Single Wire vs. Multi Core Cable knowledge base

 

What is single wire? What is multi-core cable? And what are the main differences between them? For friends who need to use wire harnesses in their equipment, it is very necessary and important to figure out these questions. In this article, QL-Custom will explore the characteristics and advantages of Single wire and multi-core cable, and how each type affects performance and different applicable scenarios.

 

Understanding Single wire

 

What is Single wire?

 

Single wire generally refers to a wire with an insulating sheath wrapped around the conductor. The conductor material is usually made of bare copper or alloy copper. Its conductor structure can be a single solid copper or multiple strands of copper wire twisted together. Its common insulation layer materials include PVC, PE, TPEE, silicon, Teflon, etc.

 

 

Types of  Single wire

 

Based on the above different structures of conductor and insulation layer combination, single core wire can be of many types. Examples are as follows:

 

Bare single wire:

Wires only made of conductors. It has good conductivity, but since there is no insulation layer, bare wires require special attention to protection during transportation and storage.

 

Insulation Single wire:

It is composed of an insulating layer wrapped around a conductor. The main function of the insulating layer is to protect the conductor inside the wire. Common insulating materials include PVC, PE, silicone, TPEE, PP and PFA, FEP, PTFE, which are suitable for different rated temperatures and voltage capacities.

 

Shielded single wire:

 

This type of wire has a shielding layer added between the insulation layer and the conductor. It is a type commonly used in the field of new energy, such as XL-PE double-insulated shielded wire. This type has higher safety and data transmission quality than a Single wire with only an insulation layer.

 

Ps: Please note here that the shielding layer is not an exclusive feature of multi-core cables, single-core cables can also have a shielding layer.

 

 

Zip wire:

 

Zip wires are at least two wires usually colored wires like UL2468 UL4413, which are paralleled together without any tie. This kind of wire can make good use of space to improve transmission efficiency and is very popular in LED or PCB.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Single wire

 

 

Benefits:

 

The structure of the single-core cable determines that it has the characteristics of strong flexibility and easy installation. At the same time, the relatively simple structure of the single-core cable also means that the cost-effectiveness will be higher.

 

Drawbacks:

 

Compared with multi-core cables, Single wires have a more limited connection range and are not suitable for circuit systems that require multiple connections. At the same time, their resistance to breaking is relatively poor, and they are easily damaged due to frequent bending or twisting during use.

 

Understanding Multiple Core Cable

What is Multiple Core Cable?

Multi-core cables are wires with two or more single wires wrapped in an insulating sheath (outer jacket) in a twisted or untwisted pair form. This design can transmit multiple signals or power through one cable, so it is suitable for more complex power systems.

 

 

Features of Multiple Core Cable

 

Paired Cable:

It is composed of at least two single wires twisted together and wrapped in an outer sheath. This structure can reduce the impact between surrounding wire pairs inside the cable and improve the cable’s anti-interference ability, thereby ensuring the performance and stability of data transmission. It is usually used for data/power (CAN cable) transmission.

 

Multi-Paired Cable:

As the name implied, this structure contains multiple pairs of twisted single wires and is suitable for wider and more complex communication systems.

 

Shielded vs. Unshielded Cable:

The shielding layer can provide additional protection for the wires in addition to the cable jacket protection, and improve the anti-interference ability of the wires. Commonly used shielding structures include foil tape and ground wire, tin-copper braided barrier, etc. In some harsh environments, ferrite is also covered on the cable.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiple Core Cable

 

Benefits:

Multi-core cables can support more complex circuit systems than single wires while maintaining signal integrity. In addition, multi-core cables are easier to form with SR when soldered to circular connectors.

Drawbacks:

The more complex structure of multi-core cables makes them more expensive, less flexible, and more challenging to install. However, if you choose a TPU or TPE type drag chain function structure, the disadvantages can be reduced to a certain extent.

 

Additional knowledge supplement:

UL Types of Single wire and Multiple core cables

When we choose cables, whether it is single wire or multi-core cable, there will be many types, such as: ULxxxx, so what does UL here mean?

UL is a wire standard, which refers to wires and cables that have obtained UL certification in the United States. Common single wire standards generally include UL1007, UL1015, UL1569, UL1061, etc. And Multi-core cable UL types usually include UL2464, UL2517, UL20256, etc. Therefore, we can choose suitable wire type according to different scenarios and functional requirements.

 

Summary

The above is an overview of the characteristics and uses of single wires and multi-core cables. Both of them embraces unique advantages and applicable scenarios. Whether you need a simple circuit connection or a complex power system, understanding the characteristics and differences of each type of wire will help you find the most appropriate solution.