU CABLE
Aluminum S ervice Entrance cable, Unarmored has two insulated conductors with an un-insulated ground wire
that is wrapped around the conductors, and a final outer covering. Though its use is not universally applicable,
it is most commonly used in larger sizes to connect adjacent electrical meters and panel boards. See articles
230, 300 and 338 of the National Elect

SER CABLE
This wire is the same as SE cable except that it has an insulated neutral wire and is round instead of the flat U
style. We stock only that which has an additional ground wire which qualifies itfor use as a sub service feeder
and for rangeand dryer circuits that require a separate ground wire. The same methods and NEC articles prevail
as for SE cable.

THHN & THW WIRE

THHN means thermoplastic high heat resistant. The better insulation quality of THHN wire permits it to carry a
somewhat heavier amperage load. Although triplex and quadplex service drop cables are the most popular for
open air applications, THHN wire is still occasionally used on small jobs such as outdoor lighting, etc. THHN
and THWN wires are now primarily used in conduit systems. Industrial and commercial wiring must be done in
this manner. We stock a complete line of copper THHN/THWN in sizes from #14 to #2.
TYPE USE WIRE & UF CABLE
These wires are designed for underground use. Bu rial dep th fo r thi s type o f wi re i s 24 in ch e s . Residential
branch circuits of 120 volts or less with GFCI protection and maximum overcurrent protection of 20 amps only
need to be 12 inches deep. In areas where spading or tilling might occur, buried cables should be physically
protected with conduit or by placing a board over it in the trench. Where these wires exit from the ground, they
should be in conduit. Some local codes and/or utility companies require deeper burial of underground service
conductors. USE wire can be used as main feeder, sub feeder, and branch circuit wiring. UF is stocked only in
cable form and is only used as branch circuit or sub feeder wiring and must be protected by a proper sized fuse
or breaker. UF, when used inside of a building, must conform to NM wiring procedures. It is stocked only with
copper conductors in cables sized from #14-2 with ground to #6-3 with ground. USE is stocked in aluminum
from #6 AWG to 250 MCM and in copper from #8 to #3/0. See articles 300-5, 310-6, 338, and 339 of the NEC
for more information on USE and UF wiring.

URD
URD is a cable composed of three loosely twisted individual conductors. This cable can be buried directly in
the ground (24 inches) and is used for underground service entrances and sub feeds to outbuildings. Check local
codes for use and application before purchasing.
Fusing Point of Wire
To calculate the fusing current of a wire based on its diameter.

Where:
I is the current in Amps
d is the diameter in cm
k is the fusing constant

There should be a relationship between resistivity, melting temperature and k. Remember that the electrical
resistivity (Rho (letter)) of a material is given by:
,

where
is the static resistivity (measured in ohm meters, -m);
R is the electrical resistance of a uniform specimen of the material (measured in ohms, );
, is the length of the piece of material (measured in meters, m);

A is the cross-sectional area of the specimen (measured in square meters, m).

APPLICATIONS OF WIRES

Suitable and types of wires for houses

. In general however, there are only a couple varieties used for wiring a
residential home.

Romex Cables

Romex (shown in yellow above) is the trade name for a type of electrical conductor
with non-metallic sheathing that is commonly used as residential branch wiring. In
fact, Romex will be the most common cable you'll use in wiring a house. The
following are a few basic facts about Romex wiring:

Romex is a common type of residential wiring that is categorized by the

National Electrical Code (NEC) as underground feeder (UF) or non-metallic
sheathed cable (NM and NMC).

NM and NMC conductors are composed of two or more insulated

conductors contained in a non-metallic sheath. The coating on NMC cable is
 non-conducting, flame-resistant and moisture-resistant. Unlike other cables
commonly found in homes, they are permitted in damp environments, such
as basements.

Underground feeder conductors appear similar to NM and NMC cables

except that UF cables contain a solid plastic core and cannot be rolled
between fingers.

The following NEC regulations apply to Romex conductors:

They must be protected, secured and clamped to device boxes, junction

boxes and fixtures.

Support devices that may damage the cables, such as bent nails and
overdriven staples, are not permitted.

NM and NMC cables should be secured at intervals that do not exceed 4

feet, and they should be secured within 12 inches of junction boxes and
panels to which they are attached. Cables that do not comply with this rule
can sag and are vulnerable to damage.

They are intended as permanent wiring in homes and should not be used as
a substitute for appliance wiring or extension cords.

Rated
Wire Gauge or Type Common Uses
Amperage
14-2 Romex 15 A Lighting Circuits
12-2 Romex 20 A Lighting and Outlet Circuits, refrigerator
10-2 Romex 30 A Electric water heater, baseboard heaters
10-3 Romex 30 A Electric Clothes Dryer
Range, Heat pump, On-Demand Electric
6/3 Cu Range Cable 50 A
Water heater
2 Gauge Copper 100 A Central Electric Heat
Aluminum 1/0-1/0-1/0-2 Service Feeder
AL 1/0 SER 100 A
wire for 100 A break panel
Aluminum 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 Service feeder
AL 4/0 SER 200 A
wire for 200A breaker panel
Suitable Wires used for outdoor electricity

Southwire Type THHN or THWN-2* conductors are primarily used in conduit

and cable trays for services, feeders, and branch circuits in commercial or
industrial applications as specified in the National Electrical Code2
When used as Type THHN, conductor is suitable for use in dry locations. at
temperatures not to exceed 90C
When used as Type THWN-2*, conductor is suitable for use in wet or dry
locations at temperatures not to exceed 90C or not to exceed 75C when
exposed to oil or coolant
When used as Type MTW, conductor is suitable for use in wet locations or
when exposed to oil or coolant at temperatures not to exceed 60C or dry
locations at temperatures not to exceed 90C (with ampacity limited to that
for 75C conductor temperature per NFPA 79)
Conductor temperatures not to exceed 105C in dry locations when rated
AWM and used as appliance wiring material. Voltage for all applications is
600 volts

MTW or THHN or THWN-2

Conductors shall be UL-listed Type MTW or THHN or THWN-2* gasoline and oil
resistant II, suitable for operations at 600 volts as specified in the National
Electrical Code. Sizes 14 through 1 AWG shall be rated VW-1, larger sizes shall
be listed for CT use. Sizes 2 AWG and larger listed and marked sunlight-resistant
in black only. Conductors shall be annealed copper, insulated with high-heat and
moisture resistant PVC, jacketed with abrasion, moisture, gasoline, and oil
resistant nylon or listed equivalent, as manufactured by Southwire Company or
approved equal.

AWM

Conductors shall be UL-listed Type THHN or THWN-2* or MTW or AWM, suitable

for operation at 600 volts at conductor temperatures not to exceed 105C.
CONCLUSION :
TOP 7 BEST ELCTRICAL WIRE BRANDS

1. POLYCAB

2. FINOLEX

3. HAVELLS

4. KEI INDUSTRIES

5. UNIVERSAL CABLES

6. V-GAURD
7. ANCHOR

BIBILOGRAPHY

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire

https://books.google.co.in/books/about/The_History_of_Electric_Wires_and_Cab
les.html?id=HUCieJjeQ-wC&redir_esc=y

https://www.eolss.net/Sample-Chapters/C05/E6-39A-03-02.pdf

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/reference/chpt-2/wiring-color-codes/

http://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/wire-types-and-sizing.html

https://www.distributorwire.com/blog/thhn-wire/

http://www.southwire.com/products/type-uf-b-direct-burial-water-well.htm

http://www.wirecable.in/2014/10/top-cable-companies-in-india/

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-
HOeJrsGWZKr/learn/learningcenter/car/cable_gauge_chart.html

http://www.iewc.com/resources/technical-guide/selecting-a-conductor

http://www.usawire-cable.com/pdfs/wire%20knowledge.pdf