Cable assembly manufacturing and wire harness manufacturers: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
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Sometimes you see the term cable assembly and wire harness used interchangeably when sourcing electrical components. People also mistakenly use the terms cable and wire interchanged. But in truth, these components couldn’t be more different. A cable assembly and wire harness are used in electrical and communication fields to route electricity between different locations. But that’s where the similarities end. Both a cable assembly and wire harness have a distinct purpose, which means the success of your product depends on selecting the right one based on the specifications of the application. Here’s a brief overview of the differences between cable assemblies and wire harnesses to help you make the right choice.
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Cable Assembly
Cable: Two or more conductors wrapped in a single jacket. Most cables consist of a positive wire that carries the electrical current, a neutral wire that completes the electrical loop and a grounding wire.
Like wire harnesses, a cable assembly is a group of wires or cables that also have an exterior covering. But the entire bundle is encased in an extremely durable sheath made of material, like shrink-wrapped thermoplastic, rubber, or vinyl. Cable assemblies serve three main purposes:
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To protect outside environmental materials from harm caused by the flow of electricity.
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To ensure electrical systems are organized and easy to navigate.
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To protect the wiring or cable against wear and tear or other harsh environmental conditions.
A cable assembly is custom-designed to address logistical challenges such as size constraints, extreme temperature exposure, moisture, friction, chemical substances exposure, flexibility and more. Because of the level of customization available with a cable assembly, they can also be ordered in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Wire Harness
Wire: A single copper conductor. Copper wires are low resistance, low cost, and measured by “gauge” or "AWG" (American Wire Gauge). The smaller the gauge, the thicker the wire. The thicker the wire, the higher the risk of damage.
Open up a wire harness, and you’ll find multiple wires, each with its own single layer of exterior covering. This covering is sometimes made from PVC and other materials, and serves two primary purposes:
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To protect the outside from environmental materials or harm caused by the flow of electricity.
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To ensure electrical systems are organized and easy to navigate.
The jacket material that covers each wire does little to protect the wire itself, which is why this solution is typically employed in applications where moisture, temperature and friction are not a concern—for example, when the wires will exist inside a housing unit, shell or cabinet.
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