What Are The Types Of Underground Cables?

There are two primary types of underground cables: high voltage and low voltage cables. Logically, each kind is suitable for particular applications. Logically,low voltage cablesare ideal for applications that require minimal amperage. The most common low-voltage underground wires include;

A.STA Cable

STA is an acronym that stands for Steel Tape Armoured cable. In essence, this cable is a low-voltage underground armoured cable that is usually suitable for applications below 35KV. The cable’s uniqueness rests in the metal armour layer in its cable sheath. Generally speaking, the metal layer shields the wire from damage through external squeezing. As a result, the STA cable is suitable for a wide range of industrial applications concerning power distribution and signal control.

B. SWA Cable

The SWA cable is a typical underground armoured cable suitable for auxiliary and mains supply applications. SWA is an abbreviation that stands for Steel Wire Armoured. It is specifically unique because of its steel wire armouring, enabling it to withstand various adverse conditions. Essentially speaking, this type of cable is heavily resistant to pinching or mechanical damage. Still, it is essential to note that it is tremendously heavy and cannot bend easily.

Generally, this type of low-voltage underground cable comes in handy when dealing with earthing or grounding applications. Its typical construction can be broken down into five key components: the conductor, insulation, bedding, armouring, and sheath. It is also essential to keep in mind that this type of cable is manufactured only in multi-core form. What exactly do I mean by multi-core? Typically, a multi-core cable is any cable that consists of two or more conductors. Here is a list of various SWA underground armoured cable specifications and their intended use;

• 2-core- It consists of live and neutral conductors and is suitable for Class II appliances
• 3-core- It comprises live, neutral, and earth conductors and is ideal for class I applications
• 4-core- Consists of four colour-coded copper conductors and is perfect for signal applications
• 3+1 core- This type of cable is often viewed and used as a 3 phase underground cable with one zero-line for electricity supply.