Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: Difference Between Power Cable and Instrument Cable
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Electrical Basics > Difference Between Power Cable and Instrument Cable

Difference Between Power Cable and Instrument Cable

In this post, we will learn the difference between power cable and instrument cable used in industrial applications.

Last updated: November 14, 2022 10:38 am
Viral Nagda
Electrical Basics
No Comments
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

In this post, we will learn the difference between power cables and instrument cables.

Contents
What is a Power Cable?What is an Instrument Cable?Difference between the Power Cable and Instrument Cable

In a control circuit, there are two types of cabling – power and control. A control cable is also called an instrument cable. It is important for an electrical engineer to understand the difference between both these types, as only these two types of cables are the most used ones.

What is a Power Cable?

As the name defines, a power cable is used for higher voltage transmission. In your home, suppose you are powering a mixer. Then, you must have seen that the cable size will be thicker and larger, which is used to power the mixer. This is a power cable.

Power Cable

Power cable is used to handle high voltage and current (typically up to 400 A and 32KVAC).

What is an Instrument Cable?

For automation and instrumentation control, this type of cable is used. An instrument cable is thinner in size and can handle only a smaller amount of voltage and current (typically up to 24VDC and 20 mA).

All the instruments, field devices, and controllers like PLC require this type of cable to control electrical flow.

Instrument Cable
Image Courtesy: UCable

Difference between the Power Cable and Instrument Cable

The following points focus on the differences between instruments and power cables.

  1. Power cable is used for power transmission and distribution, overhead equipment, and other high-power applications; whereas instrument cable is used for industrial automation and other signal control applications.
  2. Power cables are used for energy transfer; whereas instrument cables are used for signal transfer. Now, what is this? As power cables deal in high power, a large electromagnetic field is generated around the cables every time. But, this is not the scene with control cables. As they are designed to only carry low power, they do not generate any electromagnetic field and apart from this, they are also protected from noise and other electromagnetic radiation. So, they are best used for control signal transmission.
  3. Since power cables are used in an active environment and transfer a high amount of energy, they call for excellent sheathing. In a power cord, the sheathing is strong and sturdy and is resistant to different external factors, including corrosion and temperatures. Control wires do not require the same sheathing and often have regular PVC insulation.
  4. Power cables are thicker and have a larger conductor size (1.5 mm – 630 mm) as compared to instrument cables (0.5 mm – 1.5 mm).
  5. Power cables do not require shielding, as they do not transfer any signal; as compared to instrument cables which require shielding.
  6. A single power cable mostly come in a single core (like the R phase has a single wire, the Y phase has a single wire, etc.); whereas a single instrument cable is mostly a multicore cable. It cannot be a single core as it has to transmit signals properly and also be thinner in size to avoid complexity.

In this way, we understand the difference between power cables and instrument cables.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, PLC, and SCADA video tutorials.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive daily updates.

Read Next:

  • What is a Substation?
  • Motor Cooling Methods
  • Flame Retardant Cables
  • SCADA in Power System
  • Single and Multi-Core Cables
Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

Types of Industrial Storage Batteries
Difference Between NEMA and IEC Motors?
Electrical Energy Management System and SCADA in Power System
Types of Motor Loads – Constant & Variable Torque, Horsepower
What is Arc Protective Clothing? – Importance, Features, Materials
Difference Between AIS and GIS Panels
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Download Electrical Enclosure Book
What is a Lightning Arrester? How does it work?
Motor Inrush Current Measurements
What is a Semiconductor Fuse?
Transformer Testing – Routine Tests of Transformers
Shutter Door Control using Motor and Limit Switches
Technical Specification for Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) System
Why is IGBT used in VFD?

Keep Learning

What is a Soft Starter

What is a Soft Starter? Principle, Advantages, Disadvantages

What is ELCB

What is ELCB? Principle, Advantages, Disadvantages, Applications

Electrical Frequency

One Nation One Grid One Frequency – Electrical Engineering

Introduction to Protective Systems

Introduction to Protective Systems

Difference Between Wattmeter and Energy Meter

Difference Between Wattmeter and Energy Meter

Electrical Link Box

What is a Link Box?

Electrical Drives Animation

Electrical Drives – Modes, Types, Speed Control Applications

What is electrical transformer

Basics of Electrical Transformer

Learn More

AI Technology in Video Surveillance

Next-Generation Security Surveillance Systems – AI Technology

Calculate Incident Power in Radar Level Measurement

Calculate Incident Power in Radar Level Measurement

Single Phase Half-controlled Rectifier RL Load With FD

Phase-Controlled Half-Wave Rectifier With Freewheeling Diode

control valve parts

Common Terms Used in Control Valves

Simulation in Machine Expert HVAC

How to do Simulation in Schneider PLC?

Full Bore or Reduced Bore Valves

When to choose Full Bore Valve or Reduced Bore Valve ?

Pressure Gauge Datasheet Preparation

How to Prepare Pressure Gauge Datasheet ?

2-way solenoid valve Normally Closed

What is a 2-way Solenoid Valve ?

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?