Armored and unarmored cables are both types of power cables, and they are the two most commonly used types of power cables. Cables de alimentación all consist of conductor, conductor insulation, and outer protective layer.
Él difference between armored cables and unarmored cables lies in the presence or absence of an armor layer. Compared to unarmored cables, armored cables have an additional metal protective structure, offering stronger resistance to pressure, impacto, rodents, and tensile strength. They can be used in direct burial, exterior, y entornos industriales hostiles.
Based on years of overseas project experience, ZMS Cables has found that most project failures are not due to product quality issues, but rather to incorrect application scenarios and incompatible armor configurations, leading to rework. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of these two types of cables to help customers mitigate risks.
What is armored cable?
What is unarmored cable?
Cable blindado is a reinforced power cable with an additional metal armor layer between the cable insulation layer and the outer sheath. Common armor materials are steel tape and steel wire; aluminum tape armor can also be used depending on requirements.
The overall structure of armored cable, from the inside out, includes:
conductor → insulation layer → inner lining layer → metal armor layer → outer sheath.
The metal armor layer does not change the cable’s conductivity but can resist external forces such as compression, impacto, tensión, and animal bites, while also providing a certain degree of electromagnetic shielding.
Armored cables are mainly used in scenarios such as direct underground burial, outdoor cable trays, industrial plants, road crossings, and deep-buried pipelines.
What is unarmored cable?
Unarmored cable is basic power cable without any metallic armor protection layer.
The standard structure of unarmored cable only includes:
conductor → insulation layer → outer sheath.
Unarmored cable features: Estructura simple, cable flexible, pequeño radio de curvatura, Fácil instalación, and lower cost.
Unarmored cables lack mechanical protection and cannot withstand compression, impacto, or strong tension. Unarmored cables are only suitable for low-risk environments such as fully protected indoor conduits, enclosed cable trays, and internal equipment wiring.
Difference between armored cable and unarmored cable
| Escribe | Cable blindado | Unarmored Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Estructura | Metallic armor layer | No armor layer |
| Mechanical Protection | Pressure/impact/tensile resistant, anti-rodent/termite | No protection, easily damaged |
| Instalación | Bajo tierra, entierro directo, trincheras, sitios industriales | Interior, cable trays, conductos, protected areas |
| Características | Hard, heavy | Soft, flexible, light |
| Lifespan | Highly durable, long-lasting | Ages outdoors easily |
| Costo | Más alto | More economical |
Common types of armored cables
| Armor Type | Abbr. | Estructura | Key Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinta de acero blindada | STA | Double steel tape, high crush resistance | Flat direct burial, municipal grids, standard ducts |
| Fine Steel Wire Armored | SWA | Stranded fine wires, alta resistencia a la tracción | River/mountain crossing, aerial suspension, deep wells |
| Coarse Steel Wire Armored | CWA | Coarse wire reinforced, ultra-high tensile strength | Long-span suspension, minería, heavy duty |
| Aluminum Tape Armored | ATA | Ligero, resistente a la corrosión, non-magnetic | High-corrosion environments, AC magnetic fields |
Armored Cables vs. Unarmored Cables: How to Choose?
Based on overseas engineering standards and practical field experience, ZMS Cables summarizes a simple selection logic:
Scenarios for Choosing Armored Cables:
- Cables need to be directly buried underground;
- Outdoor open-air, field, or factory grounds;
- Sites with risks of mechanical crushing, digging, or impact;
- Forest areas and rural areas with wildlife bites;
- Crossing rivers, torres, or high-altitude suspension requiring tensile strength.
Scenarios for Choosing Unarmored Cables:
- Entirely indoor installation, using enclosed conduits and sealed cable trays;
- Internal wiring within equipment;
- Construction environment free from external damage;
- Limited project budget with comprehensive protective measures throughout.
Accurate Cable Quotes: Information You Need to Provide as a Customer
Many overseas inquiries suffer from repeated communication and low efficiency, primarily due to incomplete parameters.
We have compiled essential parameters for quick quotes, which engineers can directly refer to when submitting:
- Execution Standard: CEI / licenciatura / GB and other project-specified standards
- Voltaje: 0.6/1kV, 10kV, 35kV, etc..
- Number of Cores and Cross-section: p.ej., 3×95+1×50mm²…
- Armoring Requirements: Steel tape armor / Armadura de alambre de acero / sin armadura
- Material de la funda: CLORURO DE POLIVINILO / EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA / LSZH flame retardant and fire resistant…
- Usage Environment: Interior / Entierro directo / Exterior / Corrosive / Extremely Cold
- Purchase Quantity, Delivery Location, and Delivery Time Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions (Preguntas frecuentes)
Q1: Can armored cables be used as shielded cables?
- Armored cables can provide basic electromagnetic shielding, but they cannot replace dedicated shielded cables.
- For high-frequency, precision equipment, and high-voltage metering applications, professionally shielded cables are still required.
Q2: Can unarmored cables be temporarily laid outdoors?
- It is not recommended. Short term exposure will accelerate sheath aging, agrietamiento, and water ingress, and will likely lead to insulation failure.
Q3: Must armored cables be grounded?
- Sí. Engineering specifications require reliable grounding at both ends of the armor layer to avoid induced voltage and leakage safety hazards.
Q4: Is there a difference in current carrying capacity between the two types of cables?
- Under the same cross-section and material, the current carrying capacity is basically the same. The armor structure does not affect conductivity, only improves mechanical protection.
Why Choose ZMS Armored/Unarmored Cables?
As a cable manufacturer that has long served overseas contractors and EPC contractors, we understand that overseas projects have higher requirements for stability and compliance.
Cable ZMS manufactures its full range of armored and unarmored power cables in strict accordance with international standards such as IEC, licenciatura, y GB. The materials used in conductors, aislamiento, armadura, and sheaths are fully controlled, eliminating potential engineering risks such as recycled materials and falsely labeled cross-sections.
Es más, we can provide a complete set of factory test reports, qualification documents, and third-party certifications. We also support customized designs for flame-retardant, resistente al fuego, resistente al frío, and corrosion-resistant cables for special environments, matching the needs of various power distribution projects.
Conclusión
There is no absolute superiority or inferiority between armored and unarmored cables; it’s all about suitability for the specific application scenario. Unarmored cables are preferred for controlled indoor environments, while armored cables are essential for outdoor direct burial and harsh conditions to ensure long-term stable operation.
If you are unsure whether you require armored construction or how to choose models and standards, please send your project parameters and construction environment. ZMS Cable technical team will provide free professional selection solution and accurate quotation.