How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand) · Australia, New Zealand

AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand): how to read the cable type names

Each name in AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand) stands for a whole cable type: V-90, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 15 types of this system. Below: how the names are built, every type with its rating, and the sources the table names.

How a name is built

The type table splits each name into parts and records what each part means. A few names taken apart:

`ORANGE CIRCULAR`

ORANGE	Orange PVC sheath (the colour is in the trade name)
CIRCULAR	Circular: the cores and the earth laid up round, not flat as in TPS
V-90	V-90: PVC insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade

Orange circular: round building cable, V-90 PVC-insulated copper cores and a green/yellow earth laid up round, orange PVC sheath

`X-90`

X-90	X-90: cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade
PVC	PVC sheath

X-90 single core: one copper conductor, X-90 XLPE insulation, PVC sheath (single double insulated, SDI)

Every part used in the names

Part	Meaning	Used in
ORANGE	Orange PVC sheath (the colour is in the trade name)	`ORANGE CIRCULAR`
CIRCULAR	Circular: the cores and the earth laid up round, not flat as in TPS	`ORANGE CIRCULAR`
V-90	V-90: PVC insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade	`ORANGE CIRCULAR`
X-90	X-90: cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade	`X-90`
PVC	PVC sheath	`X-90`

Every type in AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand)

Type	Description	Rating
`TPS`	TPS: flat building cable, two or three V-90 PVC-insulated copper cores and a green/yellow earth side by side in a PVC sheath (twin and earth)	450/750 V; V-90 insulation, 90 C PVC sheath (Olex)
`ORANGE CIRCULAR`	Orange circular: round building cable, V-90 PVC-insulated copper cores and a green/yellow earth laid up round, orange PVC sheath	450/750 V or 0.6/1 kV; V-90 insulation, 90 C PVC sheath (Olex)
`V-90`	V-90 building wire: one copper conductor, V-90 PVC insulation, unsheathed	0.6/1 kV (Prysmian Australia)
`X-90`	X-90 single core: one copper conductor, X-90 XLPE insulation, PVC sheath (single double insulated, SDI)	0.6/1 kV, 90 C normal operation (Electra, Prysmian)
`V-75`	V-75 building wire: one copper conductor, V-75 PVC insulation	0.6/1 kV (CMI)
`Type 209`	Type 209: AS/NZS 1802 composite-screened cable for general use, three EPR power cores with a tinned copper and polyester composite screen (earth), one central extensible pilot, heavy-duty elastomer sheath	1.1/1.1 kV to 11/11 kV (Prysmian p.10)
`Type 210`	Type 210: AS/NZS 1802 composite-screened cable for hand-held equipment, 1.1 kV, three EPR power cores with composite screens, central pilot, HD-85-PCP sheath	1.1/1.1 kV (Prysmian p.12; some authorities limit it to 250/250 V)
`Type 240`	Type 240: AS/NZS 1802 composite-screened cable with three pilot conductors, for long feeder runs	1.1/1.1 kV to 11/11 kV (Prysmian p.14)
`Type 241`	Type 241: AS/NZS 1802 semiconductive-screened cable, three EPR power cores on a black semiconductive screen, three earth cores, one central extensible pilot; Type 241SF the super-flexible build	1.1/1.1 kV to 11/11 kV (Prysmian p.16, p.18); Caledonian 'Type 241 1.1 to 11KV', 'Type 241 Superflex 1.1 to 6.6KV'
`Type 245`	Type 245: AS/NZS 1802 super-flexible cable for longwall shearer cable chains, semiconductive-screened power cores, three earths and three extensible pilots	1.1/1.1 kV to 3.3/3.3 kV (Prysmian 'Type 245SF', Tratos); Caledonian 'Type 245 1.1 to 6.6KV'
`Type 275`	Type 275: AS/NZS 1802 shuttle car cable, 1.1 kV, unscreened EPR power cores, three semiconductive-covered earths in the interstices, one central pilot, semiconductive filling and a reinforced HD-85-PCP sheath	1.1/1.1 kV (Prysmian p.22; Caledonian 'Type 275 1.1/1.1KV')
`Type 409`	Type 409: AS/NZS 2802 class 2 composite-screened open-cut trailing cable with a central pilot, Kevlar braid reinforced sheath	1.1/1.1 kV to 22/22 kV (Prysmian p.26; Caledonian 'Type 409 1.1 to 22KV')
`Type 440`	Type 440: AS/NZS 2802 class 2 composite-screened open-cut cable with three pilot cores in the interstices	1.1/1.1 kV to 22/22 kV (Prysmian p.28; Caledonian 'Type 440 1.1 to 22KV')
`Type 441`	Type 441: AS/NZS 2802 semiconductive-screened open-cut cable, three earth cores and one pilot	1.1 kV (class 2) and 3.3/3.3 to 22/22 kV (class 1) (Prysmian p.30, p.32)
`Type 450`	Type 450: AS/NZS 2802 class 1 composite-screened reeling cable, 3.3 to 33 kV, two earths and one pilot, extra-heavy-duty Kevlar reinforced sheath	3.3/3.3 kV to 33/33 kV (Prysmian p.34)

Marks written next to the name

Words and marks the decoder reads next to a type name of this system: each adds a property to whatever type it is written with.

Mark	Meaning	Written as
5V-90	5V-90: PVC sheathing compound of AS/NZS 3808	`5V-90` `5V90`
3V-90	3V-90: PVC sheathing compound of AS/NZS 3808, used for the sheath of flat TPS	`3V-90` `3V90`

Common questions

What is V-90 cable?

V-90: V-90 building wire: one copper conductor, V-90 PVC insulation, unsheathed. Rating: 0.6/1 kV (Prysmian Australia). Standard: AS/NZS 5000.1.

What is TPS cable?

TPS: flat building cable, two or three V-90 PVC-insulated copper cores and a green/yellow earth side by side in a PVC sheath (twin and earth). Rating: 450/750 V; V-90 insulation, 90 C PVC sheath (Olex). Standard: AS/NZS 5000.2; AS/NZS 1125 (conductors).

AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand): what does 5V-90 mean next to a cable name?

5V-90: 5V-90: PVC sheathing compound of AS/NZS 3808. Written as 5V-90, 5V90.

What is ORANGE CIRCULAR cable?

ORANGE CIRCULAR: Orange circular: round building cable, V-90 PVC-insulated copper cores and a green/yellow earth laid up round, orange PVC sheath. Rating: 450/750 V or 0.6/1 kV; V-90 insulation, 90 C PVC sheath (Olex). Standard: AS/NZS 5000.2 (450/750 V, Olex GNHP); AS/NZS 5000.1 (0.6/1 kV, Olex HNHP); AS/NZS 1125. The name reads: ORANGE (Orange PVC sheath (the colour is in the trade name)) + CIRCULAR (Circular: the cores and the earth laid up round, not flat as in TPS) + V-90 (V-90: PVC insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade).

What is X-90 cable?

X-90: X-90 single core: one copper conductor, X-90 XLPE insulation, PVC sheath (single double insulated, SDI). Rating: 0.6/1 kV, 90 C normal operation (Electra, Prysmian). Standard: AS/NZS 5000.1; AS/NZS 1125 (conductor); AS/NZS 3808 (compounds). The name reads: X-90 (X-90: cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation compound of AS/NZS 3808, the 90 C grade) + PVC (PVC sheath).

What is V-75 cable?

V-75: V-75 building wire: one copper conductor, V-75 PVC insulation. Rating: 0.6/1 kV (CMI). Standard: AS/NZS 5000.1.

Sources the type table names

Standards named in the table

AS/NZS 5000.2
AS/NZS 1125 (conductors)
AS/NZS 5000.2 (450/750 V, Olex GNHP)
AS/NZS 5000.1 (0.6/1 kV, Olex HNHP)
AS/NZS 1125
AS/NZS 5000.1
AS/NZS 1125 (conductor)
AS/NZS 3808 (compounds)
AS/NZS 1802
AS/NZS 2802

Documents and pages the readings were taken from

Taken from the type table of this site, with the sources named above. Check the manufacturer's datasheet before you specify a cable.

Every type in AS/NZS (Australia, New Zealand) · Decode your own designation