NNC Wire And Cable Buyer Guide - Nassau National Cable

18, Aug. 2025

 

NNC Wire And Cable Buyer Guide - Nassau National Cable

Welcome to the NNC Cable Buyer’s Guide! This guide simplifies the process of selecting the perfect cable for residential, commercial, or industrial projects.

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Before You Start - NNC Cable Buyer Guide Glossary

Basic Terms

  • Amperage (A): Measures the flow of electrical current in amperes (amps). Indicates how much current a cable can carry safely.
  • Voltage (V): Measures the electric potential difference in volts. Determines how much force pushes electrons through the conductor.
  • Wattage (W): Measures electrical power, calculated as volts × amps. Shows the power consumption or output.
  • Resistance (Ω): Opposes the current flow, measured in ohms. Lower resistance improves efficiency.
  • Gauge (AWG): Indicates wire thickness. Lower numbers mean thicker wires, which carry more current.
  • Conductor: The material (usually copper or aluminum) inside the cable that carries electricity.
  • Insulation: The protective layer around the conductor. Prevents electrical shocks and shorts.

Amperage Chart

Amperage Ratings wire size 14 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 Cooper NM-b, UF 15 20 30 40 55 70 85 95 RHW, THWN, XHHW, SE, USE 15 20 30 40 55 70 85 95 RHH, THHN 15 20 30 55 75 95 110 130 150 170 195 225 260 Aluminum RHH, THHN 15 25 45 60 75 85 100 115 135 150 175 205

Common Cable Comparisons

  • Stranded vs. Solid Wire: Stranded wire is flexible. It is ideal for movable applications, while solid wire is stiffer and better for fixed installations.
  • Copper vs. Aluminum Cables: Copper cables offer better conductivity and durability. Aluminum cables are lighter and more cost-effective.
  • THHN vs. THWN Cable: THHN is rated for dry locations only. THWN is rated for both wet and dry locations.
  • UF-B vs. NM-B Cable: UF-B is suitable for underground and direct burial. NM-B is for indoor use and must be protected from moisture.
  • SER vs. SEU Cable: SER is used for multi-conductor service entrances. SEU is for single-phase service entrance connections.
  • Tray Cable (TC) vs. Control Cable: Tray cable is designed for industrial use in trays. Control cable transmits signals in machinery or processes.
  • Direct Burial vs. Underground Service Cable (USE-2): Direct burial cable can be installed directly into the ground. USE-2 is rated for ducts or conduits.
  • SOOW vs. SJOW Cable: SOOW is heavy-duty and oil-resistant. It is suitable for outdoor use, while SJOW is light-duty and better for indoor use.
  • XHHW vs. THHN: XHHW is resistant to heat and moisture. It is ideal for outdoor use, while THHN is economical and suited for indoor applications.
  • Overhead Duplex vs. Triplex vs. Quadruplex: Duplex is for low-power single-phase. Triplex is for moderate-power single-phase, and quadruplex is for high-power three-phase connections.

Cable Letter Codes

  • T: Thermoplastic insulation.
  • H: Heat-resistant.
  • HH: High Heat-resistant.
  • W: Water-resistant.
  • X: Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation.
  • R: Rubber insulation.
  • O: Oil-resistant outer jacket.
  • OO: Oil-resistant outer jacket and insulation.
  • U: Underground use.
  • S: Service cord for portable power.
  • E: Thermoplastic elastomer jacket.
  • J: Junior service cord (300V).
  • V: Light-duty vacuum cleaner cord.
  • USE-2: Underground Service Entrance cable.
  • MTW: Machine tool wire for industrial use.
  • Z: Weather-resistant.

Insulation Types Glossary

  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A cost-effective and widely used insulation material. It offers flexibility and is suitable for indoor applications.
  • Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE): A durable insulation material with excellent resistance to heat, moisture, and chemicals. It is ideal for outdoor and high-temperature environments.
  • Rubber Insulation: Provides flexibility and is highly resistant to heat and abrasion. Is suitable for heavy-duty applications.
  • Silicone Rubber: Offers excellent high-temperature resistance, often used in industrial and high-performance applications.
  • Teflon (PTFE): Known for its high resistance to heat, chemicals, and abrasion, it is used in high-performance and specialty cables.
  • Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR): A flexible and durable insulation material with good heat and moisture resistance, often used in industrial applications.
  • Neoprene: A flexible, oil-resistant insulation used in marine and industrial cables.
  • High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE): Highly resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and moisture, used in direct burial cables.

Comprehensive Buyers Guide Archives - Busline News

Products: ABC Companies is a leading provider to the passenger transportation industry, with diverse product and service offerings that cover a full spectrum of operational needs, including new and pre-owned full-size highway coach equipment, along with transit and specialty vehicles, including battery electric vehicles for operations in private and public sectors. Now offering extensive zero emissions battery electric solutions including gas/diesel to electric repower from 8 to 81 passenger vehicles.

ABC supports customers with a comprehensive after-sale service network, providing 24-hour technical support, comprehensive service and repairs, collision services, extensive OEM and quality aftermarket parts needs for transit, motorcoach, and heavy-duty equipment from multiple strategically placed locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Additionally, private, and municipal financing and leasing options are available through the company’s financial services group – one of the largest financial service providers within the industry.  Proud partners of OEM & exclusive aftermarket parts suppliers.

Manufacturers include Van Hool, Turtle Top, Coach & Equipment, Hometown Coach, Frontrunner by NEW, Optimal, Sunset Vans, Vicinity Motor Corp. and more.

Products: Since , American Seating has set the standard for product design, durability and comfort. Its first transportation seat was introduced in , and today the company remains committed to exceeding the expectations of customers as a provider of transportation seats in North America. American Seating’s achievements serve as a platform for new and innovative products that are the benchmark of the industry. American Seating is a leader in all kinds of transportation seating, including bus, rail and motorcoach markets. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A., American Seating employs a U.S.-based, UAW union workforce. For more information, please visit the company’s website.

Products: CR SAFGUARD® XL Fire-Resistant Seat Cushioning meets the stringent fire performance criteria within FTA Docket 90-A. The cushioning eliminates viable combustion within the largest interior fuel source. In bus interiors, the key combustible components are seating materials, and the federal regulation FMVSS 302 for seat cushioning and covers are grossly insufficient and outdated for fire safety. FMVSS 302 permits the use of polyurethane (urethane) cushioning that is so flammable the nomenclature “solidified gasoline” is often used to describe it. When exposed to even minor ignition sources, polyurethane cushioning will ignite easily, burn profusely, melt, drip and rapidly ignite the surrounding materials, while emitting large volumes of toxic smoke. The rapid spread of flames poses a serious danger to ridership, particularly, those with mobility challenges. CR SAFGUARD® XL fire-resistant cushioning is available to all seating manufacturers for O.E.M. vehicles. In addition to safety, CR SAFGUARD® XL offers major advancements in seat cushioning durability and comfort. Any vehicle seating specification can easily add CR SAFGUARD® XL. Condensed specification verbiage is available upon request.

Products: We built something the world had never seen before but wished for it. A coach custom built for North American roads. A coach that does not compromise on safety nor design, where efficiency and elegance are one. We built a coach that made a driver’s dream become a reality – to innovatively and uniquely inspire and facilitate a pleasant journey to tomorrow. May we present: the Mercedes-Benz Tourrider. With over 125 years of passion and engineering prowess, Daimler has been a pioneer in the automotive, truck and motorcoach industries. In fact, Daimler has top quality brands like Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Freightliner, Thomas Built Buses, Detroit Diesel and Western Star in its lineup and utilizes best practices to make those vehicles the best in their industry.

Products: Diamond Manufacturing offers a line of fare collection equipment to the transit industry. It supplies traditional, manual fare boxes, donation boxes and a fare box with a remote fare dump option. Diamond’s traditional fare boxes are the round units (Models H, E-5, D), which are designed to accept coins, tokens and tickets; and, rectangular units (Models RV, SV, XV, NV), which are designed to accept dollar bills, coins, tokens, tickets, passes and similar fare media. Donation boxes come in three sizes to fit most applications. These units can be mounted in a variety of ways: on the modesty panel or stanchion pole in either a vertical or horizontal position. Models F-1 and F-24 remote dump fare boxes can be mounted away from the driver with a push button dump feature. These models can be paired with smart card readers.

Are you interested in learning more about traffic signal pole manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Products: For over 125 years, Freedman Seating has been engineering and manufacturing seats and seating-related products for many different applications. Its product lines include bus, rail, marine, delivery truck, specialty and commercial vehicle seating. Consistent growth and expansion have earned Freedman Seating recognition as a leading manufacturer of transportation seating solutions. Manufacturing seats for buses, Freedman Seating supplies the major OEMs, over 250 bus distributors, the federal government, and many states and municipalities. The family of Freedman Seating bus seats includes products for small and mid-sized coaches, paratransit vans and buses, public transit buses, and private bus operators. Recently, Freedman Seating introduced SeatLink™, a seat information tracking system powered by InterMotive Vehicle Controls, a leading manufacturer of electronic control systems. As federal and local regulations continue to advance transportation safety initiatives, including 3-point seat belt usage, SeatLink™ offers a practical extension to just offering seat belts. The system displays and tracks the occupancy and belt status of passenger seats and provides visual warnings for the driver. The system will trigger an alert if an occupant sits but does not buckle or buckles before sitting. The system also records and stores data that can be retrieved in case of an event. SeatLink™ can be expanded to work in vehicles with up to 90 passengers. It can also be battery powered, making the system retrofittable on older vehicles. Installation is simple with plug and play connections. A downloadable app lets the user custom configure the seating layout on the head unit. SeatLink™ is now available for purchase and can be integrated into most commercial and school buses. For further details, contact Freedman Seating Company at 800-443-.

Heliox offers high-quality, heavy-duty DC fast EV charging and smart energy management solutions that are customized and adaptable to the rapidly evolving e-mobility industry. Our goal is to contribute to a sustainable world where a seamless charging experience is accessible to all. Established in , Heliox is a leading provider of fast charging systems for public transportation, e-trucks, marine vessels, mining operations, and port equipment.

In , Heliox established one of the first and largest rapid charging networks for e-bus fleets in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. To expand its reach, Heliox opened a US office in Atlanta, GA in , and later expanded further with the Heliox Technology Center, an 18,000 square foot facility, in . The Heliox USA team is responsible for various functions including management, financial and commercial services, sales and business development, project management, technical service and O&M, product development, and technical training.

All Heliox chargers listed by UL are manufactured in Minneapolis and meet the requirements of the Buy America Act (BAA).

Master’s Transportation is one of the nation’s leading providers of commercial vehicles for rent, lease and purchase. We are proud to offer new and used shuttle buses and vans, school buses, multi-function school activity buses and motor coaches. With locations nationwide and a broad selection of vehicles, we are able to meet needs quickly and seamlessly, without complications. Master’s is the largest rental and leasing bus and van dealer in the nation and can offer rentals on a daily, weekly, monthly or seasonal basis. Master’s offers in-house leasing and financing – something you can’t find anywhere else! We have six full-service, service departments and a centralized parts department, allowing us to provide service needs nationwide. We can also refurbish your shuttle bus, van or motor coach and provide you with a rental while you wait. We strive to make a significant and positive impact in the transportation industry through our commitment to quality and safety. Our core values guide us in all that we do, inspiring us to “Move People Forward”.

Products: The Micro Bird Commercial Bus line is designed and manufactured with the highest standards to ensure the best quality, durability, and safety in the industry. Its buses are built to seat up to 28 passengers and offer the best total cost of ownership. Micro Bird Commercial products are available in different lengths and configurations. Both Ford and GM chassis are available in single or dual rear wheel models. A variety of alternative fuels, such as propane and electric, are offered to help meet market needs. The Blue Bird Commercial bus dealer network offers service and parts support throughout North America to help ensure the best experience.

Products: QMF Steel, Inc., is a DBE/WBE certified business, in operation since , and a Buy America material supplier, manufacturer and fabricator for transportation clients across the U.S. ISO and AISC quality certified, QMF’s equipment can machine parts; cut materials with bundle cutting saws, angle cutting saw, plasma, sheet and tube laser; bend with a press brake, precision brake and profile bender; roll sheet; drill using a beam line; blast off mill scale; and weld using certified welders and robot welders. Parts can be used in the assembly of the vehicle systems or in the safety rails, stairs and ramps needed on ADA-compliant vehicles.

Products: RUD RotoGrip Automatic Snow Chains provide traction on snow and ice and were designed for vehicles that must be able to travel during hazardous weather conditions. RotoGrip is used for a variety of applications: rescue and emergency vehicles, fire services, public transport vehicles, road haulage, supply and distribution vehicles, and more. There are three unique RotoGrip systems to choose from based on needs: Classic, Compact Solution, and Light Truck. The Compact Solution has been developed for vehicles with limited mounting space (pneumatic suspension, low tires) and features an air up, air down system with no spring. The Classic is a tried-and-true system that works on light to heavy commercial vehicles and features an air down, spring up system. The Light Truck is designed for light-duty vehicles with or without an on-board air system. It features a space saving design and a powerful electrical linear drive. All three systems are known for their excellent quality of materials and construction and are all easy to mount. All systems can be switched on or off while the vehicle is in motion, and are affective at low speeds or up to 30 mph. RotoGrip is here to provide superior traction and increased safety. Visit the company’s website for additional information.

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