How to read a cable code: guides per coding system · NTC / RETIE (Colombia) · Colombia, Ecuador, Central America

NTC / RETIE (Colombia): how to read the cable type names

Each name in NTC / RETIE (Colombia) stands for a whole cable type: ECOPLUS THHN, for example, comes with its own construction, standard and rating. The decoder knows 16 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:

`TSEC`

T	Thermoplastic or thermosetting insulation (glossary reads "Thermoplastic or (Thermosetting)")
SEC	Service Entrance Concentric

TSEC: thermoplastic or thermosetting service entrance concentric cable (phases, concentric copper neutral, outdoor jacket)

`THHW-CO`

THHW	PVC building wire; catalogue rates it 90 C dry, damp and wet (letters not expanded on the page)
CT	Cable tray rated

THHW CT (aluminium): compact AA 8000 series aluminium, PVC, 90 C dry, damp and wet (Procables catalogue rating)

`SUPERFLEX CT`

SUPERFLEX	Procables product name
CT	Cable tray rated

Superflex CT (Procables): flexible copper, XLPE, PVC jacket, tray rated, optional full neutral as fourth conductor

`SPT-CPE`

SPT	Service Parallel Thermoplastic (glossary)
CPE	Product line suffix, UNVERIFIED

SPT-CPE (duplex): two parallel annealed copper conductors in integral PVC with a separating web and a polarity rib, light-duty extension cord

Every part used in the names

Part	Meaning	Used in
CT	Cable tray rated	`THHW-CO` `SUPERFLEX CT` `CABLE DE CONTROL CT`
T	Thermoplastic or thermosetting insulation (glossary reads "Thermoplastic or (Thermosetting)")	`TSEC`
SEC	Service Entrance Concentric	`TSEC`
TREBOL	Spanish clover: four conductors in a clover-leaf assembly	`ACOMETIDA TREBOL`
MP	Multipurpose	`TERMOFLEX`
THHW	PVC building wire; catalogue rates it 90 C dry, damp and wet (letters not expanded on the page)	`THHW-CO`
ECOPLUS	Brand: soft copper, lead-free PVC, nylon; read the THHN/THWN-2 names next to it for the rating	`ECOPLUS THHN`
SUPERFLEX	Procables product name	`SUPERFLEX CT`
SPT	Service Parallel Thermoplastic (glossary)	`SPT-CPE`
CPE	Product line suffix, UNVERIFIED	`SPT-CPE`
VFD	Variable frequency drive	`CABLE VFD`
ET	Elastomero Termoplastico (glossary)	`CABLE SOLDADOR`
AD8 / AD7	IEC water immersion class of the product	`PRYSOLAR`
VOLTALENE	Procables product name	`VOLTALENE`
RTR	Rodent and termite resistant (catalogue: antiroedores y antitermitas)	`VOLTALENE`

Every type in NTC / RETIE (Colombia)

Type	Description	Rating
`TSEC`	TSEC: thermoplastic or thermosetting service entrance concentric cable (phases, concentric copper neutral, outdoor jacket)	600 V, XLPE 90 C or PE 75 C phases
`ACOMETIDA TREBOL`	Service drop "tipo trebol": four soft copper cores in a clover-leaf assembly, PE 75 C, glass fibre tape, PVC jacket	600 V, 75 C (UNVERIFIED voltage)
`EXZHELLENT`	Exzhellent: Procables / Prysmian halogen-free, low smoke cable (Green = bio-based thermoplastic HFFR-LS)	600 V (XHHW-2 version 90 C wet or dry)
`TERMOFLEX`	Termoflex Multiproposito (MP): Procables multipurpose flexible wire usable in tray for 12 AWG and larger	600 V (UNVERIFIED temperature)
`THHW-CO`	THHW CT (aluminium): compact AA 8000 series aluminium, PVC, 90 C dry, damp and wet (Procables catalogue rating)	600 V, 90 C dry, damp and wet (catalogue data)
`ECOPLUS THHN`	EcoPlus: Prysmian brand name for THHN/THWN-2 nylon-jacketed building wire (lead-free PVC)	600 V, 90 C (THHN/THWN-2 as sold)
`TGP`	TGP: brand label for TC-ER tray cable (THHN/THWN-2 cores laid up, black PVC jacket)	600 V, 90 C
`SUPERFLEX CT`	Superflex CT (Procables): flexible copper, XLPE, PVC jacket, tray rated, optional full neutral as fourth conductor	1000 V, 90 C (105 C optional)
`ENCAUCHETADO`	Encauchetado: Colombian trade word for a sheathed multi-conductor flexible cord (ST-C, Termoflex), flexible annealed copper, PVC insulation and PVC sheath	600 V; the conductor temperature differs by maker and line (60 to 105 C), so none is given
`SPT-CPE`	SPT-CPE (duplex): two parallel annealed copper conductors in integral PVC with a separating web and a polarity rib, light-duty extension cord	300 V, 60 C
`CABLE VFD`	VFD cable (Procables): three flexible copper phases with XLPE FR insulation, symmetric ground conductors, 100 % copper tape screen, PVC jacket	2000 V, 90 C, tray rated
`CABLE SOLDADOR`	Welding cable (Procables): flexible copper class J, thermoplastic elastomer (ET) insulation	600 V, 105 C
`SGT`	SGT battery cable (Procables): flexible copper, PVC insulation, automotive	60 V, 75 C
`CABLE DE CONTROL CT`	Control cable CT 600 V (Procables): stranded copper class B, PVC, polyester tape, PVC jacket, 3 to 14 conductors and more	600 V, 90 C
`PRYSOLAR`	Photovoltaic cable (Prysolar: permanent water AD8; Prysun: AD7, low halogen; Tecsun: German-made, direct burial)	1.5 kV DC (UNVERIFIED per product)
`VOLTALENE`	Voltalene (Procables): aluminium class 2, XLPE, LSOH sheath resistant to rodents and termites (RTR), AD8, for solar plants (printed XZ1)	0.6/1 kV AC, 1.5 kV DC, -25 to 90 C

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
RETIE	Reglamento Tecnico de Instalaciones Electricas (Colombian mandatory technical regulation)	`RETIE`
NTC 2050	Colombian installation code (US NEC based)	`NTC 2050`

Common questions

What is ECOPLUS THHN cable?

ECOPLUS THHN: EcoPlus: Prysmian brand name for THHN/THWN-2 nylon-jacketed building wire (lead-free PVC). Rating: 600 V, 90 C (THHN/THWN-2 as sold). Standard: UL 83; NTC 1332.

What is TSEC cable?

TSEC: thermoplastic or thermosetting service entrance concentric cable (phases, concentric copper neutral, outdoor jacket). Rating: 600 V, XLPE 90 C or PE 75 C phases. Standard: NTC 4564; UL 854; ICEA S-95-658. The name reads: T (Thermoplastic or thermosetting insulation (glossary reads "Thermoplastic or (Thermosetting)")) + SEC (Service Entrance Concentric).

What is the difference between THHW-CO and SUPERFLEX CT?

THHW-CO: THHW CT (aluminium): compact AA 8000 series aluminium, PVC, 90 C dry, damp and wet (Procables catalogue rating), 600 V, 90 C dry, damp and wet (catalogue data). SUPERFLEX CT: Superflex CT (Procables): flexible copper, XLPE, PVC jacket, tray rated, optional full neutral as fourth conductor, 1000 V, 90 C (105 C optional). The names differ in: THHW-CO: THHW (PVC building wire; catalogue rates it 90 C dry, damp and wet (letters not expanded on the page)); SUPERFLEX CT: SUPERFLEX (Procables product name).

NTC / RETIE (Colombia): what does CT mean in a cable name?

CT means: Cable tray rated. Used in THHW-CO, SUPERFLEX CT, CABLE DE CONTROL CT.

NTC / RETIE (Colombia): what does RETIE mean next to a cable name?

RETIE: Reglamento Tecnico de Instalaciones Electricas (Colombian mandatory technical regulation). Written as RETIE.

What is EXZHELLENT cable?

EXZHELLENT: Exzhellent: Procables / Prysmian halogen-free, low smoke cable (Green = bio-based thermoplastic HFFR-LS). Rating: 600 V (XHHW-2 version 90 C wet or dry). Standard: NTC 6182 (halogen-free cable); RETIE; Res. 90795 of 2013 for crowded places.

Sources the type table names

Standards named in the table

NTC 4564
UL 854
ICEA S-95-658
CODENSA ET-113 and ET-112
RETIE
NTC 6182 (halogen-free cable)
Res. 90795 of 2013 for crowded places
NTC 2050 (tray use for 12 AWG and larger)
NTC 1332
UL 83
ASTM B-801, B-836
UL 1277
IEC 60502-1
IEC 60332-1
NTC 1099-1
NTC 5521 (cordones flexibles encauchetados, as maker sheets cite it
not held)
NTC 5521
NTC 2050 section 400
ICEA S95-658
NTC 6078
ASTM B-172
BS 638
NTC 1955
SAE J1127
NTC 3942
EN 50618
IEC 62930
UNE-HD 603-5X

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 NTC / RETIE (Colombia) · Decode your own designation