Home renovations require extensive wiring, but the sheer variety of options often makes it difficult to choose the right one. With the desire for high-quality wire, most families are no longer satisfied with standard insulated wire. Instead, they opt for wire with enhanced performance. Flame-retardant wire is a popular choice for many. So why are more and more families opting for flame-retardant wire? Let's take a look at the differences between flame-retardant and standard insulated wire.
Differences Between Standard and Flame-retardant Wire
1. Price: Flame-retardant wire is more expensive, while standard wire is more affordable.
2. Materials: Flame-retardant wire uses highly flame-retardant materials, while standard wire uses less flame-retardant materials.
3. Applications:
Flame-retardant wire: Suitable for plastic-insulated power cables rated up to 110kV AC, plastic-insulated control cables rated up to 450/750V, and electrical equipment rated up to 450/750V. It is primarily used in power transmission and distribution, control, alarm, and fire protection systems.
Insulated wire: Used for internal wiring in instruments and equipment.
4. Different Characteristics
Flame-retardant Wire:
① Rated voltages are available in A06/1kV, 8.7/10kV, B450/750V, C300/500V, and D300/300V.
② Conductor operating temperatures vary depending on the product type: 70°C, 90°C, and 105°C.
③ The maximum allowable sliding contact temperature for a short period (5 seconds) shall not exceed 160°C and 250°C. (In the case of LA), the ambient temperature shall not be lower than 0°C. The minimum bending radius of the cable shall be 6, 10, and 15 times the cable's outer diameter, respectively.
Insulated Wire: The outer surface of the wire is uniformly and tightly wrapped with a non-conductive material, such as resin, plastic, silicone rubber, or PVC, to form an insulating layer.
Performance and Use of Flame-Retardant Wire
Under conditions of a flame temperature of 750-800°C, the cable must operate normally for at least 90 minutes. Under normal operating conditions, the cable's environmental bearing capacity shall not be less than that of the corresponding cable specification. The mechanical properties of the cable and other electrical properties are superior to those of ordinary cables. This corporate standard is equivalent to GB18380-2001.
Electrical wire is used in any application, especially in high-temperature, flammable, and fire-resistant applications, such as power transmission and distribution, control, alarm, and fire protection systems.
The above describes the differences between ordinary insulated wire and flame-retardant wire, as well as its performance. It's clear that flame-retardant wire does have its advantages. Because flame-retardant wire is more expensive, if your home renovation budget allows, it's a better choice, as it effectively improves electrical safety. However, ordinary insulated wire is not completely useless; of course, the choice depends on your home's specific circumstances.
