We've all done it - going through an online electric store or an electric shop near me to shop for some electrical cables for a project that we've at home.

In most cases, we've no idea what one sort of electrical wire is from the opposite.

The electrical shop Malaysia doesn’t only keep indoor and outdoor wiring, but also underground wirings and varied types where some of them could be heat resistant while the other kind is corrosion-free. If that may not enough to differentiate the differences, there's also copper and aluminum wiring.

Typically, the conductor material is copper; however, it can vary supported by the appliance. Speaking of which, before you begin designing anything, you’ll get to fully understand how the electrical assembly is going to be used.

What is going to its job be and what sort of environment will it be working in?

Once you’ve defined its end-use, you'll get to figure answering the subsequent five questions which will assist you to select the simplest electrical wire for your application.

What size wire do I need?

When you buy electrical cable online or at a local electric shop in Malaysia, there will be two most significant things:
  • Thickness
  • Length
To work out what gauge wire you would like, consider the carrying capacity and therefore the amount of current the wire must conduct. Wire gage is directly associated with what percentage amps you would like to run through it.

The distance you would like the wire to travel also can impact the gauge of wire you would like. Because no conductor is ideal, the longer the wire, the more voltage you'll lose through resistance/heat. You’ll counteract the drop by increasing the wire gage which can, therefore, increase the amperage capacity. This enables you to pump more amps through to make sure the proper amount of electricity is received, albeit you lose a touch along the way.

How flexible should the wire be?

Different types of cables provide different levels of wire elasticity:
  • Solid core: Flexibility is almost nil in the lower gauge cable, but becomes more pliable in higher gauges
  • Coarsely-stranded wire: Moderately flexible, which will retain its given form
  • Finely-stranded wire: Very flexible and cannot be shaped


What sort of wire insulation is best?

The assembly’s working environment will dictate the sort of insulation your wires need.

  • Voltage: The upper the voltage level, the thicker the insulation must be to scale back the danger of shock
  • Atmospheric considerations: Subjection to the sun and UV, Maximum temperatures, the existence of chemicals or oils may affect performance
  • Erosion-proof: Higher vibrating conditions need plentiful insulation
  • Coating: Certain coatings might make it easier to print on the cable or push and pull them through the switches and sockets

Does wire color matter?

Using different colored wires within your electrical assembly can assist you, the end-user, and anyone who may have to service the assembly within the future, understand what the aim of every wire is. Many companies use standardized wire colors to denote hot wires, ground wires, and neutral wires; some will even code the various circuits within an electrical assembly.

Should I purchase copper vs. aluminum wire?

While copper is that the most conductive metal, it is often heavy and expensive. So, for top voltage, long-distance electrical applications, aluminum wires are often used. It’s a good conductor that usually needs a profuse gauge, but it’s much lighter and cheaper than copper cables. For instance, power lines use aluminum wire rather than copper.

Wire selection may be a critical piece of electrical assembly design because it affects the security, functionality, simple use, and serviceability of the assembly. Because there are thousands of sorts of wire and cable, choosing the proper wire or wires are often complicated and daunting.