Construction site, outdoor, light, cold - Which cable for which requirement?
You are probably familiar with the situation where you need a cable drum or an extension cable and then have to determine the required cable quality using a large number of different letters and designations. To find the right cable for your application, we recommend this article. There are different types of cable qualities. So you ask yourself: Which cable will meet my requirements without having to worry about my safety?
First find out what influences are acting on the cable when you use it. Do you need a cable that you can use outside permanently? Or is a short outdoor use or only for your home electrical appliances indoors sufficient for you? What does short-term outdoor use actually mean? According to this requirement, you can use the cable outdoors for as long as your outdoor work takes. A device with this type of cable should be stored after use in a dry place away from light.
Which cable for outdoors?
There are high-quality cables that are UV-resistant. This makes sense if the cable is permanently exposed to the sun outdoors, for example, as otherwise it can get very fine cracks due to temperature fluctuations. This also happens if unsuitable cable types that are not resistant to cold are exposed to low temperatures for a long time.
Which cable for the construction site?
Oil-resistant cables and lines should not be neglected in the professional use of a cable drum or extension cable. Acid resistance can also be an important factor. If these properties are not given and the cable is exposed to oil, for example, the outer sheath of the cable will be damaged or destroyed within a short time.
Designations to determine the cable quality
The abbreviated designations, which are made up of various factors, provide information about the cable quality. In the 3rd and 4th position of the cable designation, the insulating sheath and the jacket of the cable can be recognised. These two places are essential for deciding whether a cable is suitable for indoor use, outdoor use or for the construction site.
The various types of cable differ in their cross-section. Do not confuse the cable cross-section with the cable diameter. The diameter describes a length dimension, whereas the cable cross-section indicates the area. This area is responsible for the relevant electrical properties of the conductor. - The following applies here: The larger the cross-section, the higher current loads the cable can be subjected to. If the cross-section is too small for your application, it can lead to a loss of power or even to cable heating, which can melt the cable and thus trigger a cable fire.
Among other things, the two highlighted letters provide information about the cable quality. To be able to distinguish the cable quality at a glance, it helps to know the differences between the designations.