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EC-08 · Supply

House Wire for Conduit Wiring in Homes and Buildings

House wire in 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 4mm and larger sizes, all colours, on 100 m rolls. Send one free request and a local electrical supplier quotes you directly.

Rolls of red, black, brown, blue and green-yellow single-core house wire on a shelf
Rolls of red, black, brown, blue and green-yellow single-core house wire on a shelf

House wire is single-core, PVC-insulated copper conductor, the cable electricians pull through conduit to wire lights, plugs, geysers and stoves in South African homes. It is sold on rolls in a range of sizes and colours, so each core can be identified at the DB board. ElectricalCable.co.za is a free quote service, not a shop. Tell us the sizes, colours and quantities you need, and we pass your request to an independent electrical supplier or contractor nearby, who quotes you directly.

What house wire is

House wire cable is a single stranded or solid copper conductor with one layer of PVC insulation, typically rated 450/750 V and made to SANS 1507. Because it has no outer sheath, it must run inside conduit, trunking or an enclosure. In most South African brick homes conduit is chased into walls and buried in slabs, and house wire is pulled through it, which makes later rewiring easier than with surfix clipped in the roof.

Sizes and what they are used for

  • 1.5mm house wire: lighting circuits
  • 2.5mm house wire: plug circuits
  • 4 mm² and 6 mm²: stoves, geysers, heat pumps and small sub-feeds
  • 10 mm² and 16 mm²: main supplies and sub-boards

These are typical uses only. Cable length, the number of circuits in a conduit and the protection device all affect the size, which a registered electrician confirms to SANS 10142-1. Do not overfill conduit either: too many wires in one pipe makes pulling hard, damages insulation and lets the wires run hot.

Colours

Newer installations use brown for live, blue for neutral and green/yellow for earth. Older installations used red for live and black for neutral, and many electricians still stock red and black for repairs to match. Three-phase circuits use additional phase colours. Buy enough of each colour to keep every circuit clearly marked; never use green/yellow for anything except earth. Labelling each circuit at the DB board makes later fault finding much quicker.

Buying and price

House wire is usually sold in 100 m rolls, with larger sizes also cut to length. Price depends on size, copper content, roll length, brand and quantity, and follows the copper price. For electrical cable for house wiring on a new build or rewire, a supplier can quote a full bill of materials, including conduit, boxes and DB components. The wiring itself must be done or signed off by a registered electrician who issues a COC.

Comparing house wire prices

Cable prices change with the copper price, size, brand and quantity. When quotes arrive, check:

  • Exact specification: size in mm², cores, conductor, insulation, armour and voltage rating.
  • Quantity: cut length or full drum, and whether the drum deposit is refundable.
  • Standards: SABS-marked cable to the relevant SANS standard, not unmarked imports.
  • Delivery: lead time, delivery to site and offloading of heavy drums.

What to include in your request

  • Sizes and number of rolls of each colour
  • Whether the job is a new build, extension or rewire
  • Any conduit, boxes or DB components to include
  • Brand preference, if any
  • Delivery address and when you need it

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between house wire and surfix?
House wire is a single insulated core that must run in conduit. Surfix is flat twin-and-earth cable with an outer sheath, so it can be clipped directly to timber or walls, typically in roof spaces. Both are used in South African homes, often in the same building: house wire in walls and slabs, surfix in the ceiling.
Which size house wire do I need for plugs?
Plug circuits are usually wired in 2.5 mm² house wire and lights in 1.5 mm². Long runs or heavy loads may need a larger size. Your electrician calculates the final size from the circuit and breaker rating, so give the supplier their material list.
How much house wire comes on a roll?
Most sizes are sold in 100 m rolls, and some suppliers offer shorter rolls or cut lengths, especially for larger sizes. For a whole house you usually need several rolls of each colour. Request a quote with your electrician's material list.
Can I wire my own house with house wire?
Fixed wiring in South Africa must be installed or checked by a registered electrician, who issues a Certificate of Compliance. You can buy the materials, but have the work done or signed off by a registered person.

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