Differences and Applications of Armoured Electrical Wires and Shielded Cables

In the fields of modern power systems and automation control, armoured electrical wires and shielded cables each have their own roles and are widely used in various engineering and industrial applications. This article will delve into the differences between these two types of cables and their unique advantages.

Armoured Electrical Wires

As the name suggests, the characteristic of an armoured electrical wire is that it has one or more layers of metal materials added on top of the regular cable sheath, often made of flexible steel tape or steel wire. Based on the differences in armor materials, armoured electrical wires can be divided into types such as steel tape armor, fine steel wire armor, coarse steel wire armor, and non-magnetic stainless steel tape armor. This structure provides armoured electrical wires with excellent tensile strength and resistance to external mechanical damage, making them more reliable in harsh environments like direct burial or high mechanical stress environments.

For example, cable series such as YJV22 and KVV22 combine armor with insulation layers and are particularly common in power transmission and distribution systems.

Shielded Cable

Shielded cables are designed to reduce or eliminate interference from external electromagnetic fields on the cable transmission signal, ensuring signal integrity and reliability. Shielded cables usually have a layer of conductive material, such as copper tape or braided copper wire, wrapped around the insulation layer, forming a shielding layer and denoted by the letter "P" to indicate its shielding properties.

Common types of shielded cables include RVVP, RVVP2, RVVP3, and RVVP2-22. These cables not only have the capability to shield against interference, but some models also include armor for double protection.

Differences Between Armoured Electrical Wires and Shielded Cables

Different Functions

Armoured Electrical Wires: Primarily provides mechanical protection, ensuring the cable is not damaged by external forces during installation.

Shielded Cable: Focuses on electromagnetic interference resistance, protecting the purity of signal transmission.

Different Categories

Armoured Electrical Wires: Commonly used for power cables, especially suitable for direct burial and environments with mechanical stress.

Shielded Cable: Falls under control cables, emphasizing signal interference resistance.

Different Bending Radius

Armoured Electrical Wires: Generally has a relatively larger bending radius, while non-armored flexible cables or braided shielded cables require a smaller bending radius.

Different Applications

Armoured Electrical Wires: Suitable for environments heavily affected by mechanical forces and corrosive gases, such as rocky and mountainous areas.

Shielded Cable: Mainly used in control and low-voltage systems to resist external electromagnetic interference.

Different Grounding Methods

Shielded Cable: Requires that its grounding core must be well-grounded to ensure the shielding effect.

In summary, armoured electrical wires and shielded cables each play distinct roles in power systems and automation control systems, providing physical protection and signal interference protection, respectively. Understanding their features and applicable scenarios is critical for ensuring stable system operation.