Power Cable
A power cable is an electrical cable used for the transmission and distribution of electricity. It consists of conductors, insulation, and protective sheathing to ensure safety and efficiency. Power cables are designed for various voltage levels, including low, medium, and high voltage applications. They are used in underground, overhead, and industrial installations, providing reliable electricity supply in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Made from materials like copper or aluminium, power cables are insulated with PVC, XLPE, or rubber to withstand environmental and mechanical stresses.
CONFIGURATION
Power cables are designed in different configurations based on their application, voltage level, and installation method. They come in single-core, two-core, three-core, four-core, and five-core variants to support single-phase and three-phase power systems. The choice of conductor material (copper or aluminium) and insulation type (PVC, XLPE, or EPR) depends on safety, efficiency, and durability needs.
Insulation Material
XLPE and PVC
Advantages
High current rating and emergency overload rating.
Superior short circuit rating
High dielectric strength and resistance to DC voltage effects
High mechanical strength & resistance to abrasion, vibration and ageing.
Technical Info
TABLE 1 SINGLE CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES ACCORDING TO IS 1554 – 1 | ||||||
Conductor cross sectional Area | Insulation Thickness | Diameter of Round wire armour | Outersheath Thickness | |||
Armoured | Unarmoured | Flat strip armoured cable | Round wire armoured cable | Unarmoured cable | ||
Nominal | Nominal | Nominal | Minimum | Minimum | Nominal | |
sqmm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm |
10 | – | 1.00 | – | – | – | 1.80 |
16 | – | 1.00 | – | – | – | 1.80 |
25 | 1.50 | 1.20 | 1.40 | 1.24 | 1.24 | 1.80 |
35 | 1.50 | 1.20 | 1.40 | 1.24 | 1.24 | 1.80 |
50 | 1.70 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.24 | 1.24 | 1.80 |
70 | 1.70 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.24 | 1.40 | 1.80 |
95 | 1.90 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.80 |
120 | 1.90 | 1.60 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
150 | 2.10 | 1.80 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
185 | 2.30 | 2.00 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
240 | 2.50 | 2.20 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
300 | 2.70 | 2.40 | 1.60 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
400 | 3.00 | 2.60 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
500 | 3.40 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.72 | 2.20 |
630 | 3.90 | 3.40 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
800 | 3.90 | 3.40 | 2 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
1000 | 3.90 | 3.40 | 2.5 | 2.04 | 2.04 | 2.60 |
TABLE 2 TWO CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES ACCORDING TO IS 1554 – 1 | ||||||
Conductor cross sectional Area | Insulation Thickness | Innersheath Thickness | Diameter of Round wire armour | Outersheath Thickness | ||
Flat strip armoured cable | Round wire armoured cable | Unarmoured cable | ||||
Nominal | Minimum | Nominal | Minimum | Minimum | Nominal | |
sqmm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm |
1.50 | 0.80 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
2.50 | 0.90 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
4 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
6 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
10 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
16 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.80 |
25 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
35 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
50 | 1.40 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
70 | 1.40 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
95 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
120 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.72 | 2.20 |
150 | 1.80 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.72 | 2.40 |
185 | 2.00 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
240 | 2.20 | 0.50 | 2.50 | 2.04 | 2.04 | 2.60 |
300 | 2.40 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.20 | 2.20 | 2.80 |
400 | 2.60 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.36 | 2.52 | 3.20 |
500 | 3.00 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.68 | 2.84 | 3.40 |
630 | 3.40 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 2.84 | 3.00 | 3.80 |
TABLE 3 THREE CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES ACCORDING TO IS 1554 -1 | ||||||
Conductor cross sectional Area | Insulation Thickness | Innersheath Thickness | Diameter of Round wire armour | Outersheath Thickness | ||
Flat strip armoured cable | Round wire armoured cable | Unarmoured cable | ||||
Nominal | Minimum | Nominal | Minimum | Minimum | Nominal | |
sqmm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm |
1.50 | 0.80 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
2.50 | 0.90 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
4 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
6 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
10 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.40 | 1.80 |
16 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.80 |
25 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
35 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
50 | 1.40 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
70 | 1.40 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
95 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.72 | 2.20 |
120 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.72 | 2.20 |
150 | 1.80 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
185 | 2.00 | 0.50 | 2.50 | 1.88 | 2.04 | 2.60 |
240 | 2.20 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.20 | 2.20 | 2.80 |
300 | 2.40 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 3.00 |
400 | 2.60 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.52 | 2.68 | 3.40 |
500 | 3.00 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.84 | 3.00 | 3.60 |
630 | 3.40 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
TABLE 4 THREE CORE WITH REDUCED NEUTRAL CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES ACCORDING TO IS 1554 – 1 | ||||||
Conductor cross sectional Area | Insulation Thickness | Innersheath Thickness | Diameter of Round wire armour | Outersheath Thickness | ||
Flat strip armoured cable | Round wire armoured cable | Unarmoured cable | ||||
Nominal | Minimum | Nominal | Minimum | Minimum | Nominal | |
sqmm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm |
25 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
35 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
50 | 1.40 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
70 | 1.40 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
95 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.72 | 2.20 |
120 | 1.60 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
150 | 1.80 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
185 | 2.00 | 0.50 | 2.50 | 2.04 | 2.04 | 2.60 |
240 | 2.20 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.20 | 2.36 | 3.00 |
300 | 2.40 | 0.60 | 3.15 | 2.36 | 2.52 | 3.20 |
400 | 2.60 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.68 | 2.68 | 3.40 |
500 | 3.00 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 2.84 | 3.00 | 3.80 |
630 | 3.40 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
TABLE 5 FOUR CORE PVC INSULATED CABLES ACCORDING TO IS 1554 – 1 | ||||||
Conductor cross sectional Area | Insulation Thickness | Innersheath Thickness | Diameter of Round wire armour | Outersheath Thickness | ||
Flat strip armoured cable | Round wire armoured cable | Unarmoured cable | ||||
Nominal | Minimum | Nominal | Minimum | Minimum | Nominal | |
sqmm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm | mm |
1.50 | 0.80 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
2.50 | 0.90 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
4 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
6 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.40 | – | 1.24 | 1.80 |
10 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.80 |
16 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
25 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 2.00 |
35 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.56 | 2.00 |
50 | 1.40 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
70 | 1.40 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 2.20 |
95 | 1.60 | 0.40 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.72 | 2.40 |
120 | 1.60 | 0.50 | 2.00 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 2.40 |
150 | 1.80 | 0.50 | 2.50 | 1.88 | 2.04 | 2.60 |
185 | 2.00 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.04 | 2.20 | 2.80 |
240 | 2.20 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 3.00 |
300 | 2.40 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.52 | 2.68 | 3.40 |
400 | 2.60 | 0.70 | 3.15 | 2.84 | 2.84 | 3.60 |
500 | 3.00 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
630 | 3.40 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 |