To protect the cable's structural integrity and electrical performance and extend its service life, adding armor to the cable's outer sheath is essential. There are two common types of cable armor: steel tape armor and steel wire armor. To ensure the cable can withstand radial pressure, a double steel tape, intermittent wrapping process is used. This is known as armored cable. So, what is armored cable and what does it do? Let's take a look!
What is armored cable?
Armored cable refers to a cable with a metallic armored protective layer. There are two common types of armor: steel tape armor and steel wire armor.
To ensure the cable can withstand radial pressure, a double steel tape, intermittent wrapping process is used. This is known as steel tape armored cable.
After cable assembly, the steel tape is wrapped around the cable core, and then a plastic sheath is extruded. Cable models of this type include control cable KVV22, plastic power cable VV22, and communication cable SYV22. The first two Arabic numerals in the subscript of this cable model indicate double steel tape armor. The second digit, "2," indicates a PVC sheath. If a polyethylene sheath is used, simply replace "2" with "3." This type of cable is generally used in applications with relatively high load bearing pressures. For example, crossing highways, public squares, and along roads and railways subject to high vibration. It is suitable for underground, tunnel, and conduit installation.
To enable the cable to withstand high axial tension, multiple low-carbon steel wires are wrapped around the core, resulting in a steel-wire armored cable.
After cable formation, the steel wires are wrapped around the core at a specified pitch and then the sheath is extruded. This type of cable is indicated in model numbers such as control cable KVV32, plastic cable VV32, and coaxial cable HOL33. The two Arabic numerals in the model number: the first digit, "3," indicates fine steel wire armor. The second digit, "2," indicates a PVC sheath, and the second digit, "3," indicates a polyethylene sheath. This type of cable is generally used in applications with large spans and significant installation height differences.
What is the function of armored cable?
In addition to enhancing mechanical protection such as tensile and compressive strength to extend service life, armored cables also provide shielding to improve interference resistance.
Common armor materials include steel tape, steel wire, aluminum tape, and aluminum tube. Steel tape and steel wire armor layers have high magnetic permeability and provide excellent magnetic shielding, which can be used to mitigate low-frequency interference. They also enable direct burial of armored cables without conduit installation, are cost-effective, and are widely used.
Armored cable mechanical protection can be added to any cable structure to increase mechanical strength and improve corrosion resistance. It is a specialized cable designed for areas susceptible to mechanical damage and erosion. It can be laid using any method and is particularly suitable for direct burial in rocky areas. In simple terms, armored cable is buried electrical wire and cable. The purpose of adding armor to power transmission cables is not only to enhance mechanical protection through tensile and compressive strength to extend service life, but also to provide resistance to external forces and prevent rodents from gnawing on the cable, preventing it from penetrating the armor and causing power transmission problems. The armor should have a large bending radius and provide grounding protection for the cable.
Through the above introduction, we have learned about armored cable. Armored cable's mechanical protective layer can be added to any cable structure to increase mechanical strength and improve corrosion resistance. It is a specialized cable designed for areas susceptible to mechanical damage and corrosion. It can be laid in any manner and is particularly suitable for direct burial in rocky areas.
