You’ll
often see the terms “cable assembly” and “wire harness” used
interchangeably when sourcing electrical components for product
development.
People also mistakenly use the terms “cable” and “wire”
synonymously.
But in truth, these components couldn’t be more different.
Sure, a cable assembly and wire harness are used in electrical and
communication fields to route electricity between different locations.
But that’s where the similarities end.
Both a cable assembly an wire
harness have a distinct purpose, which means the success of your product
depends on selecting the right one based on the specifications of the
application.
Here’s a brief overview of the differences between cable
assemblies and wire harnesses to help you make the right choice.
Cable:
Two or more conductors wrapped in a single jacket. Most cables consist
of a positive wire that carries the electrical current, a neutral wire
that completes the electrical loop and a grounding wire.
Like
wire harnesses, a cable assembly is a groups of wire or cable that also
have an exterior covering. But the entire bundle is encased in an
extremely durable sheath made of material, like shrink-wrapped
thermoplastic, rubber, or vinyl. Cable assemblies serve three main
purposes:
To protect outside stimuli (like environmental materials or even technicians) from harm caused by the flow of electricity.
To ensure electrical systems are organized and easy for technicians to navigate.
To protect the wiring or cable against wear and tear or other harsh environmental conditions.
A cable assembly is custom-designed to address logistical challenges
such as size constraints, extreme temperature exposure, fire, moisture,
dust, friction, chemical substances exposure, flexibility and more.
Because of the level of customization available with a cable assembly,
they can also be ordered in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Wire:
A single conductor (usually made of copper or aluminum). Wires are low
resistance, low cost, and measured by “gauge”. The smaller the gauge,
the thicker the wire. The thicker the wire, the higher the risk of
damage resulting from a burned fuse.
Open
up a wire harness, and you’ll find multiple wires, each donning its own
single layer of exterior covering. This covering is typically made from
a thermoset or thermoplastic material, and serves two primary purposes:
To protect outside stimuli (like environmental materials or even technicians) from harm caused by the flow of electricity.
To ensure electrical systems are organized and easy for technicians to navigate.
The jacketing material
that covers each wire does little to protect the wire itself, which is
why this solution is typically employed in applications where moisture,
dust, temperature and friction are not a concern—for example, when the wires will exist inside a housing unit or shell, like a remote control.
