What Type Of Electrical Wire Is Used In Homes?

If you look inside your home, and the vicinity around it (backyard, shed, outdoor lighting etc.), you’ll probably see various types of electrical wiring and cables used. Here are four of the most common ones used in homes:

1.Non-Metallic Cable

The most common types of electrical wiring, used for home electrification purposes, is non-metallic cable (also commonly known as NM cable). Many of you may know it from common brand names like “Romex”. It is categorized by three or more conductors in its manufacture. Those individual conductors (or strands) are sheathed (or encased) in a flexible plastic jacket.

Typical components within NM cable include a hot wire, neutral wire and a ground (or earth) wire.

2.Armored Cable

Some jurisdictions do not allow the use of NM cables. In such areas, the home electrification wire f choice is Armored Cable (or AC). It is also known by its alternate (and common) name BX. To provide extra protection to the individual conductors inside the cable, cable makers design AC wires using flexible metallic sheathes. Depending on local house electrification regulations, you may not be permitted to use AC on residential structures more than 3-stories high.

3.Underground Feeder Cable

If your residential application involves wet, outdoor use, then an underground electrical wire, such as underground feeder, or UF, the wire is what you need. These cables are a type of NM cable, and they don’t need protection of ceilings, walls or flooring to function properly. They may be buried in trenches and outdoor channels without metal or PVC conduits. Similar in design to NM wires, UF cables are encased in comparatively less-flexible solid plastic. UF Cable belongs to underground electrical wire types.

4)Metal-Clad Cable

In some areas of the home, like cellars, basements and sheds, where there’s an electrical wire running through the room/area, the wire may be exposed to physical damage. In such cases, homebuilders typically use metal-clad wire. These are the cable of choice in unfinished areas of the home where exposed cables might have a greater risk of damage.