A Basic Lesson on Wire – Wiring Basics Made Easy
Author: rosscarter586 | Posted: 09.04.2012Electricity is an important part of our day to day lives. An often understated part of our electronic devices is the cables and wires that are used to run electricity to outlets, appliances, fixtures, and even through the electronic device in question.Copper wire, magnet wire, aluminum wire… these are just a few of the hundreds of different types that find unique uses with electricity.
If you’re looking to start running your own wires through a device or for home improvement purposes, there’s a lot of different things to consider, especially when you’re trying to decide what wire to buy or even to just start learning more about wiring in general. So to help you understand some of the basics of wires, here’s a helpful guide.
With wire there are three main factors to consider.
* Label Information
* Color
* Applications
Label Information
Whatever the wire is, whither aluminum wire or magnet wire, it will have the label information needed to properly select it for your use. This information includes:
* Material – This lets you know what the wire is made out of. Most will be marked with a “CU” as one of the most common conductors is copper. Wire that is older could possibly be aluminum wire or even copper coated. Given the many different types and materials, you’ll want to pick what works best for your project.
* THHN, THWN and Other Designations – These abbreviations will tell you what the wire is meant for. For instance, THHN means a wire has thermoplastic insulation, high heat resistance, is meant for dry locations only and has a nylon jacket. This particular designation is used for many residential house wiring needs. You’ll want to know what designation is needed for your job to know you’re picking the proper wire. If you’re not sure, look up the wire designation for your intended application.
* Maximum Voltage Rating – Tells what the maximum voltage the wire can safely carry.
* Gauge – Used to indicate wire thickness. Larger numbers indicate smaller wires and vice versa.
Color
Color is useful for communicating what each wire is being used for. This is invaluable for electricians and any wiring you do should follow the set color code standards.
* Any color insulated wire that is not white or green is considered hot. Black, blue and red are the most common colors for hot wires in residential wiring.
* White insulation means that the wire is neutral.
* Green insulation and any bare copper wire are always ground wires.
Applications
You’ll want to consider what the wire is being used for and what sort of hazards that may imply. You will then want to select an appropriate wire and/or an additional item to assist. There are many different hazards depending on what you’re working with, but here are a few examples:
* If your wires may be in danger of short-circuiting other items, you will want to make sure they are insulated to prevent this.
* If the wire will need to be flexible and endure a lot of movement, be very careful about what wire you pick and consider getting a wire jacket or other device to wrap wires together safely.
* When you are running wires throughout your home or outside, you want to make sure they are in conduit. These hard metal tubes protect the wire and give them a safe environment.
With this in mind, you have a solid basis for learning more about wiring. Just remember to always be well informed about your wiring application and work safely! Electricity is a deadly force when not handled properly, so make sure that you are passing all of the proper safety codes, inspections and needs for safe wiring.
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Welcome to Arcor Electronics, We are the fastest growing makers of copper wire and aluminum wire in US. We produce superior quality wires at very reasonable prices. We have over 500 varieties of magnet wire. Please contact us for information and let us know about your specific wire needs.
Welcome to Arcor Electronics, We are the fastest growing makers of copper wire and aluminum wire in US. We produce superior quality wires at very reasonable prices. We have over 500 varieties of magnet wire. Please contact us for information and let us know about your specific wire needs.
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