Quick answer
Use armoured cable where it can be damaged: buried in the ground, on outdoor routes, in factories and under roads. Use unarmoured cable in trays, conduits and protected indoor routes, where it is lighter, cheaper and easier to install.
The difference
| Armoured | Unarmoured | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | A layer of galvanised steel wire or strip under the outer sheath | No steel layer |
| Protection | Against crushing, digging, rodents and impact | Only the sheath |
| Weight and bending | Heavier, stiffer | Lighter, bends easily |
| Typical use | Underground, outdoor, industrial, long feeders | Trays, conduits, inside panels and buildings |
Other choices when ordering
- Conductor: copper is smaller for the same current and easier to terminate; aluminium is lighter and cheaper for large sizes and long feeders.
- Insulation: XLPE runs cooler and carries more current than PVC of the same size; most power cables today are XLPE.
- Cores: 3.5 or 4 core for three-phase with neutral, 3 core for motors, 2 core for single-phase.
- Voltage: 1.1 kV for low-voltage (LT) supplies; MV cables for 3.3 kV and above.
Write the cable as, for example: 4 core 25 sq mm aluminium, XLPE, armoured, 1.1 kV. We will match the right Polycab code.
Products
Need help choosing?
Send us the rating, the load or a photo of the nameplate on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the right model, availability and rate.
Values are typical guidance for Indian 230 V single-phase and 415 V three-phase supplies. Always follow the equipment nameplate, the manufacturer's instructions and your licensed electrician, who is responsible for the final selection and installation.