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Cable Basics

What is the difference between a wire and a cable?

Quick answer

People use the words interchangeably, but technically a wire is a single conductor (one strand or a bundle of strands acting as one), while a cable is two or more insulated conductors grouped together, usually under a common outer sheath.

So the single-core house wires you pull through conduit are 'wires', whereas a multi-core product that carries live, neutral and earth together in one jacket is a 'cable'. Both carry electricity; the difference is construction and how they are used.

In everyday Indian usage 'house wire' simply means the single-core building wire used for home wiring. If you are unsure which you need, see how to choose the right cable.

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