Translations:Conductor types/1/en
The term conductor is used to refer to both wire and cable. Conductors allow the safe transport of electricity between all of the different components of an electrical system. Wire refers to a single conductor whereas cable contains various wires within an additional layer of insulation protecting them. The conducting material of a wire may be copper or aluminum and its size varies based the amount of current that it will be required to carry, the voltage and the conditions. For off-grid PV systems copper is typically used as it can carry more current for the same size wire and is easier to bend and manipulate. Wire insulation made of plastics or rubber and varies in color depending upon the application and location. It will also vary in thickness depending upon the voltage rating of the wire as a higher voltage rating will require additional insulation.