Medium Voltage cables, or MV cables, is a category defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as having a voltage rating of above 1kV up to 100kV. There does, however, remain some ambiguity over where the medium voltage cable band begins and ends, depending on the countries, the standard setting bodies, and the type of system used as historically engineers only referred to low voltage and high voltage. The concept of medium voltage was only introduced as the level of voltages increased and the need arose for a greater classification range, which now often includes extra low and extra high voltage.

Hongda Cables is a leading supplier of medium voltage cables, which we consider to range between 3.3kV and 45kV. For higher voltages, please visit our high voltage cable specifications to find the right cable for your application.  Our MV XLPE insulated cables are manufactured in accordance with various British and international Standards. These include armoured cable to British Standard BS6622 and BS7835; international Standards including IEC 60502-1 and IEC 60502-2; as well as a wide range of international construction specifications, including N2SXY, N2XS2Y, N2XSEY, NA2XSY and NA2XS2Y.

Voltage Rating for some of our most commonly supplied MV cables (always in stock or in production):

MV Cable Sizes

Our 10kV, 11kV, 20kV, 30kV and 33kV cables are available in the following cross-sectional size ranges. Larger sizes are available upon request.

Please see our MV cable datasheets for further information.

European MV cable type designation

As a specialist MV cable supplier, our standard medium voltage cable portfolio contains cable with single and 3-core copper or aluminium conductors, with a steel wire armour or aluminium wire armour for mechanical protection, and with various application-specific materials including Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene (PE), Cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE) and Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) and oversheathing properties including Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH). We also supply medium voltage standard cables manufactured against specific power network requirements supplied in triplex formation. Our MV cable products are installed across a number of industries ranging from construction to power transmission. They are widely used for power distribution between high voltage mains power supply and low voltage applications, as well as by utility companies to connect residential and industrial complexes, or renewable energy sources such as wind and solar farms, to the primary grid.

Our MV cables are available in specific lengths as well as in extended long lengths to facilitate installation and to reduce the number of joints.

Custom designed medium voltage cables

In addition to standard medium voltage cables, we can design and supply bespoke MV cable products developed for your specific applications. Our custom designed cable solutions provide for variants developed and manufactured around a number of parameters, including:

Cross-sectional area: generally 35mm² up to 100mm2
Number of cores: generally one or three
Solid or stranded aluminium conductors: for applications requiring a lighter cable weight, also often more economical due to lower aluminium prices. 
Stranded copper conductors: for applications requiring a smaller overall diameter and higher transmitting properties.
Bedding
Bonded or strippable out semi-conducting layer
Water tightness: longitudinal, longitudinal + quasi-radial, longitudinal + radial
Insulation layers (conductor screen, insulation and insulation screen): XLPE, which is more commonly used for MV cables, or EPR which is more flexible and often better suited to marine and offshore applications.
Metallic screen: to nullify the electric field outside the MV cable. Concentric copper wire screens, Aluminium foil laminate, or extruded lead alloy sheath.
Twisted three-core cable or triplex 
Armouring: for mechanical protection. Aluminium wire armoured for single-core cables, Galvanised steel wire armour, strip or tape.
Tapes: Separator tapes to facilitate peeling, water-swellable tapes to prevent water ingress, Conductive tape for core binding.
Outer Sheath: compounds with various properties, tailored to the specific application’s requirements, including resistance to oils, greases, rodents, termites, UV and flame, as well as zero halogen emissions.
 

Medium Voltage cable testing

Some of the tests you would expect from a medium voltage cable manufacturer, and which are performed on our MV cables, include:

Routine tests: These non-destructive tests are normally carried out on all lengths manufactured.
– Conductor resistivity
– Spark test on oversheath
– Voltage tests on sheath
– D.C. voltage test on oversheath

Sample tests: These potentially destructive tests are normally carried out on every production run.
– Examination of conductor and dimensions
– Hot set test for XLPE insulation
– Insulation and oversheath thickness
– Four hour voltage test

Type tests: These destructive tests are normally carried out in addition to the above tests on commencement of a particular cable supply to validate its design.
– Electrical type tests including bending and heat cycle
– Non-electrical type tests including mechanical properties after ageing and tests under fire conditions.