Armoured cable is the name given to any electrical cable constructed with a layer of aluminium wire armour or steal wire armour. The armour sits below the sheath of the cable to provide protection for the conductor and insulating layers. When electrical cable is required for outside use or in direct burial projects, it must have mechanical protection. Aluminium wire armour or AWA, and steel wire armour or SWA provide such protection as well as enabling the cable to withstand higher pulling loads.

AWA and SWA are used in the power cables.

SWA

Steel Wire/strip Armoured Cable or SWA Cable is a hard-wearing mains electricity cable with class 2 stranded copper conductors, XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) insulation, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) bedding, aluminium or steel wire armour and a black PVC sheath. The voltage rating of an SWA Cable is 600/1000V.

AWA

Aluminium Wire/strip Armoured Cable or AWA Cable is a hard-wearing mains electricity cable with class 2 stranded Aluminium conductors, XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) insulation, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) bedding, aluminium or steel wire armour and a black PVC sheath. The voltage rating of an SWA Cable is 600/1000V.

Applications:

Armoured cables used in everything from transmission, power and distribution networks and the renewable energy sector to the oil, gas and petrochemical, water treatment, transport industries, underground, outdoor & indoor applications.

Standards:

PVC – Type ‘A’ Insulation as per IS-5831-1984
PVC Cables – As per IS-1554 (Part 1) for working voltage up to 1100 V
XLPE Cables – As per Is-7098 (Part 1)-1998
Armour – Galvanized steel strip IS 3975

Conductor:

Class 2 stranded plain Copper / Aluminium conductor IS 8130-1984

Insulation:

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) / XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)

Bedding:

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Armouring:

Single Core: AWA (Aluminium Wire Armour) / SWA (Steel Wire Armour)
Multi Core: AWA (Aluminium Wire Armour) / SWA (Steel Wire Armour)

Sheath:

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Sheath & Insulation Colour:

As per Customer requirement

Voltage Rating:

600/1100 V

Temperature Rating:

1)Max. Conductor Temperature during Normal Operation PVC = 70°C XLPE = 90°C
2)Max. Conductor Temperature during Short Circuit PVC = 160°C XLPE = 250°C

Minimum Bending Radius:

1.5mm – 16mm 6 x overall diameter
25mm and above 8 x overall diameter