Anyone who’s worked on projects knows that if a cable has a problem, even a small section, the labor costs and penalties for digging up the ground, stopping work to investigate, and redoing the repairs can be excruciating.
Especially for armored cables, clients choose us for one simple reason: peace of mind.
We are a cable factory from China. We’re not the kind of small workshop that only offers low prices and disappears when problems arise. Our mission is simple: deliver according to standards and fulfill contracts.
What problems can we solve for you?
- Solid Quality: Our armor layer (SWA/STA) thickness strictly meets standards, withstanding geological subsidence and rough construction.
- Professional Selection: Whether you need flame-retardant, oil-resistant, or low-smoke halogen-free cables, tell us your construction environment, and our engineers will directly provide you with a configuration list, preventing you from wasting money on unsuitable models.
- On-Time Delivery: We have our own raw material inventory and mature production lines. We ship on the day you say you want, without delaying your project schedule.
- Export Experience: We understand international standards (IEC/BS, etc.), and we’re familiar with customs declaration, logistics, and documentation, so we won’t cause you any trouble with customs clearance.
Seeing our samples and factory reports speaks louder than words. Or send us an inquiry: let’s compare the parameters, and you’ll see how professional we are.
What is an Armoured Cable?
Armored cables are essentially cables encased in a layer of “iron armor.” Unlike ordinary cables, which are mostly covered in plastic (PVC), armored cables are specially wrapped with a steel or aluminum strip. This metal shell makes the cable exceptionally durable: it can withstand heavy loads, construction impacts, and even damage from rodents underground. These cables are typically used in harsh environments, emphasizing robustness, damage resistance, and long lifespan.
The Structure of Armoured Cable
The overall structure, from the inside out, consists of the following core parts:
- Conductor: Usually made of high-purity copper or aluminum, available in single-strand solid or multi-strand stranded forms.
- Insulation layer: Tightly wrapped around the outside of the conductor, commonly made of materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Its function is to isolate the current between conductors, preventing leakage and short circuits.
- Inner sheath layer: Wrapped around the insulation layer, generally made of PVC or PE. Its function is to protect the insulation layer from damage by the armor layer, and also provides moisture and dust protection.
- Armor layer: This is the key structural feature that distinguishes armored cables from ordinary cables. Common types include:
- Steel tape armor (wrapped or longitudinally wrapped): Made of low-carbon steel tape, with strong pressure and impact resistance, suitable for direct burial underground or laying in environments with heavy loads.
- Steel wire armor: Made of fine steel wires stranded together, with excellent tensile strength, commonly used underwater, vertically laid, or in scenarios with strong tensile forces.
- Aluminum alloy tape armor: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and provides mechanical protection, suitable for laying environments where weight is a concern.
- Outer sheath: The outermost protective structure of the cable, usually made of PVC, PE, or low-smoke halogen-free materials. Its function is to prevent corrosion of the armor layer and isolate it from external water, dust, chemicals, etc., extending the cable’s service life.
Armoured cable types
1.Steel Wire Armored (SWA) Cable
SWA cables are the most common type of heavy-duty armored cable. A layer of high-strength galvanized steel wire is spirally wound over the insulated core (usually XLPE or PVC insulation) and inner sheath, and finally wrapped with a PVC outer sheath. The wire diameter and spacing are clearly specified according to standards (such as BS 5467 or IEC 60502).
Suitable applications: underground power supply in mines, equipment wiring in ports and docks, cross-sea bridge infrastructure, underwater engineering
Advantages:
High tensile and compressive strength, suitable for direct burial and heavy loads.
The steel wire layer can serve as an additional grounding conductor.
Protection against rodent bites and mechanical damage.
2.Aluminum Wire Armored (AWA) Cable
AWA uses aluminum wire instead of steel wire as the armor layer. Aluminum wire is lighter and has natural corrosion resistance.
Suitable Scenarios: Vertical cabling inside high-rise buildings, coastal communication base stations, island power supply projects
Advantages:
Lightweight, reducing installation difficulty and support requirements;
Good corrosion resistance, suitable for chemical, coastal, and humid environments;
Non-magnetic, reducing eddy current losses
3.Steel Tape Armoured (STA) Cable
STA cables are armored using two galvanized steel strips wrapped intermittently, with the steel strips typically covering approximately 50% of the area. This structure makes it flatter and more flexible than SWA.
Suitable Scenarios: Underground power distribution in residential areas, urban road lighting cabling, indoor and outdoor buried projects in general factories
Advantages:
Strong compressive strength;
Lighter and more flexible than SWA, easy to install;
Cost is generally lower than SWA cables of equivalent specifications.
What are the differences between SWA and STA
| Comparison Dimensions | Steel tape armored cable | Steel wire armored cable |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical properties | High compressive strength and resistant to external extrusion | High tensile strength, capable of withstanding longitudinal tensile forces |
| Typical Model | VV22, YJV22, KVV22 | VV32, YJV32, KVV32 |
| Applicable Scenarios | Direct burial underground, pipelines, tunnels, horizontal laying | Shafts, bridges, slopes, underwater, vertical laying |
| Flexibility | Relatively stiff, with a large bending radius | More flexible, suitable for complex paths |
| Cost Price | Low cost, economical and practical | The manufacturing process is complex, and the price is higher. |
| Corrosion prevention requirements | The outer layer needs to have a plastic anti-corrosion protective sleeve, especially in saline-alkali land or corrosive soil. | It also requires a corrosion-resistant outer layer and is commonly used in humid or underwater environments. |
Steel tape armored cables are suitable for:
Direct burial: Resistant to soil pressure and rock impact
Indoor shafts/pipes: Prevents damage from external impacts
Explosion-proof areas: Enhances blast resistance
Scenery requiring radial pressure or lateral impact
Steel wire armored cables are suitable for:
Suspended installation: Bridges, tunnels, ports, and other scenarios requiring overhead installation
Underwater/submarine installation: Resistant to water erosion and anchor drag
Powering mobile equipment: Cranes, tunnel boring machines, and other equipment requiring repeated bending and dragging
Long-distance vertical installation: Deep wells, high-rise buildings, and other applications requiring significant tensile strength
Armoured Cable Price
Below is a general price range for common armored cables (prices are per meter and fluctuate with copper prices; please contact us for the latest pricing).
| Cable Type | Insulation | Size (mm²) | Price Range (USD/m) | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Tape Armoured | PVC | 4 | 1.20−1.20−1.80 | Urban power grids, residential wiring |
| Steel Wire Armoured | XLPE | 16 | 3.50−3.50−4.80 | Mining, industrial, underwater installations |
| Non-Metallic Armoured | Fluoropolymer | 25 | 8.00−8.00−10.50 | Data centers, chemical plants |
| Single-Core Armoured | XLPE | 95 | 7.20−7.20−9.50 | High-power industrial applications |
| Cable Size (mm²/AWG) | Current Rating (Amps) | Recommended Application | Armour Type Suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mm² / 16 AWG | 13 A | Residential lighting/small outlets | Steel tape/Aluminium |
| 2.5 mm² / 14 AWG | 20 A | Household appliances | Steel tape |
| 4 mm² / 12 AWG | 25 A | Electric water heaters | Steel tape |
| 6 mm² / 10 AWG | 32 A | Air conditioners, small motors | Steel wire/tape |
| 10 mm² / 8 AWG | 44 A | Industrial machinery, subpanels | Steel wire |
| 16 mm² / 6 AWG | 63 A | Heavy-duty industrial equipment | Steel wire |
| 25 mm² / 4 AWG | 85 A | Large motors, underground feeders | Steel wire |
Q1: Do armored cables need to be grounded?
Yes, they must be grounded. Because the armor layer is metallic, it can become live if the internal insulation is damaged. Reliable grounding ensures that protective devices (such as circuit breakers) are triggered in case of leakage, protecting personnel. Furthermore, grounding the metallic layer also provides some electromagnetic shielding.
Q2: Can armored cables be bent?
Yes, but the bending radius requirements are stricter than for ordinary cables. Due to the metallic layer, excessive bending can deform the armor or even puncture the inner sheath. Generally, the permissible bending radius for armored cables is 12 to 15 times their outer diameter.
Q3: Why can’t single-core AC cables be armored with steel tape?
Because when AC current flows through a single-core cable, the metallic armor layer generates a magnetic field. If steel tape (a magnetic material) is used to form a closed loop, it will generate huge eddy current losses, causing the cable to overheat severely and even burn out the insulation. Therefore, single-core AC cables must be armored with non-magnetic materials (such as aluminum alloy tape or stainless steel wire).
Q4: Can armored cables be buried directly underground?
Yes, that’s possible. This is one of its core advantages. Because of its metal protective layer, it doesn’t require a conduit like ordinary cables and can be directly buried underground, saving on construction costs. However, in highly corrosive soils, it’s recommended to choose armored cables with a corrosion-resistant outer sheath.