The difference between power cables and control cables

Differences in scope of application

Power cables are used in urban power grids or power stations, while control cables are suitable for industrial and mining enterprises, energy and transportation departments.

Differences in Function

Control cables directly transmit electrical energy from the distribution points of the power system to the power connection lines of various electrical equipment and appliances, while power cables are mainly used for the transmission of strong electrical energy in the power generation, distribution, transmission, transformation, and supply lines. The current passing through is large, and power cables are used for the transmission and distribution of large functional electrical energy in the main line of the power system.

Differences in core color

The color of the insulation core of control cables is generally black with white lettering, and low voltage power cables are generally color separated.

Differences in execution standards

The standard for control cables is 9330, and the standard for power cables is GB12706. The difference in cross-section is that the power cable is a primary load conductor, and the current carrying capacity increases with the increase of power. The cross-section of the conductor application also needs to increase with the increase of current. Therefore, the specification of the power cable is generally large, up to 500 square meters (the range that conventional manufacturers can produce), and there are relatively few manufacturers that can produce the larger cross-section. The control cable is a secondary command conductor, which controls the current carrying operation of devices such as contactors, and the load current is very small, The cross-section of the wire is extremely small, so the cross-section of the control cable is generally small, with a maximum of no more than 10 square meters.

Differences in cross-section

The current carrying capacity of the primary load conductor in power cables increases with the increase of power, and the cross-sectional area of the conductor application also needs to increase with the increase of current. Therefore, the specifications of power cables are generally large, up to 500 square meters (the range that conventional manufacturers can produce), and there are relatively few manufacturers that can produce larger cross-sectional areas. Control cables are secondary command conductors

The line controls the current carrying operation of devices such as contactors, with extremely small load current and extremely small wire cross-section. Therefore, the cross-section of the control cable is generally small, with a maximum of no more than 10 square meters.

The difference between thread skins

Power cables require the wire sheath to have sufficient compressive strength, tensile strength, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance. The requirements for control cables are relatively low. When producing industrial electrical power cables and control cables of the same specifications, the insulation and sheath thickness of power cables is thicker than that of control cables.

Differences in the number of cable cores

The number of cores in power cables is relatively small, including single core, two core, three core, four core (three-phase four wire system), and five core (three-phase five wire system). According to the requirements of the power grid, the maximum is generally five cores. And the control cable is used for transmitting control signals, with a large number of cores, ranging from 2 to 61, or even more. The control cable also adopts various core structures, shielding and other measures to achieve satisfactory electromagnetic compatibility effects.

Differences in rated voltage

The rated voltage of power cables is generally 0.6/1kV and above, while control cables are mainly 450/750V