THHN Copper Building Wire

THHN Copper Building Wire is the fundamental insulated copper wire that can be used in thousands of applications. The simple yet efficient design is suitable for use in almost any indoor location and many outdoor locations as well.

THHN Copper Building Wire is most often installed in conduit and cable tray. The cable is rugged enough to operate on its own in most cases, but to ensure the cable’s security, the cable is typically used with the extra support of conduit and tray. Cable tray and conduit is usually quite inexpensive and the combination of cable tray and THHN Copper Building Wire often costs less than a fancy armored and insulated cable with all the bells and whistles. THHN Copper Building Wire offers the same performance most of the time.

Copper building wire has been used since the early days of electrical engineering. Nowadays, it comes in many forms and sizes. Service entrance cable, thermostat wire and underground feeder cable are some examples of copper building wire.

Copper is one of the most conductive elements on earth, second only to silver. Copper is one of a small few metals with one free valence electron, which can be easily removed from the parent atom. When a potential is applied, these electrons move accordingly, which produces an electrical current. It’s no surprise that with its extremely powerful conductive properties, it is widely used for electrical purposes.

THHN Copper Building Wire is a popular cable for services. Services are where primary distribution is reduced to utility voltage and broken off to serve individual residences and buildings. Being such a powerful conductor, copper is the preferred material for this task. THHN Copper Building Wire is widely used as service cable in many countries with newer electrical installations because it was once thought that aluminum was a better choice. However, over the years, copper proved to be a more powerful conductor and is a better cable over time.

In addition to its conductive prowess, copper shows excellent resistance to corrosion. Copper is a natural antimicrobial, therefore it repels corrosion from bacteria and fungus. This is an admirable trait for electrical wiring because it is not likely that the wire will need to be replaced due to corrosion.

THHN Copper Building Wire offers excellent flexibility which is a very admirable trait in most wiring applications. A rigid wire that does not flex is not usable in many situations because the cable cannot be shaped or make turns within a building

Another popular use for THHN Copper Building Wire is for use as feeder cable. Feeder cable itself has many uses, but THHN Copper Building Wire is the most common cable used for this purpose. When used as a feeder cable, THHN Copper Building Wire is most commonly used in lighting applications. It is found in residential, commercial and industrial locations when used as lighting cable.

THHN Copper Building Wire is also widely used in the entertainment industry. The cable is used for stage lighting and portable power circuits. It is sometimes used for telephone wiring both internal and externally. It can also be used for projector wiring in motion picture theaters. In other theater applications, THHN Copper Building Wire is used for stage lighting and to power small wattage sound equipment.

Nassau Electrical Supply carries several types of THHN Copper Building Wire, each cable engineered for specific applications and environments. The cable is available in all sizes for small and large applications and is available in multi-conductor construction.

Branch circuitry is commonly wired with THHN Copper Building Wire. Branch circuits are typically indoor wiring systems within a dwelling or building. Once the feeder delivers power to the main distribution panel of a building, the power is divided and further distributed to different outlets within the building. The wiring that leads the current from the distribution panel board to the interior outlets is called branch circuits. THHN Copper Building Wire is the best (and therefore most popular) choice for branch circuiting because it is inexpensive but still has the conductive power to deliver enough amperage to large appliances. It is easy to install and its antimicrobial traits are resistant to corrosion from bacteria. It is important to have a cable that will not corrode in a branch circuit because these cables are usually installed with permanent intent. Therefore, it is very expensive and difficult to replace the wiring if the cable becomes defective.

Copper THHN/THWN-2 Building Wire can be used in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications including service cable trays, electrical feeder cables, and branch circuits. It is commonly used in conduit, a tube or trough that channels the wiring and further protects the conductors from interference. Conduit can be made of metal or plastic; the best type depending on the task at hand. The THHN build is capable of functioning efficiently in temperatures up to 90°C and is preferred in hot, dry locations. THWN-2 can also handle temperatures up to 90°C, but is more commonly used in wet locations such as tropical regions or at sea. THWN-2 can also be exposed to oil or coolants, but under these circumstances its heat tolerance drops to 60°C.

In municipal applications, fire alarms and public light signals are often wired with THHN Copper Building Wire. This is the preferred cable for these applications because the cable is available in small gauges for internal wiring of these systems. Public fire alarm systems require long runs of wire to connect the fire alarm hand switches to the alarm sounder. THHN Copper Building Wire can tolerate high temperatures which is why it makes a good cable for a fire alarm system. Light signals also use THHN Copper Building Wire because the wire is impervious to moisture and dryness and therefore can be installed in a public signal structure and will not require replacement for a very long amount of time. The copper conductor is powerful enough to continuously transmit the amount of electricity needed to power the light signal.

Similarly, in residential scenarios, THHN Copper Building Wire can be used in temperature control systems such as thermostats. The wiring can be connected to heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems to keep the house at a comfortable temperature.

Small gauges of this wire are used as internal wiring for electronics such as televisions, radios, gaming systems and speakers. These electronics benefit from the powerful conductive properties of copper wire. Copper metal is a powerful enough conductor to provide smooth flow of electricity, which is important for the functionality of electronics.

Copper THHN Building Wire is a concentric lay stranded copper conductor that is insulated with a nylon jacket. The acronym THHN stands for: Thermoplastic High Heat resistant Nylon coated, referring to the insulation type. Similarly, THWN stands for: Thermoplastic Heat and Water resistant Nylon coated. The external jacket creates a protective armor to preserve the conductors from corrosion due to excessive dryness, moisture, and sunlight.

THHN Copper Building Wire’s versatile properties come mostly from its insulation. THHN stands for “Thermoplastic, High Heat resistant, Nylon-coated”. The insulation is made with a thermoset resin that is heated and slowly cooled, making an extremely tough rubber-like material that serves as an excellent protector for the conductors. Without the insulation, the cable would be much more susceptible to corrosion and abrasion which can potentially damage the cable to the point where the cable is not usable. The insulation also protects from electric shock so that the cable can be handled more safely and to drastically reduce the threat of fire.

The thermoset insulation that is used on THHN Copper Building Wire is used on many other products as a protective coating. Thermoset rubber is flexible, yet durable enough so that it is impervious to oil and chemicals. The material has a smooth surface and is available in colors. The cable is very aesthetically appealing for such a simple design. The cable is used in electronics as color-coded wire for identification purposes.

Overall, THHN Copper Building Wire is one of the most popular cables because of its cost-effectiveness and ability to endure most of the destructive elements that are known to break down a cable. Most other cables require a compromise in one of those departments, as the cable either costs more or the quality and durability just isn’t there. THHN Copper Building Wire is one of the best cables available that is UL approved for permanent installation. In most cases, it is highly preferred to have a cable that will not need to be replaced. THHN Copper Building Wire has proven its longevity and in most cases, will withstand the test of time and continue to function through the elements.

Nassau Electrical Supply carries a variety of THHN Copper Building Wire products. Contact us today and we will help you decide on the best product to complete your project at the best price possible. Our knowledgeable staff will assess your needs and provide you with the best direction to help you pick the best THHN Copper Building Wire for the job.