Copper Welding and Power Cable Specs, Wire and Cable Information

There are many different types of power cablescables used in heavy duty industrial applications.
including Welding cable, DLO (locomotive), Type W,They're made similar to SOOW portable cord
Type G-GC and Stage lighting (Entertainment Cable).products, but are much larger and handle more
These are all made with a rubber neoprene jacket, butamperage. Type W and Type G-GC are made with
they each have differences in insulation thickness and30 gauge bare copper stranding to make up 3 or 4
application. This article will explain the differences andconductors. Those conductors are insulated and then
help you understand how each cable is used.covered with an overall heavy duty neoprene jacket.
Welding cable is the most basic because it's just theThe only difference between these two power cables
copper stranding and the insulation. The pricing isis the Type G-GC have 2 smaller ground wires and a
incredibly volatile because copper is a commodityground check wire as well. The Type W only has 2, 3,
which changes the pricing daily. Welding cables, and4, or 5 same size conductors.
the rest of the power cables listed, are made with 30Stage lighting cable (Entertainment cable) is used in the
gauge fully annealed bare copper stranding. It hasindustrial lighting market for theatre, television, night
good flexibility, abrasion-resistant, and good colorclubs, motion pictures and spot lights. It has 30 gauge
retention. It's mostly used for secondary voltagebare copper stranding and a neoprene jacket. It's very
resistance welding leads.similar to the welding cable but with a slightly thicker
DLO cable (Diesel locomotive cable) is a power cablejacket and a temperature rating of 105°C instead
made with 24 gauge tinned copper stranding. Since it'sof 90°C.
made with the thicker gauge size it makes the cableIt may seem like these cables are only slightly different,
less flexible. DLO cable is made with a thicker CPEbut they have been analyzed many times by industry
(Chlorinated Polyethylene) jacket. Basic applications forprofessions that these differences are needed. Make
locomotive cable are oil and gas drilling rigs, dieselsure to use the correct cable for the longest life
electric locomotives and telecom power supply.possible or you'll find yourself replacing is far sooner
Type W and Type G-GC and multi-conductor powerthan needed.