SWA Armoured Cable - everything

you need to know

Commonly known as SWA cable, the steel wire armoured cable is
a power and auxiliary control cable, designed for use in mains
supply electricity.

What is an SWA Armoured Cable?

Commonly known as SWA cable, the steel wire armoured cable is a power and auxiliary
control cable, designed for use in mains supply electricity. Used for underground
systems, cable networks, power networks, outdoor and indoor applications, and cable
ducting. The SWA cable can also be referred to mains cable, power cable, armoured
cable and booklet-armoured cable. With copper wiring creating the perfect conductors
for the core with a range of types such as 2 core, 3 core and 5 core SWA Cables to
name a few.

What does the BS546/ BS6724 stand for?

You will frequently see the term BS5467 or BS6724 when referring to an SWA cable.
These phrases mean that the SWA cable meets the British Standards requirements, for
both construction and testing.

Construction of an SWA Armoured Cable

The typical construction of SWA PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) cable is as follows:

Conductor: Class 2 stranded plain copper conductor to BS EN 60228:2005

Insulation: XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)

 Bedding: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Armouring: SWA (Steel Wire Armour)

Sheath: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Sheath Colour: Black (Carbon loaded for UV stability)

Voltage Rating: 600/100V

SWA Cable Diagram

The SWA Cable is designed to have mechanical protection, which is why the cable is
often used for external use. The armour is used to reduce any risk of the cable getting
pinched or damaged; the steel is used to protect the armoured cable. SWA cables are
heavy, which makes them extremely difficult to bend; therefore they are most suited to
underground cabling or fixed to outdoor walls using cable cleats.
SWA Cable Multi Core (Steel Wired Armoured
Cables)
A multi core swa cable, is a cable with a number of cores, steel wire armour is only used
on multi core cables. Edwardes supply a number of different cores for the SWA cable:

2 Core SWA Armoured Cable

A two core steel wire armoured cable or SWA Cable is live and neutral; and used
Double Insulated appliances which do not need earth connection.

3 Core SWA Armoured Cable

Three core SWA Cables are live, neutral and earth, unlike two core which is only live
and neutral. Three core cable is used where Insulation must have earth connections.

4 Core SWA Armoured Cable

Four core cables are perfect for low voltage or low current signal applications. Made of
4 copper individual colour coordinated cables hence the name four core cable.

5 Core SWA Armoured Cable

The five core SWA Cable is most commonly used in low-voltage transmissions and
uses a three-phase line with one zero line for the power supply.

7 Core SWA Armoured Cable

The seven core cable prime purpose is for low-voltage connections with a max of
normal 50Vdc. Each core is made from copper conductors within the steel armouring.
 SWA TERMINATION
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1.Nut
2.Earth Tag
3.Nozzle
4.Collar
5.Collar nut
6.Nut with rubber seal
7.Cover

What is XLPE SWA cable?

Applications: Power cable suitable for power networks, direct burial, outdoors, indoors

and in cable ducts. Conductors: Plain annealed stranded copper.
Insulation: XLPE (Cross linked polyethylene) Bedding: PVC (Polyvinyl-Chloride)
Armour/Protection: SWA (Galvanised single wire armour.

XLPE insulation performs at both high and low temperatures. Due to its

structure, XLPE is extremely resistant to abrasion and other wear and tear. It also
boasts resistance to high voltage electricity, chemicals and other hazardous materials.
Cross linked polyethylene insulation is also a more affordable option.

WHAT IS AN SWA CABLE?

SWA is a power and auxiliary control

cable, designed for use in mains supply electricity. It is one of the
various protected electrical links – including 11 kV Cable and 33 kV Cable –
and is found in underground systems and frameworks, cable networks, control
systems, power networks, outdoor and indoor applications, and cable ducting.

Steel Wire Armoured Cable is designed to have mechanical protection, which is

why the cable is often used for external use. The armour is used to reduce any
risk of the cable getting pinched or damaged; the steel is used to protect the
armoured cable. SWA cables are heavy, which makes them extremely difficult to
bend; therefore they are most suited to underground cabling or fixed to outdoor
walls using cable cleats.

Other widely used terms for it are: Mains Cable, Armoured Cable, Booklet

Armoured Cable and Power Cable..
 

CONSTRUCTION OF SWA CABLES

The typical construction of a Steel Wire Armoured Cable can be broken down as
follows:

1. Conductor: Class 2 Plain Stranded Copper (Cu) Conductor, complying

with BS EN 60228:2005.
2. Insulation: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) is used as insulation in
many power cables, due to its excellent electrical properties and water
resistance. It also ensures that conductors and other metal substances do
not come into contact with each other.
3. Bedding: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is used as bedding to provide a
protective boundary between inner and outer layers of the cable.
4. Armouring: Steel Wire Armour (SWA) used for mechanical protection.
That way the cable can withstand higher stresses, be buried directly and
used in external or underground projects. The armouring is usually
connected to earth and can be used as the CPC (as described above).
5. Sheath: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Sheath holds all the components
together and provides additional protection from external damage.

Sheath Colour: Black (Carbon loaded for UV stability)

Voltage Rating: 600/100V

WHAT DO BS5467 AND BS6724 STAND

FOR?
The terms BS5467 or BS6724 are very often used when referring to Steel Wire
Armoured Cable. These phrases mean that the SWA cable meets the
corresponding British Standard requirements, for both construction and testing.