CONDUCTORS, WIRES

AND INSULATORS
ALIGA, JOHN PAUL S.
BSCE 2-A

Mariano Marcos State University

CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
 Electrical
Conductors are
substances or
materials used to
convey or allow the
flow of electric current.
 Electrical Insulators
are substances or
materials that resist
the flow of electric
current.
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
CIRCUIT  A path for electric current
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS

 Conductive materials that is used in

wires that carries the electricity.
CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS

 Good Conductors are those substances

with extremely low resistance to current
flow.
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
Materials Considered as Good Electric
Conductors are:

 Silver  Brass
 Copper  Iron
 Gold  Lead
 Aluminum  Zinc
 Nickel  Platinum and
 Tin Almost all other Metals
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
 Insulators like plastic and rubber are
used as a covering for electric wires.
 This makes electric wires safer to
handle.
CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS

 Good Insulators are those with extremely

high resistance to current flow.
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
Various Kind of Insulators:

 Rubber  Latex
 Porcelain  Paper
 Varnish  Oil
 Slate  Asbestos
 Glass  Wax AIR

 AIR
Wood  Thermoplastic
 Mica  Air AIR
 CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
Conductor Insulator Insulator

Conductor

 The conductor insulator serves as a physical shield

of the wire against heat, water and other elements of
nature.
 Insulation is rated by voltage from 300 -15,000 volts.
 Ordinary conductor wires for buildings is normally
rated at 300 or 600 volts.
 Electrical Wire Code Label
 T: Thermoplastic insluation
 H: Heat-resistant; able to withstand temperatures up to 75°C
 HH: Highly-Heat-Resistant; able to withstand temperatures up to 90°C
 -2: Suffix indicating resistant to temperatures up to 90°C Same as HH
 W: Water-Resistant, use in damp or wet locations ( also used in dry locations)
 X: Flame-retardant insulation, synthetic polymer
 XLPE: Cross-linked polyethylene insulation,Thermoset insulation
 N: Nylon-coated insulation for resistance to oil and gasoline
 R: Rubber insulation
 Insulated Conductors For
Wiring
Trade Name Type Letter Operating Application Provision
Temperature
Thermoplastic T 60℃ Dry Location

Moisture Resistant TW 60℃ Dry and Wet Location

Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic, High- THHN 90℃ Dry Location
Heat Resistant
Thermoplastic Heat THW 75℃ Dry and Wet Location
and Moisture Resistant
Thermoplastic Heat THWN 75℃
and Moisture Resistant, Dry and Wet Location
Nylon Coated
 Insulated Conductors For Wiring
Trade Name Type Letter Operating Application Provision
Temperature
Moisture and High- XHHW 90℃ Dry Location and Wet Location
Heat Resistant,
Crosslinked
Thermosetting
High-Heat Resistant, XHH 90℃ Dry Location
Crosslinked
Thermosetting

Polyethylene PE 75℃ Wet Location

Silicon Asbestos SA 90℃ Dry Location

 Insulated Conductors For Wiring
Trade Name Type Letter Operating Application Provision
Temperature
Asbestos and AVA 110℃ Dry Location
Varnished Cambric

Rubber insulated, RHH 90℃

High-Heat Resistant Dry and Wet Location

Rubber Insulated, Heat RHW 75℃ Dry and Wet Location

and Moisture Resistant

Rubber Insulated, RHW-2 90℃ Dry and Wet Location

High-Heat and
Moisture Resistant
 Insulated Conductors For Wiring
Trade Name Type Letter Operating Application Provision
Temperature

Underground Feeder UF 60℃ Dry and Wet Location

Service Entrance SE 60℃ Dry and Wet Location

Underground Service USE 75℃ Dry and Wet Location

Entrance

Underground Service USE-2 90℃ Dry and Wet Location

Entrance, High-Heat
 WIRES AND CABLES

WIRES ARE: CABLES ARE:

 A single electrical conductor
 Those electrical conductors 8mm2 and
smaller in sizes.
 An assembly of two or more wires or
electrical conductors running side by
side and bonded, twisted, or braided
together in a single jacket.
 TWO FORMS OF WIRES
SOLID WIRES ARE: STRANDED WIRES ARE:
 Made of one single strand of drawn copper,
Comprised of multiple strands of solid wires
aluminum or other conductive metal into a
drawn into ultra thin and flexible threadlike
long thin, still stiff, but bendable string-like
filaments that can be twisted or braided together
form.
to form a single conductor comparable in size
 Less resistant , hence, used in applications and weight to their solid counterparts.
that call for higher frequencies.
Often coated and are ideal for applications that
require more flexibility.
 WIRES AND CABLES
CORD  Is the term given to an insulated stranded wires.

MIL  It is a Metric System Unit used to measure wire

diameter.
 Is equal to 1/1000 of an inch.

CIRCULAR MIL
 Is a unit of area used especially for the cross
section of wire equal to the area of a circle.
 WIRES AND CABLES
CROSS SECTION OF A CORD

0.002 inch

Diameter of strands = 0.002 inch or 2 mils

19 Stranded Conductor
Circular Mil Area = D2 = 22 = 4 Circular mils
Total CM Area = 4x19 = 76 Circular mils
WIRE SIZES
CONVERSION FACTOR
 The universal acceptance of the Metric System
(SI), has led to the conversion of English
System to Metric measures that brought some
inconveniences to most technical men, lay-men
and manufacturers who were using the
traditional English Measures.
 Wires and cables are now expressed in square
millimeter (mm2).
CONVERSION FACTOR
 CONVERSION FACTOR
Example
1. What is the equivalent size in square millimeter of a cable
250MCM?

SOLUTION:

a. MCM stands for thousand circular mils.

250 MCM = 250,000 circular mils

b. Square millimeter = Circular mil x 0.0005067

= 250,000 x 0.0005067
= 126.67 mm2
 CONVERSION FACTOR
Example
2. What is the equivalent of No.8 conductor wire in square inches?

SOLUTION:

The area of No. 8 conductor wire in circular mil is 16,510 mils.

a. Using the conversion factor:

Square Inch = Square mil x 0.000001

Square mil = Circular mil x 0.7854

b. By Substitution:
Square Inch = 16,510 x 0.7854 x 0.000001
= 0.013 square inch
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Operating Size Usage
Temp. Range

TW oil resistant 1.60mm- Ordinary building wire

thermoplastic 60℃ 500mm2
Solid & Stranded

THW oil, heat and

moisture resistant 1.60mm- Building wire in wet and dry
thermoplastic 75℃ 500mm2 location
Solid & Stranded

TF Thermoplastic 60℃ 0.60mm- Fixture Wire

Fixture 500mm2
Solid & Stranded
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Operating
Temp.
Size Usage
Range
(mm2)

#12-1000 Polyethylene insulated weather

Copper line wire MCM resistant wire
Solid & Stranded

Aluminum line wire 75℃ 12-400 AAC Polyethylene insulated weather

resistant wire

Copper
Bare copper wire 1.60mm- Bare overhead transmission line and
500mm2 for ground wire
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Operating Size Usage
Temp.
Range
(mm2)

High temperature Appliance machine tool, motor lead

Wire 105℃ #18 - #8 switchboard wires

Automotive Wire Primary wire spark plug and battery

105℃ #18 - #8 cable

TV antenna wire No. 24 -No. 300 Ohms TV wire

20
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Op. Size Usage
Temp Range
(oC) (mm2)

Armoured (BX) 60℃ 1.60mm- General Purpose

Cable 30mm2

Power Cable 60℃ #14-#10 For aerial duct and direct burial,
#6- 600 volts
1000MCM

Non-Metallic 1.60mm- For exposed or concealed works in

Sheathed Cable 60℃ 2.60mm2 air voids in masonry blocks or tile
walls not exposed to excessive
moisture or dampness, 600 volts
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Op. Size Usage
Temp Range
(oC) (mm2)

GTO-15 #14 Gas Tube-oil burner ignition cable

Welding Cable 60℃ #6- # 4/0 Arc Welding machine

Control Cable 60℃ #22- # 8 For control circuits, aerial ducts and
multi direct burial.
conductor
TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
Description Op. Size Usage
Temp Range
(oC) (mm2)

Royal Cord 60℃ #22- #4 Portable Cords

2,3 and 4
conductors

Submersible Pump #14- #1 For submersible purpose

Cable 60℃ 2 and 3
conductors,
round
connection
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
ARMORED CABLE (AC)

A fabricated assembly of insulated conductors

enclosed in a flexible metal sheath. Armored cable
is both used on exposed and concealed work.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

METAL CLAD CABLE (MC)

Factory assembled cable of one or
more conductors each individually
insulated and enclosed in a
metallic sheath of interlocking tape
of a smooth or corrugated tube.
This type of cable is specially used
for service feeders, branch circuit,
and for indoor or outdoor work.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

MINERAL INSULATED CABLE (MI)

A factory assembly of one or more
conductors insulated with a highly
compressed refractory mineral
insulation enclosed in a liquid and
gas tight continuous copper
sheath. This type of cable is used
in dry, wet or continuously moist
location as service feeders or
branch circuit.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

SHIELDED NON-METALLIC SHEATHED

CABLE (SNM)
A factory assembly of two or more
insulated conductors in an extruded core
of moisture resistant and flame retardant
material covered within an overlapping
spiral metal tape. This type is used in
hazardous locations and in cable trays or
in raceways.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

UNDERGROUND FEEDER AND BRANCH

CIRCUIT CABLE (UF)
A moisture resistant cable used for
underground connections including direct
burial in the ground as feeder or branch
circuit.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES
UNDERGROUND FEEDER AND BRANCH
CIRCUIT CABLE (UF)
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

SERVICE ENTRANCE CABLE (SE)

Is of the types SE and USE. A single
or multi-conductor assembly
provided with or without an over all
covering primarily used for service
wire.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

POWER AND CONTROL TRAY CABLE (TC)

A factory assembly of two or more

insulated conductors with or without
associated bare or covered grounding
under a metallic sheath. This is used for
installation in cable trays, raceways, or
where it is supported by messenger
wires.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

FLAT CABLE ASSEMBLIES (FC)

An assembly of parallel conductors

formed integrally with an insulating
material web designed for field
installation in metal surface or raceways.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

FLAT CONDUCTOR CABLE (FCC)

Consists of three or more flat copper
conductor placed edge to edge separated
and enclosed within a n insulating
assembly. This type of cable is used for
general purposes such as: appliance
branch circuits, and for individual branch
circuits, especially in hard smooth
continuous floor surfaces and the like.
 TYPES OF WIRES OF WIRES AND
CABLES

MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABLE (MV)

A single or multi-conductor solid dielectric
insulated cable rated at 2,000 volts or
higher. This type is used for power
system up to 35,000 volts.
 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

AMPACITY
 Defined as the ability of the Wire or conductor to carry current without
overheating. Conductor resistance to current flow, generate not only heat,
but also contribute to the voltage drop expressed in the following equation:
Voltage drop in wire = Circuit Current x Resistance of Wire
Power Loss in Wire = Circuit Current x Voltage Drop

Power Loss
 Is equal to the components resistance times the current squared.
P = I x (IR)
P = I2R
 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Wire Sizes and their Ampacity

 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Wire Sizes and their Ampacity

 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Wire Sizes and their Ampacity

 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Wire Sizes and their Ampacity

 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Conductor Ampacity
 Is determined by the maximum operating temperature that its insulation can
withstand continuously without heating. Current Flow and Conductor’s
resistance normally generates heats. Thus, the operating temperature
depends upon the amount of current flow, wire resistance and environment.

 The ampacity or the ability of the conductor to carry load, increases as the
sizes of conductors increases.

 If more than 3 conductors are inserted in a conduit, the temperature also

increases and it requires derating of the conductors ampacity.
 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS

Derating of Conductor’s Ampacity

 It means that the full amount of allowable ampacity,
is reduced to a certain percentage due to the
environmental condition it is exposed of and the
number of wires placed inside the conduit.
AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS
 AMPACITY OF ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTORS
If the ambient temperature is above 30℃, the
allowable ampacity will be reduced by the factors
given:
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GOD BLESS!
MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY