The basics of power cable

Insulated power cables can seem to be complicated. In fact, many cables are electrically sophisticated. To simplify we must understand the cable's components and the basics of conductor cables. These fundamentals apply to multiple conductor cables. There are two basic components in a low voltage cable, the conductor and the electrical insulation (dielectric). There are different types of conductors and insulations. Sometimes jackets or armoring are added. As voltage increases other components are added to handle higher electrical stresses. The purpose of this paper is to discuss each component, to help an engineer specify the type components required for specific applications.< >