What Is a 4-Core Power Cable? How to Connect It?

4 Core Power Cable is the ideal choice for outdoor applications or projects where a large amount of cables pass through dense cable corridors. In these cases, 4 core armored cables can protect the inner core from external factors such as heat and pressure.

What is 4 Core Power Cable?

Usually, three-phase cables are not common in residential and domestic applications due to heavy loads. However, they are standard in other applications such as high-rise residential complexes, commercial, and industrial applications, where the use of 4 core power lines is essential. For three-phase heavy load power applications, you may see cables such as 240mm 4 core power line used by electricians. The 4 core power line used here has four conductors, with each color in the 4 core power cable having a specific function. Three of them are live (L1, L2, and L3), and one acts as neutral. These color-coded core wires are individually covered in a PVC insulation layer to keep them separate, combined into a 4 core power line, and sheathed in an inner layer.

There are various types of 4 core cables to choose from. One common type is Steel Wire Armored (SWA) cable, also known as 4 core SWA cable. In this version, the cable has an additional layer of protection built-in. The inner sheath is covered by another layer - usually made of galvanized stranded steel wire. To complete the 4 core armored cable, an additional insulation outer layer is added to protect the SWA coating.

Another unique feature of the 4-core power cable is the insulation material used during cable manufacturing. You may see heavy-duty cables like 35mm 4 core armored cable on the sides of roads and bridges. They have insulation material made from a substance called XLPE. "XL" stands for cross-linked - indicating the technology used to manufacture the 4 core SWA cable. Then, "PE" represents polyethylene - the material used to produce the insulation. Such cables are called 4 core XLPE cables.

How to wire a 4 Core Power Cable?

Usually, you connect a 4 core power line for applications like 2-way circuits. For example, you can connect this type of circuit to control applications that run to the same location - a fan controlled from two points or a set of lights. Whether you use a 4 core flexible cable or a single-core rigid cable, the wiring must adhere to the color code used. According to the revised UK cable standard, there have been changes in the colors of the 4 core power line. The old colors for the four cores in the 4 core power line were red, yellow, blue, and black. These have now been replaced with brown, black, gray, and blue. In the new regulations, blue is the neutral. Brown is the live (live) wire. When wiring applications with a four-core line, it is important to remember this 4 core power line color specification.