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SOOW Cable

1. What’s SOOW Cable?
You’ve probably heard of SO Cord, and you’re wondering "what does SOOW stand for?" SOOW is an acronym which describes a portable power cord which is made with optimized properties for Service entrance, oil resistant insulation and Jacket, a medium voltage rating, weather, and water resistance.

The acronyms of SOOW Cord infer as follows:
S; Service cable rated 600 volts
OO; Oil and water resistant insulation and jacketing
W; Weather and water resistant jacketing

• Generally, the SO cable definition describes a medium voltage service entrance power cable with sturdy insulation and a sturdy jacket. SOOW wire is one of the most widely used service entrance cables for a wide range of applications. It is widely used because they come in a wide variety of AWG sizes.

• Many buyers are always torn between two main SER cables; SJOOW vs. SOOW cable. SOOW is preferred over SJOOW because of its versatility, durability, and top-notch flexibility. This makes SOOW a very viable option for an extensively large range of home, commercial and industrial applications which require SOOW Cords.

2. Types of SOOW Cables?

SO Cords come in different Gauge sizes ranging from 18 AWG to 2 AWG. It is very important that choose the one that meets your specific needs. Although they come in different Conductor sizes, they can operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C up to 90°C as specified by MSHA. The different types of so cable include:

• 2/3 SOOW Cable
• 2/4 SOOW Cable
• 6/3 SOOW Cable
• 6/4 SOOW Cable
• 6/5 SOOW Cable
• 8/3 SOOW Cable
• 8/4 SOOW Cable
• 10/3 SOOW Cable
• 10/4 SOOW Cable
• 10/5 SOOW Cable

3. What the outstanding features of SOOW Wires?
• SO cable are renowned for durability and flexibility. Besides those, they are highly rated because they also effectively resist industrial solvents, abrasion, ozone, tearing, changes in weather and water.

4. Are SOOW Cables submersible?
• SO Cables are made of water-tight insulation and a water-tight jacket which won't let water in when you install the cable in a marshy environment. For this reason, you can use this cable as a rig, ship, pump or submersible service entrance cable.

• However, are so cords fire resistant? Guess what? Yes, SOOW wires are fire resistant too. Unlike the case with SJOOW cables, the sow cords jackets are of a fire retardant compound which hardens into an incombustible mixture in case of a fire breakout. The incombustible compound protects the underlying so wire keeping it safe.

• Another question that has probably crossed your mind is, can you bury soow wire? Unfortunately, SOOW wires are not rated for direct burial and can experience physical damage if installed incorrectly.

5. What are SO Cords made of?
So cords are made of bare stranded and annealed copper conductors. The stranding is done in rope lay to improve the efficiency of the cable, and the annealing is done to enhance its flex life.

• Copper is one of the leading conductors of electricity which makes it a perfect fit for any power circuit. Besides its awesome conductivity, copper is also easy to mold because of it highly flexible.

• To keep the SO cords safe from the damaging effects of corrosion and abrasion, the bare copper wire may be tin coated. Tin is of low corrosion, so the sacrificial coating protects the underlying copper from corrosion.

6. Is SOOW Cable Fire Resistant?
If at all you are having doubts about whether the SO Cables will serve you in environments with very high heat, I have the answer for you. There are special jacketing and insulations used in the SO Cables to suit perfectly for, environment with high heat production. There is flame retardant SO Cables that prevents the spread of fire in case of an accident. Available are also the flame resistant SOOW Cables that will continue to work even in a fire incidence and maintain circuit integrity for a certain period.

These type of SOO Cables can be used in steel and plastic processing industries, heat engineering, and refrigeration and ovens.

7. Are SOOW Cables Used in Indoor or Outdoor Applications?
The SOOW cables are multi-purpose cables that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor application. The SO Cord has a well-structured and formulated insulation and jacketing. The jackets are resistant to sunlight (U.V rays), they, therefore, do not deteriorate due to the effect of the sun when used for outdoor applications. The water, oil, abrasion and weather resistance of the SO cord also enables it to be directly buried under the ground and still offer maximum performance. The sturdy and robust jacketing also makes this cable submersible thus perfect for marine applications. The oil resistant EPDM jacket also makes the SO Cord fit for use as a drilling cable.

8. Why is the SOOW Cord Called a Lifesaver?
• SO Cords are fire retardant and fire resistant. Do you ever use your tools to a point where the cable gets burnt up? These scenarios happen in industries and the do-it-yourself home projects. This is where the SO cable comes in handy as a life saver.
• SOOW Cables ensures the safety of your equipment. With the SO cord, your machine will always be running effectively without having to worry about your gadget breaking down due to cable failure. In case any accidents occur caused by electrical faults, the SOO cord will save your life because the heavy insulation will prevent electrocution to the user.
• The SOOW Cable always guarantees your safety at all times. If in case you feel insecure with your gadgets and equipment, replace all your cables with the SO extension Cords, and your safety will be guaranteed.

9. Are SOOW Cables UL-listed?
SOOW Cables are approved and certified by many international standards organization including the Underwriters Laboratory. It is UL listed for 62 home and industrial applications. Thanks to the industrial grade EPDM jacket, the cable is approved for use within a temperature range of -40°C and 90°C.

Besides UL, the durable cables are also approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Other approvals of the SO cord include:

• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (ASHA)

10. Is SOOW Cable sunlight resistant?
Thanks to the formulation of the cable's insulation and jacketing; the wire is also highly resistant to the deteriorative effects of UV lights so you shouldn't be worried about installing it under direct sunlight.

• NEC has also approved the use of sow cord for applications requiring heavy-duty flexible power cables under the National Electrical Code article 400.

• It is the robust and sturdy jacketing material which makes the cable a submersible cable viable for use as a marine cable. The EPDM also constitutes the hard fire retardant material we touched on earlier. It also makes an excellent coating for oil rig cable because the EPDM is oil resistant; so the sow cable can be used as a ship, rip, or drilling cable.

11. What is the main difference between SOOW and Type W cable?
This is a common question brought in primarily by people who want to cables for mining and industrial projects. The two portable power cords are different in areas of application as well as in ratings. SOOW cable has a 600 volts rating and with a gauge size of 2 to 18 AWG.

• As much as it is oil and water resistant, in the event you are looking for a sturdier and more robust industrial cable then you should consider Type W cable.

• Type W cables can withstand up to 2000 volts in as much as it possesses the same conductor and jacket materials as the SOOW power cord. Type W is also more preferred because it is more flexible and durable.

• In terms of usage, SOOW is used in common tools such as portable appliances around the home. Type W cables are on the other hand used for heavy-duty applications such as in drills, conveyors, cranes, pumps, lifting magnets and much more.

12. How to strip SOOW cable?
• If you have carried out wire installations, you can confirm that it is not easy to tear a cable. Removing cable insulation or even a jacket properly without damaging the conductor wires can be tight unless you use the right tools and techniques. Cutting and even penetrating the cables not only reduces performance but might also cause a fire. SOOW portable cables have tissue paper tape separators. These separators help to quickly and carefully strip the wire during installation and termination processes.

• Be careful to ascertain that the circuit breaker and power are off before beginning any process in the event wires are attached to a power source.

13. What Makes SOOW Cord a Better Choice than other cables?
If at all you are wondering which cable will give you maximum electrical conductivity, then SO cable is the best pick for you. The copper conductors of the SOOW cord conducts electricity of up to 600V. SOO Cables transmits voltage very fast with minimal power losses. Resistance in the SO Cord is also minimized by stranding the copper conductors.

The SO Cable has a PDM Jacket and insulators that protect the conductors from the harsh environmental conditions. The insulation and jacket of the SO Cable offers maximum resistance to water and oil making it possible to use SOOW Cable in situations that require submersion. The insulator and jacket are also resistant to abrasion, weather, acids, bases and high temperatures of between -40°C and 90°C. These properties of the SOOW Cable makes it possible to thrive in the harshest of conditions. The insulators and jackets will also protect the user from electrocution, thus saving their lives.