Automotive Wire is used in some of the harshest
applications in the world, from the high performance
engines on the raceway, to the big rigs driving
down the highway, and of course the car in
your driveway.
Automotive primary wire usually has a bare
copper conductor. It's stranded to make it
flexible. Wires range in size from 24 AWG
to 8 AWG. It's made of either PVC or Cross-linked
materials. The difference being that Cross-linked
wires can withstand much more heat.
The two main types of PVC Wire are GPT and
TWP.
GPT is for general circuit wiring and it's
rated up 80°C. TWP is a lead-free, thin-walled
PVC wire with a temperature rating of 105°C.
Now, the cross-linked insulation types of
automotive wire are GXL, SXL, and TXL. They're
all rated up to 125°C, which makes them good
for high temperature applications. So what's
the difference? Wall thickness!
GXL has a thin wall. It's the most common
type, and it works with most standard automotive
connectors. It can also be used in trucks
and trailers.
SXL, that has a standard wall thickness.
Now TXL is the Extra Thin Wall version. It's
small in size, leaving more room for added
electronics and features. And because it weighs
so little, it minimizes drag on the car.
Let's talk about larger gauge automotive wire,
battery cable. Like primary wire, battery
cable is also available with either PVC or
cross-linked materials. It ranges in size
from 6 AWG to 4/0.
Common types are SGT, SGX, and STX. The first
one, SGT is made with PVC insulation. SGX
and STX have cross-linked insulation and,
that's right, higher temperature ratings.
STX has the thinnest wall.
Allied Wire & Cable can customize any of these
types of wire for you. You can make your wire
easy to identify, by striping it with as many
as 3 stripes, called tracers, printed right
on the jacket. Along with custom text, or
maybe even your company's logo.
So that's what you need to know about automotive
wire, and you can order some today from Allied
Wire & Cable.
