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Types of Wire

The document describes various types of electrical wires and cables including their insulation materials, temperature ratings, and intended uses. Types include TW, UF, RHW, THHW, THW, THWN, XHHW, USE, ZW, TBS, SA, SIS, FEP, FEPB, MI, RHH, RHW-2, THW-2, THWN-2, USE-2, XHH, XHHW, XHHW-2 and ZW-2.

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John Rivas
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147 views

Types of Wire

The document describes various types of electrical wires and cables including their insulation materials, temperature ratings, and intended uses. Types include TW, UF, RHW, THHW, THW, THWN, XHHW, USE, ZW, TBS, SA, SIS, FEP, FEPB, MI, RHH, RHW-2, THW-2, THWN-2, USE-2, XHH, XHHW, XHHW-2 and ZW-2.

Uploaded by

John Rivas
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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a.

TW– Indicates a single conductor having flame-retardant, moisture-resistant


thermoplastic insulation. The wire is rated 60°C wet or dry.TW cable and wires are used
generally in building wiring, feeder and branch circuits, and internal secondary industrial
distribution.

b. UF- Regular type UF cable is available in a variety of different wire thicknesses and
gauges, and is also available in a number of different wiring configurations. Type UF
cable is generally gray or black with regards to the sheathing of the cable. Type UF and
UF-B cables evaluated for installation above-ground are marked “SUNLIGHT
RESISTANT.” For applications where the cable needs to be run underground without
conduit, there is a type of UF cable that is made specifically for this purpose. Type UF B
cable is made for direct burial underground without the use of conduit or other piping,
and is also gray in color and is marked as type UF B cable to denote the difference
between it and the regular type UF cable, which is not suitable for direct burial outside of
conduit or the proper piping material. Type UF B cable is typically more expensive due
to the different materials required to make the sheathing UV, moisture and temperature
and corrosion resistant for underground applications.

c. RHW – RHW cable is a wire insulated by rubber or XLPE as mentioned above. RHW
cable can withstand heat up to 75° C, and is water resistant. It is acceptable to use RHW
cables underground and in wet locations.

d. THHW - Thermoplastic high-heat resistant nylon-coated wire, common wire used for


connecting branch circuits and appliances. Types THHW is listed in both the 75°C
column and the 90°C column. With a Type THHW conductor, if the installed location is
dry, the maximum operating temperature is 90°C (194°F).

e. THW – Indicates a single conductor having flame-retardant, moisture and heat-resistant


thermoplastic insulation. The wire is rated 75°C wet or dry. THW cable and wires are
used generally in building wiring, feeder and branch circuits, and internal secondary
industrial distribution.

f. THWN - It Indicates a single conductor having flame-retardant, moisture and heat-


resistant thermoplastic insulation with a jacket of extruded nylon or equivalent material.
The wire is rated 75°C wet or dry. THWN cable is typically used for installation in
conduit, machine tools, controlled circuits, or other general purpose wiring.

g. XHHW- is an alphabetism or initialism which stands for "XLPE (cross-linked


polyethylene) High Heat-resistant Water-resistant." XHHW is a designation for a
specific insulation material, temperature rating, and condition of use (suitable for wet
locations) for electrical wire and cable. Temp Rating: .90° C in dry locations and 75° C
in wet locations.
h. USE- Type USE cable, containing two or more conductors, is permitted to have one
conductor that is uninsulated. Types USE is designed and listed for underground
installations including direct burial and available in both single‐conductor and multi‐
conductor cables. Multi‐conductor Type USE cable contains conductors with insulation
equivalent to RHW or XHHW with the conductors rated at 75° C for a wet application.

i. ZW-Type ZW Cable high-performance wire utilize ethylene tetra Fluoroethylene (ETFE)


insulation and are for use per the National Electrical Code (NEC) as conductors for
general wiring and in wet environments. Its small diameter profile provides for easy,
economic installations. Fully pigmented insulation in bright colors aids in identification.
The use of these cables reduces fire hazards in plants, such as petroleum refineries,
chemical plants, and steel mill plants, paper mills, processing plants, and nuclear and
fossil fuel generating plants. Compared with other high-temperature cables that are
augmented with a braid, ZW wire will slide rather than tear, yet its abrasion resistance
helps eliminate cut-through and other damage that can occur during installation and use.

j. TBS- Thermoplastic with Fibrous outer braid, 194°F. Fire Retardant (Switch Boards).

k. SA- Silicone Rubber or Silicone Asbestos, 194°F. For dry and Damp Areas. Silicone
Rubber insulation with Glass or other Braided covering. (392°F. Special Applications).
They are also designed for installation as hazardous location motor lead cable, overhead
crane power cable, glass plant wiring, melt shop wiring, slag and teeming ladle cars
wiring or other applications that require long service life in extreme heat and flexing
conditions.

l. SIS- Switchboard wire 194°F. Thermoplastic Flame Resistant for Switchboards.


Synthetic Heat resistant Rubber. Dry only.

m. FEP- Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene is a type of fluoropolymer commonly extruded as


both an insulation and jacket material for wire and cable. Rated over 194°F. Dry only.

n. FEPB-Same as FEP, but with glass braid or Asbestos type outer covering. 392°F. Dry
only. FEPB combines the superior qualities of Teflon® and the abrasion resistant
characteristics of a fibrous braid. Thermal Wire and Cable FEPB is smaller in diameter
than silicone rubber insulated cables yet retains the cut through, crush and abrasion
resistance of braided cables.

o. MI- Mineral Insulated, Metal Shielded cable. Magnesium Oxide, 194°F or 482°F., Dry or
wet locations, with copper or Alloy Steel outer covering. Mineral insulated and Metal
Shielded.

p. RHH- Thermoset, 194°F. Dry and Damp only, Flame Retardant, and Moisture Resistant.
The R stands for Rubber – but in this case the extra “H”, or HH in RHH, stands for High
Heat resistance of 90° C. The trade-off is that RHH cable does not possess the water
resistance characteristic of RHW / RHW-2 cable.
q. RHW-2 -194°F. Continuous Temperature Thermoset. For Dry and Damp locations.
RHW-2 as having the ability to withstand heats of up to 90° C. RHW-2 cable is suitable
for direct burial in both wet and dry conditions.

r. THW-2 -Type THW-2 conductor is intended for general purpose applications utilized in
conduit or other raceways for services, feeders, and branch-circuit wiring as specified in
the National Electric Code (NEC). May be used in wet or dry locations at temperatures
not to exceed 90˚C.

s. THWN-2 - THWN stands for Thermoplastic Heat and Water-resistant Nylon-coated.


THWN- -2 wire is one of the most common single conductor wires used in the United
States. Most wires in this category carry a dual rating and are marked and approved for
both applications. They are rated for voltages up to 600 volts, and are approved for use in
wet or dry locations up to 90°C (75°C when exposed to oil).

t. USE-2 - USE-2 cable stands for Underground Service Entrance cable. USE-2 cable can
be used underground since it is able withstand pressure and is resistant to other elements
such as sunlight (black only), oil and gas. USE-2 is a good choice for industrial
applications where better insulation toughness and resistance to moisture and heat are
desired. USE-2 can be used as RHW-2 or RHH cable at temperatures up to 90°C in wet
or dry locations. What does the “-2” stand for? It is a designation used for the 90° C
temperature rating. In the past, there was a plain USE, but it is now generally considered
obsolete and replaced by USE-2.

u. XHH- Thermoset, 194°F. Dry and damp locations. Flame Retardant. Type XHH is a
single insulated conductor of solid or stranded bare annealed copper, with insulation of
thermoset materials composed by cross-linked polyethylene Insulation and designed to
operate not beyond 600V. The XHH conductor is suitable for most current wiring
solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The XHH conductor is
able to work properly up to 90ºC in dry and wet environmental conditions.

v. XHHW - Moisture Resistant Thermoset, 194°F. For dry and Damp locations and 167°F.
For wet locations. Flame Retardant, and moisture resistant. XHHW stand for Cross-
Linked High Heat Water Resistant Insulated Wire. This XHHW is the designation for a
specific insulating material for electrical building wire and cable. The term XHHW also
designates the temperature rating as well as the conditions that the cable can be used
under XHHW wire is generally used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings
and installations for the purpose of power distribution. The cable is manufactured in both
copper and aluminum conductors and typically ran in conduit or other approved raceways
for services, feeder and circuit wiring.

w. XHHW-2 - XHHW-2 is a thermoset product. Crosslink products like XHHW-2 have


XLPE insulation instead of PVC, which is more resistant to chemicals, ozone, and
abrasions. Because of the chemistries involved, modern XLPE is far less toxic than PVC
in the event of fire. XHHW-2 is also more flexible than THHN and is more advantageous
for projects where complex, close-spaced bends are required. General purpose wiring for
lighting and power - residential, commercial, industrial buildings in accordance with
National Electrical Code, maximum conductor temperature of 90°C in wet or dry
locations, 600 volts, for installation in conduit or other recognized raceways.

x. ZW-2 – Type ZW-2 Cable high-performance wire utilize ethylene tetra Fluoroethylene
(ETFE) insulation and are for use per the National Electrical Code (NEC) as conductors
for general wiring and in wet environments. Its small diameter profile provides for easy,
economic installations. Fully pigmented insulation in bright colors aids in identification.
The use of these cables reduces fire hazards in plants, such as petroleum refineries,
chemical plants, and steel mill plants, paper mills, processing plants, and nuclear and
fossil fuel generating plants. Rated: 90°C Dry and Damp Locations.
.

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