Any electrical or electronic system requires conductive materials used in the pathways designed to carry electrical current. In an electrical or electronic system, conductors are wires or conductive lines designed to carry current from one electronic component to another within the same circuit. The conductive materials are often surrounded by a non-conductive insulating material responsible for preventing accidental contact between adjacent conductive materials.
In electrical and electronic systems, wires are conductive materials designed by custom cabling for sale experts to carry current from one component to another within the circuit. A cable is a conductor that may consist of a single solid piece of copper or strands of small wires bonded together. Stranded wire is more flexible and can be handled more easily during circuit assembly.
A gauge number expresses the diameter of the wire. The larger the gauge, the thinner the wire. Wires of larger diameter and smaller gauge number are known as heavy gauge wires. The cross-section of heavy gauge wire puts up less resistance to current flow and results in these conductors carrying a more significant current than thinner, lighter gauge wires with larger gauge numbers. The selection of the proper gauge wire for a specific application is essential. A conductor with a gauge too light for the application may fail when in operation because the conductor resistance may start small but may increase as the conductor gets hotter. If the heat becomes excessive, the insulation may be damaged.
The length of a conductor also affects the selection of the proper gauge. This is because the resistance of a conductor increases in proportion to its size. Under the same circumstances, if the length of a conductor doubles, the resistance doubles. Therefore, a longer wire has more resistance than a shorter wire of the same gauge. It is indispensable for the electronics specialist to know this type of element to detect faults related to wiring.
In the manufacture of custom cabling for sale, the following processes are generally followed:
- Drawing: consists of reducing the size of the copper wire until the desired final diameter is obtained.
- Wiring: the wire strands are assembled in a stranding machine, which is in charge of grouping the wires.
- Insulation: a layer of insulation material is applied.
- Phase wiring: it is the grouping of wires to build a multiconductor cable.
- Screen: used to prevent the electric current passing through the cable from causing noise and interference on the outside.
- Armor: it serves as mechanical protection for the conductor cable, either shock, traction, and rodents.
- Outer sheath: they have a polymeric sheath to protect the insulator and conductor against humidity and mechanical damage.
- Cable marking: data such as manufacturer, commercial name, number of conductors, voltage, gauge, among other characteristics, are marked on the jacket or insulator.
- Quality control: ensures that they are free of defects, exposing them to high temperatures and shocks.
- Expedition: they are stored and then distributed commercially according to orders.
- Sustainability: recycling of copper waste outside and inside the factory.