3H6

3H6 is a Mineral insulated cables (MICC, IEC 60702-1 grades) cable designation: H = Heavy duty grade, 750 V (450/750 V): mineral insulated copper cable; the number before the letter counts the cores, the number after it is the conductor in mm2; 3H6 = 3H6: mineral insulated copper cable, heavy duty 750 V, 3 x 6 mm2, 11.5 mm over the copper sheath (13.2 mm with the LSZH covering). 450/750 V; copper sheath 70 C covered or exposed to touch, 105 C bare and out of reach. IEC 60702-1 / BS EN 60702-1 (as the makers cite it; not held here).

1 coding system recognises this code

Mineral insulated cables (MICC, IEC 60702-1 grades)

SymbolMeaning
HHeavy duty grade, 750 V (450/750 V): mineral insulated copper cable; the number before the letter counts the cores, the number after it is the conductor in mm2
3H63H6: mineral insulated copper cable, heavy duty 750 V, 3 x 6 mm2, 11.5 mm over the copper sheath (13.2 mm with the LSZH covering). 450/750 V; copper sheath 70 C covered or exposed to touch, 105 C bare and out of reach. IEC 60702-1 / BS EN 60702-1 (as the makers cite it; not held here)

What is 3H6 cable?

3H6: mineral insulated copper cable, heavy duty 750 V, 3 x 6 mm2, 11.5 mm over the copper sheath (13.2 mm with the LSZH covering). Rating: 450/750 V; copper sheath 70 C covered or exposed to touch, 105 C bare and out of reach. Standard: IEC 60702-1 / BS EN 60702-1 (as the makers cite it; not held here).

Documents and pages the readings were taken from

  • Wrexham Mineral Cables, Wrexham Mineral Cables catalogue, Standard Conductor Cable tables, pp. 20 to 21: https://electricaldirect-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/product-documentation/technical/835702.pdf [seen: manufacturer]
  • nVent Pyrotenax, nVent Pyrotenax MI Wiring Cable System brochure, Pyro MI Cable System Data, p. 10: https://www.topazfiresystems.com/images/special-systems/micc/MICC%20Cable.pdf [seen: manufacturer]
  • KME Italy, KME Italy MICO mineral insulated cables brochure, Cable technical data, p. 10: https://www.kme.com/fileadmin/DOWNLOADCENTER/COPPER%20DIVISON/6._Mineral_Insulated_Cables/Mineral_Insulated_Cables_Manuals_KME_Italy_Spa/Brochure_KME_Italy_MICO_Mineral_Insultated_Cables.pdf [seen: manufacturer]

Mineral insulated cables (MICC, IEC 60702-1 grades): how to read the cable type names

3H6 as the cable designer builds it, 3x6 450/750 V

Overall diameter 11.5 mm, about 530 kg/km. Nominal values from the standard's tables for this size, computed, not a maker's data.

LayerMaterialThickness, mmOver the layer, mm
InsulationCompressed magnesium oxide (MgO)0.974.7
Metal sheath (lead or smooth aluminium)Copper0.6811.5

3H6 on a drum

The smallest drum that passes every check, for 11.5 mm and about 530 kg/km as the cable designer builds it. Drums as their makers print them; lengths are estimates: whole layers wound nested (each turn in the groove of the layer below), wound diameter 1.05 × OD, 50 mm freeboard under the flange rim. Cable makers' own tables print less, as they count aligned layers.

LengthDrum size (its makers)LayersGross weight
500 mKTG 8 (800 mm flange), wood KTG drums (Europe), Bayka, KTG10 of 14296–300 kg
1,000 mKTG 9 (900 mm flange), wood KTG drums (Europe), Bayka, KTG13 of 16577–581 kg

Barrel at least 15 × OD = 172 mm for a cable of this kind (Low voltage, multi-core): KTG table, the cable's datasheet wins. A load rating is the drum maker's own.

Other lengths, drums and weights: the cable drum calculator

Load it on a truck: 1000 m on its drum in the loading planner

Laying, sizes and datasheet: 3H6

Current rating and voltage drop: One circuit, C: cable on a wall, 30 °C air: about 59 A. At that current over 100 m, three-phase 400 V, cos φ 0.9: a voltage drop of about 8.6 %. Sources: IEC 60364-5-52:2009, Table B.52.7, p. 46; IEC 60228:2023 Table 3, p. 12; IEC 60228:2023 Annex B, p. 18; IEC 60364-5-52:2009 (ed. 3.0) Annex G (informative), pp. 74 to 75 (read in the standard text) Cable size calculator: smallest section for a load, every factor shown · Voltage drop calculator: IEC 60364-5-52 method and limits

Selling this cable? Open it in the designer and get a datasheet with your logo (Pro). Open the cable designer · See Pro

Work with 3H6

Who makes or stocks this cable?

Makers and stockists of this cable family appear here as sponsors for your region, each marked "Sponsored"; a listing never changes what this page says about the cable.

Related cables

More Mineral insulated cables (MICC, IEC 60702-1 grades) designations

3H6