Wire harnesses and cables belong to the category of electrical cables, among which wire harnesses usually have various combinations, including multi strand cables, flat cables, and circular cables; Cables usually include types such as multi-core cables and coaxial cables.

Electrical cables mainly include conductors, insulation, sheaths, braiding, and other parts, and their selection and combination are influenced by factors such as application scenarios, electrical functional requirements, and installation protection. Wiring harnesses and cables are both application forms of electrical cables, which are widely used not only in various types of industrial and consumer electronics products, but also in fields such as construction, automotive, aviation, and marine.

So, what are the differences between wire harnesses and cables in practical applications?

What is a wiring harness?

A wire harness, also known as a bundle of wires or cables, is a whole composed of multiple wires and cables that are woven, tied, sheathed, or otherwise assembled. Wiring harnesses are commonly used in various types of machinery and equipment, automobiles, airplanes, ships, and other fields. They can be seen as a process of connecting wires and cables into a whole.

What is a cable?

A cable is a hub composed of electrical conductors such as copper wire, aluminum wire, etc. They are usually wrapped in insulating materials (as plastic, rubber, etc.) and outer protective layers (as metal woven fabrics, plastic, rubber, etc.) to provide protection and isolation.

Cables are mainly used to transmit electrical energy or signals in large electrical systems. Power cables are typically used to transmit high or low voltage electrical energy, such as in buildings, factories, and machinery. Signal cables are mainly used to transmit various types of signals, such as audio, video, data, and network communication.

The difference between wire harness and cable

Wiring harnesses and cables are two different types of wire components in electrical systems, with the following differences between them:

Cable usually refers to a set of electrical wires (or cables) and insulation materials tied together for transmitting electrical energy or signals. A wiring harness refers to a group of wires that are bundled together and labeled or classified by color for easy installation and maintenance.

Cables are usually composed of multiple cables or wires, wrapped with insulation protection layer on the outside, and usually have a sheath to improve the durability and safety of the cable. A wiring harness is usually composed of a set of wires tied together, but without an external protective layer.

Cables are mainly used to transmit high and low voltage electrical energy or signals, such as connecting power sources and electrical equipment in buildings and electronic products. Wiring harnesses are widely used in fields such as automobiles, machinery, and industry, mainly for connecting electrical equipment to improve maintainability and management.

A significant difference between wire harnesses and cables is the different installation and maintenance requirements. Due to the fact that wire harnesses are usually not completely insulated, additional consideration needs to be given to their protection to improve their service life. Cables require certain insulation tests to ensure their safe and reliable operation.

Overall, although both wire harnesses and cables are composed of electrical wires, wire harnesses are more commonly used for organizing and labeling wires in specific situations, while cables are typically used as a medium for transmitting electrical energy or signals.