Wire-armored and steel tape-armored cables are two common types of armored cables, which are widely used in power transmission and electrical equipment connections. The following is a comparison of their advantages and disadvantages:
Mechanical Strength
Wire-armored Cable: It has a higher mechanical strength and can withstand greater tensile and compressive forces. This makes it particularly suitable for situations where long-distance suspension is required or in harsh environments, such as in vertical shafts, overhead across rivers, or submarine laying. It is not easily damaged by its own weight or external mechanical forces.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The mechanical strength is relatively weaker compared to wire-armored cable. However, in general ground or underground laying environments, it can also provide sufficient protection to prevent the cable from being squeezed and damaged by a certain degree of external forces.
Flexibility
Wire-armored Cable: It has poor flexibility and a relatively large bending radius. During the installation process, a large space is required for bending and laying, and it is not suitable for use in narrow spaces or where frequent bending is needed.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: It has better flexibility and a relatively small bending radius, making it easier to lay in complex environments, such as in building pipelines or around obstacles, and the installation is more convenient and flexible.
Resistance to Lateral Pressure
Wire-armored Cable: It has a weak ability to resist lateral pressure. When subjected to a large lateral pressure, the steel wires are prone to deformation and even breakage, which will affect the performance and service life of the cable.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: It has a better performance in resisting lateral pressure and can disperse and withstand the lateral pressure to a certain extent, protecting the insulation layer and conductor inside the cable from damage.
Shielding Performance
Wire-armored Cable: There are certain gaps between the steel wires, so the shielding effect against electromagnetic interference is relatively poor. In some occasions with high requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, additional shielding measures may be required.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The steel tape forms a relatively continuous shielding layer, which has a good shielding effect against electromagnetic interference. It can reduce the interference of external electromagnetic signals on the cable transmission signal and also reduce the radiation of the internal signal of the cable to the outside.
Cost
Wire-armored Cable: Due to the use of steel wires as the armored material and the relatively complex production process, its cost is usually higher than that of steel tape-armored cable.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The cost of the steel tape material is relatively low, and the production process is also relatively simple. Therefore, it has a certain cost advantage and is relatively inexpensive.
Corrosion Resistance
Wire-armored Cable: In some harsh corrosive environments, such as wet soil, environments containing corrosive substances such as acids and alkalis, the steel wires are prone to rust and corrosion, which affects the service life of the cable. Usually, additional anti-corrosion measures, such as galvanizing and coating with anti-corrosion coatings, are required.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The corrosion resistance of the steel tape is relatively good. In general soil and environments, it has a certain anti-corrosion ability and does not require too much additional anti-corrosion treatment.
Wire-armored and steel tape-armored cables are two common types of armored cables, which are widely used in power transmission and electrical equipment connections. The following is a comparison of their advantages and disadvantages:
Mechanical Strength
Wire-armored Cable: It has a higher mechanical strength and can withstand greater tensile and compressive forces. This makes it particularly suitable for situations where long-distance suspension is required or in harsh environments, such as in vertical shafts, overhead across rivers, or submarine laying. It is not easily damaged by its own weight or external mechanical forces.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The mechanical strength is relatively weaker compared to wire-armored cable. However, in general ground or underground laying environments, it can also provide sufficient protection to prevent the cable from being squeezed and damaged by a certain degree of external forces.
Flexibility
Wire-armored Cable: It has poor flexibility and a relatively large bending radius. During the installation process, a large space is required for bending and laying, and it is not suitable for use in narrow spaces or where frequent bending is needed.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: It has better flexibility and a relatively small bending radius, making it easier to lay in complex environments, such as in building pipelines or around obstacles, and the installation is more convenient and flexible.
Resistance to Lateral Pressure
Wire-armored Cable: It has a weak ability to resist lateral pressure. When subjected to a large lateral pressure, the steel wires are prone to deformation and even breakage, which will affect the performance and service life of the cable.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: It has a better performance in resisting lateral pressure and can disperse and withstand the lateral pressure to a certain extent, protecting the insulation layer and conductor inside the cable from damage.
Shielding Performance
Wire-armored Cable: There are certain gaps between the steel wires, so the shielding effect against electromagnetic interference is relatively poor. In some occasions with high requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, additional shielding measures may be required.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The steel tape forms a relatively continuous shielding layer, which has a good shielding effect against electromagnetic interference. It can reduce the interference of external electromagnetic signals on the cable transmission signal and also reduce the radiation of the internal signal of the cable to the outside.
Cost
Wire-armored Cable: Due to the use of steel wires as the armored material and the relatively complex production process, its cost is usually higher than that of steel tape-armored cable.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The cost of the steel tape material is relatively low, and the production process is also relatively simple. Therefore, it has a certain cost advantage and is relatively inexpensive.
Corrosion Resistance
Wire-armored Cable: In some harsh corrosive environments, such as wet soil, environments containing corrosive substances such as acids and alkalis, the steel wires are prone to rust and corrosion, which affects the service life of the cable. Usually, additional anti-corrosion measures, such as galvanizing and coating with anti-corrosion coatings, are required.
Steel Tape-armored Cable: The corrosion resistance of the steel tape is relatively good. In general soil and environments, it has a certain anti-corrosion ability and does not require too much additional anti-corrosion treatment.
