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Why are electrical cables and wires always covered with rubber or plastic?
Wiki User
β 6y ago
Answer
The rubber or plastic serves as electrical insulation (because they are poor conductors). Without insulation, the electricity running in a bare cable would leap over into any other electrically conducting material it touched. With enough voltage, a human could be electrocuted.
Electrical signals would disappear and get lost, causing equipment to fail.
Answer
So the conductor is insulated against possible metal contact & prevent a short if it's grounded.
Answer
All household electric wires are covered with plastic and rubber. This is called insulation. It keeps the potential of the wire from returning to ground (short circuit) before being used by the load. The higher the potential (voltage) the greater the insulation factor has to be. Bare wires in transmission towers also use insulation in the form of air. To use this method, engineered clearances have to be maintained between the conductors.
Answer
All electrical power wires are covered with an insulating material. This is to prevent the potential on the wire from going anywhere except to the load.
Electrical connecting wires are covered with plastic to prevent the wire under the covering from shorting out against each other or shorting out to ground. The electrical terminology for this covering is the wire's "insulation".
These days most electrical wires are covered with a flexible plastic (rubber starts with the sap from a rubber tree; plastic usually starts with a petroleum base).
Answer
The main purpose of the "cover" (insulation) is to keep the wire from shorting to other objects.
The plastics used generally have a good mix of the following properties:
It is flexible so the wire can be flexed and bent.
It is inexpensive and easy to apply to the wire during manufacturing.
It has resistance to chemicals and UV light.
Sometimes it's also important for it to resist abrasion or temperature extremes, or submersion in water.
You can get wire with different types of insulation depending on what you need it to withstand.
Wiki User
β 6y ago
Michelle SabΔ«ne
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Which plastic is used for making wire insulation?
Electrical insulation on a wire or cable composed of plastic. Most wires and cables use plastic insulation. Some other types of insulation used on wires and cables are: enamel, cloth, natural rubber, gutta percha, ceramic, etc.
What are the names for high voltage power cables?
Electrical conductors
What is the meaning of ingress in electrical?
You are probably referring to moisture ingress. Moisture ingress into underground electrical cables, particularly high-voltage cables, can act to break down the insulating properties of that cable, and lead to a short circuit. Accordingly, underground cables incorporate a sheath (lead in older cables), which is impervious to moisture ingress, which surrounds the cable cores, and is located beneath the outer armouring. But moisture ingress can occur with all types of electrical equipment, and the manufacturers take steps to prevent this from happening.
What is the definition of a steel wired armoured cable in electrical engineering?
Underground cables are 'armoured' in order to protect them against mechanical damage. This armour takes either of two forms: (1) steel tape, or (2) wire. Wire armour tends to be used on cables with a larger diameter, as it makes them more flexible compared to cables with tape armour. In both cases, the armour is spiral-wound towards the outer part of the cable along its length and is, itself, protected with a hessian or plastic outer layer.
What is a cable tray?
A cable tray is a rigid structure to support electric cables.
What are wire cables?
they are a pieces of metal covered in plastic coating (for insulation) that deliver electricity to an electrical object e.g. TV act as a connection to the earth system of the appliance/house. They are also cables which are armoured for TV aerials etc
How do you remove electrical cables without damaging existing cables?
How do you remove electrical cables without damaging existing cables?"
What are speaker cables made of?
Speaker cables are made of two electrical conductors usually made from copper. They are encased in a material like plastic or PVC usually to prevent damage.
What is the difference in armoured and unarmoured cables?
Cables are two or more wires running side by side and bonded and there is armored and unarmored cable. Armored cables are protected by flexible steel covering while the unarmored cable is only covered by plastic.
Why. Are metals used for making electrical cables?
aluminium is used for making electrical cables as the metal do not melt easily
Why are electrical cables set to sag?
because of heat cables expand
What is a Continuity test on Electrical Cables?
Continuity of electrical cables must, because it is the process of inspection to found any discontinuity in the cable
Give you theory about electrical transmission without cables?
we can use the electromagnetic waves to transmit the electrical powers without the cables. But it is very difficult.
WHAT DOES A CONDUCTOR AND A INSULATOR MEAN?
An insulator is a material that prevents the passage of electricity. An example is the plastic insulating cover on electrical wires, A conductor is a material that allows electricity to flow. An example is the copper wire used inside electrical cables.
How is electrical energy fed into the house?
By cables.
What is electrical raceways?
an exposed conduit used for carrying electrical wires/cables
Why electrical cables are available in different diameter sizes?
The different electrical cable diameters are corresponding to the different electric currents that could be tolerated by the cables.
