Wire vs Cable

[ThePooch]

Is there an absolute definition of the difference between insulated wire (any type) vs cable? I had previously believed that cable was multiple conductors in a single casing, but have found that frequently single conductor insulated "wire" is referred to as cable.

 

[jag27]

CABLE:A bound or sheathed group of mutually insulated conductors

WIRE: A usually pliable metallic strand or rod made in many lengths and diameters, sometimes clad and often electrically insulated, used chiefly for structural support or to conduct electricity.

 

[busbar]

Electrical "cable" may be single-conductor or multi-conductor.

Colloquially, it may be bare or insulated, solid or stranded. 10AWG seems like "wire", where 4/0AWG is more of a "cable."

[The IEEE dictionary has much more detail; not transcribed here.]

 

[ThePooch]

Busbar, that appears to be what the layman thinks, but I need something that stands up court!
jag27, your info looks like it came right from a dictionary, and is what I expected. Can you tell me your source.
The particular document that has me investigating this issue, has different rules for wire and for cable. Unfortunately, no explanation for the difference.

 

[pablo02]

I tend to think that the terms wire and cable interchange much like ship and boat -- and the distinction becomes personal (a submarine is a boat, but on top, a boat is a puddle jumper while the ship is "bigger&quot

if you really want it to stand up in court, you'll need to reference an established (published) document that defines each -- unless you have a vendor's reference, an IEEE document, or other similar item that gives a definition, I suggest your best bet is going to be Webster...

good luck..

 

[busbar]

“…something that stands up court!” Pooch, are you an attorney or expert witness? Why are you wasting time asking on an informal trade message board?

 

[pablo02]

One reference could be the "American Electricians Handbook", published by McGraw-Hill: found in section 2.2 Electric wire and cable terminology

This should give you the difinitive definitions you need (plus terms such as stranded conductor, strand, stranded wire, and cord)-- but since you need this to stand up in court, you will need to check this out at the Library or purchase the book rather than me type in many paragraphs of definitions...

 

[ThePooch]

Pablo02 & Busbar, I am not quite that serious! The fact is that a new SAE document, that directly affects our manufacturing, references wire and cable in the same paragraph, with different provisions for each. Amazingly, the guy fielding the whole thing doesn't know the difference! I guess someone copied the text from some other
source. I would like to understand what I'm doing before I present conformance recommendations. Or, worse yet have to field retrofit due to a small technicality. What sucks is that for the most part we don't need to be a part of IEEE, so I can't get the resources easily.
Pooch

 

[electricpete]

EPRI 5036V4 has definitions of these two terms.
Cable - One or more insulated conductors with or without an outer jacket, armor, or shield.
Wire - A term that can apply to either a single insulated or bare conductor,usually in the smaller sizes. "Wire" is often used interchangeably with "conductor".

multiple conductors - must be cable, not wire.
single conductor - could be either one.

insulated - could be either one.
uninsulated - must be wire.

outer jacket, armour, or shield - must be cable.
no outer jacket, armour or shield over insulation - could be either one.

 

[pablo02]

send me your email address and I'll send you the definitions... paulz@icminc.com

 

[pablo02]

pooch -- (I thought I posted this) send me your email address and I'll send you the definitions I have... paulz@icminc.com

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Reference:
1. IEEE Std 100 "Dictionary"
There are several definitions of "cable", e.g. (4) Transmission and Distribution:
A cable is a conductor with insulation, or a stranded conductor with or without insulation and other covering (single-conductor cable) or a combination of conductors insulated from one another (multiple-conductor cable).

 

[ThePooch]

Thanks, to all of you!
I think I have a clue as to what new spec is trying to say.
Pooch

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: If it is evident that there is a single conductor, or that there are single conductors, it is better to refer to them as to conductors or wires. If it is not clear whether or not there is a single conductor in something what resembles a cable, it is better to refer to it as to the cable.