STUDY OF CABLES
Aim: To study the constructional feature, application power rating of LT and HT cables.
Theory: A set of wires covered with insulating material for carrying electricity or signals from
one place to another place is called cable. These can be over-headed and underground cables.
Construction of cables: The Various parts of the construction of cables are
1. Cores or conductors: It is the part of the cable which carry electrical energy .A cable may
have one or more than one core (conductor) depending upon the type of service for which it is
intended. The conductors are made of tinned copper or aluminum. Figure shows the three
conductor cable.
2.Insulation: Each core or conductor is provided with a suitable thickness of insulation, the
thickness of layer depending upon the voltage to be withstood by the cable. The commonly used
materials for insulation are impregnated paper, varnished cambric or rubber mineral.
3.Metallic Sheath:. In order to protect the cable from moisture, gases or other damaging liquids
(acids or alkalies) in the soil and atmosphere, a metallic sheath of lead or aluminum is provided
over the insulation.
4.Bedding: Over the metallic sheath is applied a layer of bedding which consists of a fibrous
material like jute or hessian tape. The purpose of bedding is to protect the metallic sheath against
corrosion and from mechanical injury due to armoring.
5.Armouring : Over the bedding, armouring is provided which consists of one or two layers of
galvanised steel wire or steel tape. Its purpose is to protect the cable from mechanical injury
while laying it and during the course of handling. Armouring may not be done in the case of
some cables.
6.Serving: In order to protect armouring from atmospheric conditions, a layer of fibrous material
(like jute) similar to bedding is provided over the armouring. This is known as serving.
L.T Cable constructional View:
A2XWY is depicted as
A = Aluminium Conductor
2X= Cross-linked Polyethylene
W = Steel Round Wire Armour
Y = PVC Outer Sheath
H.T cable constructional view:
A2XCEWY is depicted as
A = Aluminium Conductor
2X= Cross-linked Polyethylene
CE= Copper Metallic Screening over each individual core
W = Steel Round Wire Armour
Y = PVC Outer Sheath
Insulating material used for cables:
For L.T cable PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), XLPE (cross linked polyethylene) is used
For H.T cable only XLPE (cross linked polyethylene) is used.
Classified of Cables on their voltage level:
Low –Tension (L.T.) Cables-up to 1000 V
High –Tension (H.T.) Cables-up to 11000 V
Super –Tension (S.T.) Cables-from 22kV to 33kV
Extra high –Tension (E.H.T) Cables- from 33 kV to 66 kV
Extra super voltage cables- beyond 132 kV
Application of Cables:
a. Shielded Cables: These are used in applications involving high voltage transmission like in
security systems installed in public spaces. One or more insulated wires are embedded inside
a conducting layer. The shield is consists of woven braided strands of Copper or Aluminum
and conducting layer of a polymer which is overall enclosed in a jacket. This arrangement
removes frequency irregularities and other external interferences in devices.
b. Coaxial Cables: These are a type of shielded cables used to transmit television and radio
signals. An inner conducting core is shielded by concentric conducting layers. These are
separated by insulating layers and the whole setup is enclosed in a jacket.
c. Fibre Optics: Optical data signals are transmitted using these cables. Light-based technology
is used to carry information between two points. Thin strands of glass or plastic form the
basic composition in these types of cables. Internet signals are predominantly transmitted
using this cable type.
d. Twisted Pair cables: This cable type is predominantly used in telephone cables to resist
external disturbances. Two or more insulated wires are twisted together and colour-coded in
this cable type.
e. Power Cables: These cables can be used overhead and also can be buried underground.
Flexible power cables are used in portable devices, mobile tools, and machinery.
