Applications

The UL1007 hook up wire is most commonly used in the internal wiring of house hold appliances as well as home electronic devices. It can also be used for electronic lead wire, and more. These wires can be bought in sizes 10 awg to 28 awg. These are the most basic forms of hook up wire available. Hook up wires such as the UL1007 can also be used in wire harness assemblies.

Characteristics

This UL wire is approved to be able to handle 300 volts of electricity. The wire is made with a PVC insulation. UL1007 is a single conductor lead wire. These wires can handle temperatures reaching as high as 105°C or as low as -40°C. UL1007 and UL1569 wires are made with a stranded tinned copper conductor. These UL hook up wires come a variety of 10 different colors for customers to choose from. Customers also have the option of buying this king of hook up wire with a solid copper conductor.

UL1007/UL1569 Ratings

Both the UL1007 and the UL1569 wires are rated to be able to handle the same 300 volts of electricity. Considering the wires are dual rated there is nothing different about the wires. The ratings however do have one slight difference. That difference is their temperature rating; the UL1007 rated wires are typically able to handle temperatures only as high as 80°C. Then the UL1569 wires can handle temperatures reaching as high as 105°C. When the wire is dual rated with both UL1007 and UL1569 however it takes on the higher temperature rating.

Wires that have the UL rating have been tested and proven to work at their maximum voltage and temperature rating by a third party. This gives the customer a more secure feeling when buying a product. This is also the reason that the UL numbers have become so popular in the hook up wire industry.

Written by: WesBell Electronics, Inc.

Bare Copper

Bare copper can come in many forms. There is solid bare copper, as well as stranded bare copper. The stranded copper is usually much easier to bend than the solid copper. This bare copper is most commonly used as ground wire. It can also be found as a ground wire in other cables such as Romex, UFB, and MC cables.

Tinned Copper

Tinned copper can be used in settings where the wire is going to be constantly exposed to moisture. The tin on the copper strands are meant to help hold the strands together and prevent them from fraying. The tin also helps the copper to be non-corrosive which is why the wire can handle moisture so well.

Purchasing

Before purchasing bare or tinned copper, you want to look at where you intend to use the wire first. Then consider which wire would best suit your needs. When looking to purchase the wire, look at how much you need as well. Some vendors will let you buy the wire at custom lengths while others will not. Usually you can buy this kind of wire by the meter or by the spool. Prices also vary depending on who your vendor is so you might want to check out multiple vendors and compare prices before making a purchase. And finally check to make sure that your vendor is credible. You want to make sure that the wire you’re about to purchase is going to meet the standards set by the NEC.

Just to reiterate these wires should be used for ground wire and above head wiring only. It is not safe to have an electric current running through these wires in a place where people can accidentally or easily touch the wires. Also make sure before purchasing the wire that you check out all of your vendor options before making a decision.

Written by: WesBell Electronics

THHN

THHN wire is the most common kind of electrical wire used today. Now a days you can find that most THHN wire is dual rated and can also be called THWN. This kind of dual rated wire is known more commonly as the universal building wire. THHN stands for thermoplastic insulation, heat resistant, high heat resistant, and nylon coating. The temperature rating on the THHN wire is up to 75°C for heat resistance and 90°C for high heat resistance. These wires are also approved to handle up to 600 volts of electricity.

THWN

There is only one difference between the THHN wire and the THWN wire. That difference is that the THWN wire is water, gas and oil resistance. This wire still has the same insulation, nylon coating, and the same heat resistance. The THWN wire is temperature rated to be able to handle heat as high as 75°C. But again most of the THHN and THWN wires are made to be dual rated and are considered to be universal building wire.

TFFN

The TFFN wire is a little bit different than both the THHN and the THWN wires. This wire does however still have the same thermoplastic insulation and the same nylon coating. The only differences are that the TFFN wire is flexible and fixture. This kind of wire does not have the same heat resistance as the THHN and THWN; it also is not a good wire to use in wet conditions.  The TFFN wire also only comes in sizes 16 AWG and 18 AWG. Anything bigger in size than the 18 gauge wire will become a THHN or THWN dual rated wire.

A very common question a lot of wire and cable distributors get it whether or not this kind of wire can be used for electric dog fencing. It cannot. It is not approved for underground use even in conduit. Typically most of the applications for this wire are running power from the electrical box up to a light switch or outlets throughout the home. All these variations of wire are UL approved, RoHS and REACH compliant.

Written by: WesBell Electronics Inc.

NMB Cable

This is a generic brand of cable that can be made by a number of different manufacturers. This kind of cable is used all throughout homes and buildings. It brings power to outlets, lights, and even appliances from the electrical box the house or building has. The wire is made with a PVC jacket and typically these cables are only used indoors or outside when they are used in conduit. This cable should not be used for jobs where the cable needs to be directly buried in the ground.

Romex Cable

Romex is a Southwire brand. The Southwire Company is well known and it has been a recognized brand for years. The cables use SIMpull technology making them easier to install than normal cables. The Romex NMB cable is tear resistant and has reduced burn-thru. These qualities help to make the cable last longer. Each different gauge size usually has a different colored jacket associated with it as well. This helps to be able to easily identify what size the cable is when a customer needs it to be replaced. These cables are approved to be handle temperatures reaching as high as 90°C. Customers also have the option of having the cables come with a different number of conductors. The number of conductors depends greatly on the gauge of the cable.

Both Cables

The cables generally are fairly similar because they both need to adhere to the same NEC code. But keep in mind that the cables can be enhanced. So each brand name cable you buy can have other different characteristics on top of the basic ones. Brands that cost more sometimes can last longer than the other cheaper brand options.

There aren’t many differences between the generic NMB cable and the Romex cable. However, the Romex cable does have added features and attributes that the generic cable does not have. The Romex cable by Southwire is made to be better than the average cable. No matter which cable you pick either one will be able to get the job done.

Written by: WesBell Wire and Cable

Olflex® Servo Control Cable

Servo control cables help to control every part of a machine independently. These cables are continuous flex cables; this means that even as the machines parts are moving the cable will continue to work. They will even be able to move with the machine. Servo control cables come in both a continuous and a standard flex option. The standard flex option cables are generally used in stationary applications. They can be used as supply and feedback cables. They also have an exceptional braid shielding in the CY version of the Servo cable to help with both EMI and RFI interference. The shielded versions of these cables have copper braids around them to help give added protection. Servo cables are also composed of smaller cables that have 2 different gauge sizes.

VFD Robotic Cable

The VFD cables have been reinforced with added security. This is because the cables are exposed to an enormous amount of pressure regularly. With the flexion and torsion the wires need to be strong and durable to be able to endure this kind of environment. The communication features of the VFD cable will still perform at its highest ability and you won’t have to worry with all the side effects of exposure to elements. It’s important to keep in mind that because these cables are expensive that you should make sure to keep repairs up to date. You don’t want to put off fixing something wrong with the wire. Depending on your machines specific needs there are two options for wiring, they can be run either internally or externally.  Most VFD cables that are made by Olflex® usually come in sizes ranging from a size 18 AWG to a size 2 AWG.

Robotics cables are expensive. They aren’t exactly easy to replace either. Plus the cables have a very important job to do. They have to make sure the entire machine or robot is running perfectly and that every piece or element of the robot is talking to each other. Keeping your robotics cables in great shape is necessary because it can help to prevent costly repairs later on down the road.

Written by: WesBell Electronics, Inc.

14 AWG

The THHN electrical wire is also known as the three circuit sizes of electrical wire. They are rated to be able to handle 15 AMPS. These wires are made either with a stranded or a solid copper conductor. The THHN wires also can be made with the CSA approval upon a customer’s request.

12 AWG

All three are very similar besides the AMP levels. The copper gets slightly thicker for each wire so it can handle more each time. So for instance the 12 AWG size THHN wire is able to handle 20 AMPS instead of the 15 AMPS the 14 AWG size wire can handle because the copper in the wire is slightly thicker.

10 AWG

Spools come in a standard 100’, 500’, or 1000’. But most whole sellers or manufacturers will cut the wire to length for you. Regularly there are 10 color options available for customers to be able to choose from. This kind of wire is the most commonly used type of single conductor wire used in the industry. It is considered to be a universal building wire now.

Each letter of the THHN wire stands for a specific feature of the wire. T is for the thermoplastic insulation. H is for heat resistant and high heat resistant. And the N stands for the nylon coating around the wire. No matter what size THHN wire you buy they all come in the same insulation as well as jacket. The insulation is made out of PVC, which is common for electrical wire. They also have a nylon jacket wrapped around them for added protection. These wires also are resistant to gasoline as well as oil. The wires can be used both indoors and outdoors and also in conduit. However they cannot be used for direct burial applications.

Written by: WesBell Wire and Cable

XTRA Guard Cables

There are six different kinds of XTRA Guard cables. Each one has different ideal uses, as well as slightly different features to each. They each have slightly different temperature ratings. Most of the cables however are usually rated to be able to handle either 300 or 600 volts of electricity. Some are even more flexible than others are. The XTRA Guard Flexible Cable is even a continuous flex cable meaning it will still work even with machines that have moving parts. These cables each also have a different list of substances that they are resistant to.

FIT Heat Shrink Tubing

The Alpha tubing is made with premium materials. This tubing is constant in having excellent physical characteristics. The tubing is sure to have low longitudinal shrinkage as well as wide temperature ranges. All while providing an elegant appearance for customers. FIT tubing comes in a variety of sizes. This ensures that customers will get the perfect fit for whatever their needs are. The tubing is great for organizing and so customers can easily identify what cable or wire is what just based off of the color of the heat shrink tubing.  All of the tubing also gives the wire added protection from things like heat and water.

EcoWire and EcoWire Plus

The EcoWire and the EcoWire Plus is an engineering breakthrough. Never before has there been a wire that has been made with recyclable materials. The entire process of manufacturing the EcoWire is entirely eco-friendly. The wires are made with a stranded or solid tinned copper conductor. They have modified polyphenylene ether insulation around them as well. The wires have been rated to be able to handle 600 volts of electricity and have a temperature range of -40°C up to 105°C. The wires don’t contain any halogens, phthalates or heavy metals. The EcoWire Plus has better water resistance than the EcoWire.

No matter what products you choose to buy from Alpha Wire just remember that they are all of the best quality. There will be a kind of XTRA Guard product that will be perfect for any job you have at home. The FIT heat shrink tubing is good for bundling wires together, organizing, and even repairing wires with splits. Then the EcoWire is good for customers who are concerned about going green, and still want the same high level of protection a normal PVC wire has to offer.

Written by: WesBell Wire and Cable

Long Barrel

The long barrel compression lugs give the customers a better and more secure hold onto the welding cable. This is because the lug is crimped twice instead of only once on to the welding cable. Long barrel lugs have two crimps and lengthen the amount of times its connected even with severe pulling and tugging. Long barrels are more effective when there are multiple people using the cable or it’s in an industrial setting. If a welding machine is going to be used all day then you want to make sure that you buy long barrel lugs to help prolong the life of the connection between the welding cable and the compression lug.

Short Barrel

As the cable gets tugged and pulled around the shop the crimp connection between the lug and the cable is breaking. Eventually you will pull the cable out of the short barrel lug all together. Short barrel crimps last plenty of time if you’re careful to limit the tugging and pulling. Now this does not mean that the short barrel lugs are not effective it just means that the short barrel cannot handle a lot of tough wear and tear.

Costs

The long barrel lug is obviously a little more expensive than the short barrel lug. This is because the long barrel has more material to it as well as additional planning and design that the short barrel does not. In the long run however the long barrel can save customers money if the welding machine is in an industrial setting. The long barrel will last longer than the short barrel and won’t have to be preplaced or fixed as often.

Long barrel lugs are better off to be used in environments that will require a strong and durable connection. These lugs are perfect to be used in places such as a shop with lots of people using the same machine, or industrial settings. The short barrel lugs are good for a customer who is going to be careful with the connection and where there are not going to be multiple people sharing one machine.

Written by: WesBell Wire and Cable

Olflex® 110 and 110CY

These cables feature thinly woven strands of copper multi conducting material that is designed to work even in harsh conditions. The Olflex® 110 cable is unshielded while the Olflex® 110CY cable has a shield around it. That is the only difference between the 110 and the 110CY cables. The cables also are color coded with black and white numbers; they also have green and yellow indicators for ground wires. Now the 110 and the 110CY cables are only CE approved. It is also the cheapest wire out of the types of control cables.

Olflex® 190 and 190CY

The Olflex® 190 and the 190CY series are very similar. The only difference between the two is that the 190 is the unshielded version of the cable, while the 190CY is the shielded version of the cable. These cables are designed to be able to resist water based oils as well as artificial and mineral oils. The stranding of the inside conductor is considered Class 5 VDE 0295 of fine wire. The 190 and 190CY cables also have the same black wires with white numbers, and the green or yellow colored ground wires. The 190 and the 190CY cables UL, CSA and CE approved. They also have added flexibility and protection that the 110 cables do not have.

Olflex® 890

The Olflex® 890 and the 890CY cables are different from the 190 and the 110 cables. That is because the 890 series cables are continuous flex cable, which means that the cables are able to be used in machinery. The 190 and the 110 cables are flexible, but are not able to withstand moving while they are bent. The 890 and the 890CY can be used in robotics, cable pathways, machine powered tools, conveyor belts, flexing applications and other automatic tools. The 890 series has been approved to be able to handle up to 600 volts of electric power. The 890 cables are also approved by the UL, CSA and CE. With these cables being continuous flex, they are also more expensive than both the 190 and the 110 series cables.

The Olflex® cables no matter what kind you buy are made to be high quality. They are made with the best materials and are recommended by most professionals. The 110 cables are the cheapest and only have the CE approval. The 190 cables are more expensive but are also made better and have the UL, CSA and CE approvals. And the same goes for the 890 series cables. Even though the 110 cable does not have the same approvals does not make it a lesser quality.

Written by: WesBell Electronics, Inc.

Cut in the Insulation

When there’s a cut in the insulation the bare copper strands are exposed and the cable should not be used. You can buy a small length of shrinkable tubing that has a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable. Make sure the tubing can be used in the same conditions as the cable so that they’re both synchronized. Also, if it’s a perminant application you should upgrade the tubing to “adhesive” so that it glues itself to the entertainment cable for good.

Entertainment Cable Assembly

When you apply lugs to the end of entertainment cable products you can also use shrinkable tubing to make it look cleaner and to cover the copper strands completely. Make sure you slide the tubing on first, then crimp the lug and finally slide the tubing back over the base of the lug and heat it into place. The lugs will sometimes be exposed for the life of the application so the tubing will help protect the copper strands for a longer period of time.