The difference between sheathed wire and electric wire

The core difference between sheathed wire and ordinary wire lies in that ‌ sheathed wire has a double-layer protective structure ‌, including the conductor, insulation layer and outer sheath, which is suitable for complex environments. Ordinary wires, however, only have an insulating layer for protection and need to be used in conjunction with conduits.

Structural differences ‌

1.Sheathed wire：

It is composed of three layers: the conductor (copper/aluminum), the insulating layer (PVC, etc.) and the protective outer sheath (PVC/ rubber). ‌ ‌

Some models are equipped with shielding layers (such as RVVP) to resist electromagnetic interference. ‌ ‌

2.Common wire：

It only contains conductors and a single layer of insulation (such as BV wires). ‌ ‌

When there are multiple cores, they need to be insulated separately without an integral sheath. ‌ 

Application scenarios comparison ‌

1.Sheathed wire applicable scenarios：

Complex environments: damp (bathrooms), corrosive (industrial plants), outdoor open-air places. ‌ ‌

Anti-interference scenarios required: smart home signal transmission, audio-visual device connection. ‌ ‌

Exposed wiring: It can be directly fixed along the wall without the need for pipes (such as wiring in self-built houses in rural areas). ‌ ‌

2.Common wire application scenarios：

Dry environment: Concealed household conduit wiring (such as wall sockets, lighting circuits). ‌ ‌

Short-distance power transmission: internal wiring of household appliances, connection of lamps.

Performance and installation features ‌‌

1.Protective performance ‌ :

The outer sheath of the sheathed wire can resist mechanical damage (squeezing/friction), moisture and corrosion, and its service life is more than 30% longer than that of ordinary wires. ‌ ‌

Ordinary wires tend to age easily when exposed and must be protected by conduits. ‌ ‌

2.Ease of installation ‌ :

The sheathed wire is multi-core integrated, and its construction efficiency is 50% faster than that of ordinary wires running through pipes. ‌ ‌

The concealed installation of ordinary wires requires the pre-burial of PVC pipes, which is a complex process. ‌ ‌

3.Cost variance ‌ :

The price of sheathed wire is 20% to 40% higher than that of ordinary wires of the same specification, but it saves the cost of conduit installation. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌