Difference Between Shielded & Unshielded Wire

The multi-conductor wire comes with more than one conductor. When there is only one conductor, the product is considered as a wire or a lead wire and when multiple conductors are present then it is known as a multiconductor wire and cable. Multi-conductor cables can have as few as two conductors and as many as 100 or more conductors. These conductors, or wires, can be twisted in pairs, triads, quads or they can be concentrically laid throughout the cable. Generally, the multi-conductor wires are categorized into unshielded wire or shielded wire.

Shielded wires- Shielded wires decrease electrical noise and electromagnetic radiation. They help to keep the signal steady and diminish interference caused by the other appliances. The shield wires are made up of copper tape, a film of conducting polymer or a braid made of copper or aluminum and is covered with a jacket.

Unshielded wires- These types of wires do not have shielding jacket that diminishes the interference. They are intended to cancel electromagnetic interference (EMI) with the way the pairs are twisted inside the cable. Due to its design and nature, this type of cable is used for office LANs and similar network cabling systems. These cables are flexible, lightweight, and thin. They are also versatile and inexpensive.