Types Of Electrical Wiring Systems In Homes: Insights From An Electrician | Florence, SC
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, almost 122 million residential customers, 17 million commercial premises, and less than one million industries rely on electric power for daily operations.
These buildings need properly installed cables or wires to access electrical power and ensure all electrical appliances are powered to provide entertainment, lighting, and comfort. Electrical contractors understand which cables or wires are the best for distribution boards, outlets, appliances, receptacles, switches, lighting, and gadgets.
Before discussing the types of wiring systems an electrician can install in your house, it is wise to know the difference between a cable and a wire. An electrical wire can have copper or aluminum insulation in a non-conductive plastic coating that conducts electricity from the power source to electronics and other devices.
On the other hand, a cable contains current-carrying, neutral, and ground wires wrapped in one protective plastic jacket. Below are some types of wiring systems installed in homes.
Armored Cable
One of the popular wiring systems electrical experts use is the armored cable. It uses flexible metallic sheathing to protect the conductors inside.
An electrician can install armored wiring in commercial and residential properties with less than three stories for efficiency.
Advantages of an Armored Cable
- Armored cables have a higher level of protection for electrical wires, making them a safe option.
- Highly durable
- Easy to install in complex parts of the house, including corners and close-spaced bends.
- Use fewer labor hours, fewer materials, and labor costs
- Armored cables are flexible, making them easy to install in bent regions.
- Applicable in industrial, residential, utility, and commercial projects.
- Cost-effective as they eliminate the need for conductors.
- They are corrosion resistant, making them suitable in wet areas.
- The wiring system is best in Florence, SC areas with strict regulations concerning electrical codes.
Disadvantages of Armored Cables
- Armored cables are more costly than non-metallic cables.
- If an electrician installs the cables outdoors underground, it might take a technician to find and identify faulty parts.
Non-Metallic (NM) Cable
Most electrical technicians prefer non-metallic cables for installation in residential buildings. Also known as Romex cable, it has three and more electrical wires that conduct power to fixtures, switches, outlets, and electronics.
The copper conductors or stripped wires are insulated and wrapped in a flexible plastic jacket, similar to armored cables. One of the ways to identify non-metallic wiring is the different colors that signify their gauge and voltage.
An experienced electrician understands the diverse colors and their wire gauge. For instance, a non-metallic cable with black sheathing has a wire gauge of six and 55 amp or eight gauges and 40 amp.
Wiring cables with orange sheathing contain ten-gauge and 30-amp circuits, and white wiring has 14-gauge and 15-amp circuits. The non-metallic wiring units are also available in diverse sizes and specifications.
A qualified and skilled electrician can help you choose from different Romex cables, including two-wire non-metallic cable, one-wire, three-wire, four-wire Romex cables, building cable, CRT cable, and Romex fiber optic cable.
The wiring systems are applicable in different applications, including data transmissions, communications, cable television, computer networks, skyscrapers, telephone networks, and power distribution in homes and business premises.
Pros of Non-Metallic Cables
- Easy to install and lightweight
- Easily recognizable by colors
- Transmits power over long distances
- They are versatile cables and widely available in diverse sizes and lengths.
- Strong and durable because of the high-quality materials
- High quality with the best performance.
- Affordable
- They are energy-efficient as they consume less power, hence lower electricity bills.
Cons of Romex Cables
- Romex cables only transmit signals with low-frequency levels.
- Has limited bandwidth
- Have lower resistance when exposed to extremely high Florence, SC temperatures.
- The wiring is unfit for outdoor applications as it cannot resist moisture.
- Non-resistant to extreme temperatures, making them unsuitable for heavy-duty applications.
Underground Feeder Cable
Another wiring system found in residential houses is the underground cable. An electrician can recommend the wiring system for outdoor applications because it protects individual electric wires using plastic coatings. The plastic wrapping of the wires makes the cables resistant to the extremes of moisture and heat.
Despite the resistance to sun and wet conditions, the hired electrician can bury the wiring system as he or she connects them to outdoor structures such as sheds or garden patios.
The underground cables are also diverse, allowing you to choose from low-tension, high-tension, super-tension, extra-high-tension, and extra-super voltage cables, with the help of a professional.
Experts can also help you analyze and select from belted, screened, or pressure underground wiring with low to medium voltages.
Benefits of an Underground Feeder Cable
- Requires less maintenance
- Easy to install as it requires a small part of the land.
- It is not exposed to severe weather conditions.
- Has lower electric and magnetic fields that reduce the risk of illnesses.
- Installation of the wiring system is less destructive.
- Hard for thieves to steal the cable or for people to make illegal connections.
- Lower risk of damages because of the underground installation.
Drawbacks of Underground Feeder Cable
- The cost of the cables is higher than overhead wiring systems.
- It is difficult for an electrician to pinpoint damaged parts of the cables if the wiring system fails, which might take days or weeks.
- Difficult to maintain as it might require excavation.
- Increasing the capacity of the wiring system is impossible.
- It can easily cause an electrical issue during excavation because excavators can accidentally hit an electric cable when looking to repair other utility lines, such as gas or water pipes.
Call Mister Sparky of Florence for Exceptional Services!
If you own a house or business in Florence, SC, and you are looking for the best electrician in the area, Mister Sparky of Florence is a call away. We offer numerous electrical services, including emergency repairs, circuit breaker installation, wiring, smoke detector replacement, and maintenance.
No matter your electrical problems, our electrical professionals are ready and willing to provide prompt and reliable services that meet your needs, giving you peace of mind. Therefore, call Mister Sparky of Florence today to hire a trained, licensed, insured, and certified technician.
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