Glossary · Electrical engineering and control panels
Wiring
Also known as: Cabinet wiring, Electrical wiring
German: Verdrahtung
In electrical engineering, wiring is the set of conductors that electrically connect the devices of a control cabinet, machine or plant, as well as the work of installing them according to the circuit diagram.
- Control panels
In one sentence
Wiring is the set of conductors connecting a cabinet's or machine's devices, and the work of installing them per the circuit diagram.
Example
The cabinet's internal wiring uses dark blue conductors for 24 V DC control circuits and is labeled at both ends with the target terminal.
How it applies
- Engineering: IEC 60204-1 contains requirements for conductor identification, including colors for protective conductors, neutral conductors and DC control circuits, and for conductor sizes and routing. Automated wire processing increasingly uses data from the electrical CAD system.
- Commissioning: Wiring tests (point-to-point checks, insulation and continuity measurements) verify that the cabinet matches the diagram before power is applied.
- Maintenance: Undocumented wiring changes are a common cause of errors later. Treat every change under Change control and update the circuit diagram immediately.
- Documentation: The circuit diagram, terminal plans and wire lists are the authoritative wiring documentation. Wire labeling on site must match them.
Wiring vs. cabling
Wiring usually refers to single conductors inside cabinets and devices. Cabling refers to multicore cables in the field between cabinets, junction boxes and devices.