SWA Armoured Cable - everything you need to know
Commonly known as SWA cable, the steel wire armoured cable is a power and auxiliary control cable, designed for use in mains supply electricity.
What is an SWA Armoured Cable?
Commonly known as SWA cable, the steel wire armoured cable is a power and auxiliary control cable, designed for use in mains supply electricity. Used for underground systems, cable networks, power networks, outdoor and indoor applications, and cable ducting. The SWA cable can also be referred to mains cable, power cable, armoured cable and booklet-armoured cable. With copper wiring creating the perfect conductors for the core with a range of types such as 2 core, 3 core and 5 core SWA Cables to name a few.
What does the BS546/ BS6724 stand for?
You will frequently see the term BS5467 or BS6724 when referring to an SWA cable. These phrases mean that the SWA cable meets the British Standards requirements, for both construction and testing.
Construction of an SWA Armoured Cable
The typical construction of SWA PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) cable is as follows:
| Conductor: | Class 2 stranded plain copper conductor to BS EN 60228:2005 |
| Insulation: | XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) |
| Bedding: | PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) |
| Armouring: | SWA (Steel Wire Armour) |
| Sheath: | PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) |
| Sheath Colour: | Black (Carbon loaded for UV stability) |
| Voltage Rating: | 600/100V |
The SWA Cable is designed to have mechanical protection, which is why the cable is often used for external use. The armour is used to reduce any risk of the cable getting pinched or damaged; the steel is used to protect the armoured cable. SWA cables are heavy, which makes them extremely difficult to bend; therefore they are most suited to underground cabling or fixed to outdoor walls using cable cleats.
SWA Cable Multi Core (Steel Wired Armoured Cables)
A multi core swa cable, is a cable with a number of cores, steel wire armour is only used on multi core cables. Edwardes supply a number of different cores for the SWA cable:
2 Core SWA Armoured Cable
A two core steel wire armoured cable or SWA Cable is live and neutral for Class II and Double Insulated appliances which do not need earth connection.
3 Core SWA Armoured Cable
Three core SWA Cables are live, neutral and earth, unlike two core which is only live and neutral. Three core cable is for Class I or Single Insulated which must have earth connections.
4 Core SWA Armoured Cable
Four core cables are perfect for low voltage or low current signal applications. Made of 4 copper individual colour coordinated cables hence the name four core cable.
5 Core SWA Armoured Cable
The five core SWA Cable is most commonly used in low-voltage transmissions and uses a three-phase line with one zero line for the power supply.
7 Core SWA Armoured Cable
The seven core cable prime purpose is for low-voltage connections with a max of normal 50Vdc. Each core is made from copper conductors within the steel armouring.
Shop our extensive steel wired armoured cable range.