What are the different types of cables? What do the designations and abbreviations mean?
In the following table you will find common cable designations and cable types as well as the meaning of the abbreviations for electrical cables and wires.
| Cable Designations/Abbreviation | Cable Type Key for Harmonized, International Cables and Wires | |
|---|---|
Fundamental type | |
| H | = harmonised type |
| A | = nationally recognised type |
Nominal voltage | |
| 01 | = 100 Volts |
| 03 | = 300/300 Volts |
| 05 | = 300/500 Volts |
| 07 | = 450/750 Volts |
Materials | |
| B | = Ethylene propylene rubber |
| E | = PE Polyethylene |
| J | = fibre-glass braiding |
| N | = Chloroprene rubber |
| Q | = Polyurethane |
| R | = Rubber |
| S | = Silicone rubber |
| T | = Textile braiding |
| V | = PVC |
| V2 | = PVC + 90°C |
| V3 | = PVC flexible at low temperatures |
| V5 | = PVC increased oil resistant |
| X | = XPE, cross linked PE |
Additions | |
| C4 | = copper wire braiding |
| H | = divisible flat cable |
| H2 | = non-divisible flat cable |
| H6 | = non-divisible flat cable for elevators |
| H8 | = helix cable |
Types of conductor | |
| U | = single wire |
| R | = multi wire |
| K | = fine strands (fixed laying) |
| F | = fine strands (flexible use) |
| H | = extra fine strands (flexible use) |
| D | = fine strands for welding cable |
| E | = fine strands for welding cable |
Earth wire | |
| X | = without green-yellow earth wire |
| G | = with green-yellow earth wire |
| Cable Designations | Cable Type Key acc. to DIN VDE and with reference to DIN VDE (SAB BRÖCKSKES standard) | |
|---|---|
Fundamental type | |
| N | = National standard |
| B / Bi | = Besilen® cable (silicone rubber) |
| CC | = Control Cable (PVC control cable) |
| Li | = strands (data cable) |
| S | = Cable track cable |
| SD | = Cable track cable (data cable) |
| SL | = Servo cable |
| SABIX® | = Halogen-free material on a Polyolefin base |
| BL | = Marine cable |
| R | = railway cable |
| HV | = high-voltage cable |
| AGL | = Compensating cable |
| ThL | = Extension Cable |
Insulation | see Insulation and sheath materials |
Screening/Armouring | |
| P | = steel wire protection |
| S | = steel wire braiding |
| C | = copper braiding |
| V | = stainless steel braiding |
| D | = copper wrapping |
| ST | = static screen |
Sheath materials | see Insulation and sheath materials |
Specials | |
| Z | = numbered control cable |
| A | = single core |
| F | = flexible |
| FF | = highly flexible |
| (E) | = intrinsically safe (blue) |
| (TR) | = transparent outer sheath |
| (B) | = drain wire |
| TP | = twisted pairs |
| HT | = high temperature resistant cable |
| FRNC | = flame retardant, non corrosive / flame retardant, halogen free |
| LS0H/ LSZH | = low smoke, “0” (zero) halogen / low smoke density , halogen free |
| LSHF | = low smoke, halogen free / low smoke density, halogen free |
Earth wire | |
| J | = with green-yellow earth wire |
| 0 | = without green-yellow earth wire |
Insulation and sheathing materials - Abbreviations and meaning
The most common abbreviations for insulating and sheathing materials and their descriptions are listed in the following table:
| acronym | abbreviation | description |
| Y | PVC | Polyvinyl chloride |
| Yw | PVC | Polyvinyl chloride, heat resistant (+90°C or +105°C) |
| Yk | PVC | Polyvinyl chloride, cold resistant (-40°C) |
| 2Y | PE | Polyethylen als LDPE oder HDPE (Low/High Density) |
| 02Y | PE | foamed PE, cellular Polyethylene |
| 02YS | PE | foamed PE, cellular Polyethylene with foam skin |
| 2X | VPE | reticulated Polyethylene (XLPE) |
| 3Y | PS | Polystyrene |
| 4Y | PA | Polyamide |
| 5Y | PTFE | Polytetrafluoroethylene |
| 6Y | FEP | Perfluoroethylene propylene |
| 7Y | ETFE | Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene |
| 8Y | PI | Polyimide |
| 9Y | PP | Polypropylene |
| 09YS | PE | foamed PP, cellular Polypropylene with foam skin |
| 10Y | PVDF | Polyvinyldiene fluoride |
| 11Y | PUR | Polyurethane |
| 12Y | TPE-E | TPE-E, TPE based on Polyether ester |
| 13Y | TPE-E | TPE-EE TPE based on Polyether ester |
| 17Y | TPE-S | Styrene-ethenbutene-styrene copolymer |
| 18Y | TPE-O | Polyolefin elastomer |
| 31Y | TPE-S | Polystyrene elastomer |
| 41Y | TPE-A | Polyamide elastomer |
| 51Y | PFA | PFA, Perfluoro alkoxylalkane |
| 71Y | ECTFE | Monochlorotrifluoroethylene |
| 91Y | TPE-O/V | Polyolefin elastomer |
| G | NR/SBR | natural rubber, Styrene-butadiene rubber |
| 2G | SIR | silicone rubber |
| GL | glass fibre braiding | |
| 3G | EPR | Ethylene-propylene polymer |
| 4G | EVA | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer |
| 5G | CR | Polychloroprene |
| 6G | CSM | Chlorosulphonated polyethylene mixture |
| 7G | FKM | Fluoroelastomer, Fluororubber |
Want to know more?
Comparison of the characteristics of insulation and sheathing materials
Examples of cable designations
Cable type | Technical description |
| LiYY | PVC data cable |
| LiYCY | PVC data cable with overall copper screen |
| SiAFF | Silicone (Besilen®) insulated strands, highly flexible |
| SiHF-J | Silicone (Besilen®) insulated strands with Silicone (Besilen®) outer sheath |
| H07V-K | PVC insulated single conductor acc. to NFPA 79 for industrial machinery |
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