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
Notification Show More
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

Advantages of Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries
Dahlander Motor Control Circuit and Power Circuit
Difference Between Circuit Breaker and Disconnector
Electrical Terminology
Testing and Inspection of Bonding and Grounding Systems
Industrial Circuit Breakers – Most Common Types – Principle
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

Top Electrical Engineering Questions & Answers
What are HP and LP Switches in HVAC?
Types of Tripping Protection in MCCB
Why Three-phase Voltage is 440 Volts?
Lithium-ion Battery Charging Systems
Basics of Electrical Transformer
Various Control Methods in Servo Motor Drives
What is a Current Transformer?

Keep Learning

Difference between Stepper Motor and DC Motor

Difference between Stepper Motor and DC Motor

Electric Motors Efficiency Classes

Electric Motors Efficiency Classes

Difference Between Circuit Breaker and Fuse

Difference Between Circuit Breaker and Fuse

LCS Configuration equipped with LOTO Facility

Motor Control Signal Interface

What Happens When a Pump Runs Dry

What Happens When a Pump Runs Dry? How to Avoid it?

Formula of AMP, KW, KVA, HP for AC and DC Voltages

Formula of AMP, KW, KVA, HP for AC and DC Voltages

Garage Door Roller Shutter

Shutter Door Control using Motor and Limit Switches

Difference between RCCB and RCBO

Difference between RCCB and RCBO

Learn More

Siemens LOGO PLC Complete Programming Course

Siemens LOGO PLC Complete Programming Course

Questions and Answers in Electrical Machines

Questions and Answers in Electrical Machines

What is an RTD

Components of RTD

Ladder Logic of Motor Forward and Reverse

PLC Programming Example for Motor Forward and Reverse Control

100 Digital Electronics and Microprocessor Questions for Practice Exam

100 Digital Electronics and Microprocessor Questions for Practice Exam

hall-effect-sensor

Hall Effect Sensor Working Principle Animation

Time Response Analysis

Effect of Adding a Zero to a System

Sensors & Transducers Questions and Answers

Top 100 Sensors & Transducers Questions and Answers for Freshers

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?