Electrical Cable- definition & What is core in electric cable?

Hey there! In this post, I'll talk about the different types of electrical cable cores. I'll cover what they are, what they're made of, and where they're used. Whether you're a DIYer or just curious about electrical cables, this post is for you.

I used to be surprised by how electricity is transferred to my home using electric cables. But after learning more about it, I'm fascinated by the hard work and engineering that went into making it happen.

Electrical cable Definition-Explained

An electrical cable is a flexible, insulated conductor that consists of single or multiple wires braided or twisted together to form a single assembly.

Its primary purpose is to transmit electricity from one location to another, whether it's within a building, across long distances outdoors, or in various industrial applications.

Insulation for electric cable typically made of PVC or XLPE.

Electric Cable Core

The core is the part of the electrical cable that conducts electricity and terminates the connection for supplying power to electrical load.

According to the research, copper (Cu) is the best electrical conductor that can be used as a core in electric cable. Aluminum (Al) is also a good conductor, but it is not as good as copper.

Both materials have a low resistance to the flow of electricity compared to other materials.

Single-Core and Multi-Core Cables: A Guide

If you are an electrical engineer, you have definitely heard of single-core and multi-core cables. 

They are two of the most common types of cables used in electrical applications. 

1.    Single Core Cable

2.    Multi-Core Cable

Single-core cables have a single conductor, while multi-core cables have multiple conductors. The type of cable that is used depends on the specific application.

Single Core Cable & Sizes

Single-core cables are made of a single conductive wire that is covered in a PVC insulation.

Color Code Combination

  • Green and yellow: This color combination is used for earth bonding cables.
  •  Red: This color is used for phase conductors in single-phase applications. (Run may vary)
  • Black: This color is used for neutral conductors in single-phase applications. (Run may vary) 
  • Blue: This color is used for neutral conductors in three-phase applications. (Run may vary) 
  •  Brown: This color is used for phase conductors in three-phase applications. (Run may vary) 
  • Gray: This color is sometimes used for phase conductors in three-phase applications. (Run may vary)
     Color coding for cables may vary by country or region.

     The size of a single-core cable can vary depending on the short-circuit current of the electrical equipment.

However, cross-sectional areas of 2 to 10 square millimeters are typically used in low-voltage (LV) applications, such as lighting and appliances.

For high-voltage applications, such as 11kV and 33kV, cross-sectional areas will range from 90 to 250 square millimeters. 

What is a Three-Core Cable Used For?

You might have seen single-core cables in your household appliances, such as lighting systems and single-phase appliances. That's because they're commonly used for domestic purposes.

Single-core cables are great for most household appliances, but they're not as good at handling heat as multi-core cables. So, if you're working with high temperatures, you'll want to use a multi-core cable instead.

Now that we've covered single-core cables, let's talk about multi-core cables.

Multi-core Cable types list

Multi-core cables are made of a two or more conductive wire that is covered in a PVC insulation.

  •   2-core cable
  •  3-core cable
  • 3.5-core cable
  • 4-core cable

Have You seen 2 core Cable? 

A two-core cable is an electrical cable that has two insulated conductors housed in a single PVC or XLPE sheath. 

If you see two insulated copper conductors, one red and one black, in a single PVC sheath, then it is called a 2-core cable.

Two-core cables are most commonly used in single-phase appliances, such as lights, fans, and power tools. Red Wire act as phase and black wire act as neutral.

What is a Two-Core Cable Used For?

This type of two-core cable is used in telephone services, computer devices, and electronic devices.

Have you seen 3 Core Cable?

A three-core cable is a type of electrical cable that has three insulated conductors housed in a single PVC or XLPE sheath insulator.

If you see three insulated copper wires, typically color-coded red, yellow, and blue, housed in a single PVC sheath, then you are looking at a 3-core cable.

What is a Three-Core Cable Used For?


This type of three-core cable is used to deliver three-phase electrical power to the power distribution board. Equipment's such as three phase motors, outdoor lighting system connected with 3-core cable.

3-Core Cable for Single Phase

3-core electric cables with the color codes red, black, and green/yellow are commonly used in single-phase applications. The red conductor is the phase, the black conductor is the neutral, and the green/yellow conductor is the earth.

Have you seen 3.5 Core Cable?

It's a type of electrical cable that has four insulated conductors. Three of the conductors have the same cross-sectional area, while the fourth conductor has a smaller cross-sectional area. The fourth conductor is typically used to carry neutral current, and it is considered to be half a conductor.

The color coding for individual conductors in electrical cables is red, yellow, blue, and black.

The cable with the same cross-sectional area is used to carry phase current, while the core with a half conductor is used to carry neutral current.

What is a 3.5 Core Cable Used For?


Normally, the neutral conductor in a 3.5-core cable provides the return path for electric current flow. This type of wiring is required for some three-phase motors and lighting systems, but engineers prefer to use 4-core cables in these cases. As a result, 3.5-core cables are not used very often.

However, 3.5-core cables are typically less expensive than 4-core cables. Hence people prefer this.

Have you seen 4 Core Cable?

Similar to a 3.5-core cable, a 4-core cable has four insulated conductors, but all four conductors have the same cross-sectional area.

4 core cable

The color coding for individual conductors in electrical cables is red, yellow, blue, and black.

What is a 4 Core Cable Used For?

4-core cables are similar to 3.5-core cables, but they have one additional neutral conductor with same cross sectional area. This additional neutral conductor can be used to provide a dedicated neutral conductor for single-phase loads.

This type of cable is used in lighting, load distribution, and unbalanced loading conditions. etc.







11 Comments


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