Cable marking: GOST, decoding and designations

Cable marking is the use of a shell of different colors, labeling, the use of labels and tags, as well as electronic markers. The marker speaks about the properties of the cable and allows you to distinguish it among other similar products.

What are the insignia of the wires?

The marking of power cables consists of letters denoting the material of which shells, insulation, veins are made, and also the type of protection. The designations for high voltage cables include design features.

Copper wires in the inscription are not marked with a special letter. Usually an aluminum core is the letter "A", which stands at the beginning of the marking. Then comes the letter that defines the insulation material. Polyethylene insulation - the letter "P", polyvinyl chloride is designated by the letter "B", and the rubber insulation is designated by the letter "P". Next comes a letter denoting the type of protective shell, namely: the letter "A" - aluminum, the letter "C" - lead, the letter "P" - a polyethylene hose, the letter "B" - a shell of polyvinyl chloride, the rubber shell - the letter "P" . The last letters indicate the type of cover.

For example, the brand "SG" has a vein of copper, paper insulation, a shell of lead, there are no protective covers. The marking of the oil-filled cable contains the letter "M" (gas filled - letter "G") and a letter indicating the characteristic of the oil pressure and related features. For example, the cable "MNS" is an oil-filled cable, with low pressure, in a lead shell that has a protective cover.

Marking of wires and cables is carried out by numbers and letters, according to GOST and TU: GOST 16442-80 and TU16.71-277-98.

Marking of power cables with rubber and PVC insulation

• "A" means the vein materials, aluminum. If there are no letters, then copper is the material.
• "AC" is an aluminum core with a cable sheath made of lead.
• "AA" is an aluminum core with a cable sheath made of aluminum.
• "B" - indicates that the cable has armor, it is made of two layers of tape with a special anti-corrosion coating.
• "Mon" - there is a special protective shell, not supporting combustion.
• "B" - stands either first or second and means "polyvinylchloride shell".
• "G" is a bare cable that does not have a protective coating, if "G" is at the end. If the "G" is at the beginning, then it is used in the mining industry.
• "2g" - there is an additional aluminopolymer tape.
• "Шв" - there is a protective jacket of the cable, which looks like a PVC hose (extruded).
• "Шп" - the hose consists of polyethylene.
• "Шпс" - polyethylene is self-extinguishing.
• "K" - if the letter is at the beginning of the marking, then the control cable. If at the end, the armor is made of steel wires, on which the cover is put.
• KG is a flexible cable.
• "C" refers to the lead sheath of the cable.
• "O" - the shell is made over all phases of the cable.
• "Pv" - consists of polyethylene vulcanized.
• "P" - the cable insulation is made of rubber.
• "HP" - the cable insulation does not light up.
• "Ng" - usually at the end and means that the cable is not lit.

Inscription on the BIP product

Marking of cable БПИ in accordance with GOST 18410-73 (paper, impregnated cable):

• "A" is an aluminum core.
• "B" - armor is represented by thin steel ribbons.
• "AB" - armor aluminum.
• "SB" - armor lead.
• "C" - lead - shell material.
• "O" - lived a separate lead.
• "P" - the armor is made of galvanized steel flat wires.
• "K" - the armor is made of galvanized steel round wires.
• "B" - paper insulation, which has a depleted impregnation.
• "B" - there is no pillow.
• "L" - there is a pillow, and it includes a lavsan ribbon.
• "2L" - includes a double tape.
• "G" - there is no protective cover.
• "N" - the outer cover is incombustible. It is placed after the reservation.
• "Shv" - the cover is represented by an extruded hose consisting of polyvinyl chloride.
• "Shp" - the cover is represented by an extruded hose consisting of polyethylene.
• "Швпг" - PVC has low combustibility.
• "Ozh" - single-wire veins. It is put in the end.
• "U" - paper insulation, which has a high temperature of heating.
• "C" - paper insulation, which is impregnated with a non-staining composition.

Control cable

Marking of the control cable:

• "A" - a vein of aluminum or copper, if there is no aluminum core.
• "B" - (second) PVC insulation.
• "B" is the (third) PVC sheath.
• "P" - polyethylene insulation.
• "Ps" - self-extinguishing polyethylene insulation.
• "G" - no protective cover.
• "Р" - rubber insulation.
• "K" - (second or first letter) control cable.
• KG is a flexible cable.
• "F" - fluoroplastic insulation.
• "E" - if at the beginning, it is an electrical cable, the marking of which says that it is suitable for normal conditions, and if at the end or in the middle, then it is a shielded cable that is used to protect against electromagnetic radiation.

Using letters in combination with numbers

Also there is an alphanumeric cable marking. Explanation:

• AVVGng 3x4 - three-core, aluminum cable. With a cross section of 4 squares. The shell and insulation consists of polyvinyl chloride, there is no protective cover, it does not support burning.
• PVG 3x2.5 - three-core cable, copper. With a cross section of 2.5 squares. There is polyethylene insulation. The protective shell consists of polyvinyl chloride, there is no protective cover.
• ASB 7x2.5 - cable seven-core, aluminum. With a cross section of 2.5 squares. The shell consists of lead, there is armor.

That is, this marking shows the cross section of the veins and their number.

Explanation of a special abbreviation

Marking of wires and cables that have a specialized abbreviation:

• KSPV - cables are designed for special transmission systems in the shell.
• KPSVV - cables are designed for fire alarm.
• KPSVEV - cables are designed for fire alarm, only they include a screen.
• PNSV - heating wire with a steel core.
• ПВ-1, ПВ-3 - a wire with isolation from vinyl. Flexibility of the core - class 1.3.
• PVA is a wire with a vinyl sheath (connecting).
• ШВВП - a cord with isolation from vinyl (flat).
• PPPP - flat universal wire.
• PUGNP - flexible flat universal wire.

Difference between products with different color solutions

To properly use the cables, you need to distinguish between them. To make this easier, there is a color coded cable.

To identify the cables use brown, black, red, yellow, orange, green, purple. And blue, white, gray, turquoise and pink. This list is established in accordance with GOST.

The blue wire is for medium or neutral conductor.

Various combinations of colors can be used. Green and yellow color can not be used in other combinations, except for the yellow-green combination, and it is used to designate a protective zero conductor.

If the zero protective is combined with a zero working conductor, they are designated either along the entire length by a yellow-green combination, and at the ends they are light-blue or light-blue along the entire length, and at the ends by a combination of yellow and green.

Examples of identification of veins:

1. Color identification of cores, which are insulated with polyvinylchloride plastic:

- Three-wire cable: black, blue, brown or a combination of yellow and green, black, blue;

- four-wire cable: a combination of yellow and green (zero protective conductor), black, blue, brown.

2. Color identification exists also for three single-core cables, painted in black:

- one cable having a blue label;

- one cable without a label or with a black mark;

- one cable having a brown label.

3. Color identification by functional value of circuits:

- for conductors having power circuits, it is black;

- for conductors having control circuits, signaling and current measurement, which is variable, it is red;

- for conductors having control circuits, signaling and DC measurement, it is blue;

- for protective zero conductors - a combination of yellow and green;

- for conductors that are connected to a neutral conductor and are not intended for grounding, it is blue.

Tags used for inscriptions

Tags for cable marking are used for marking control and power wires. They are made of polypropylene.

In the event that there are hidden cable conductors in walls or pipes, tags marking are fixed at the exit and the entrance of the cable, in wells and chambers of block sewage and at the junction box. In the case of cable routing, marking tags are installed at each box or coupling, and also at the end. In order to install the cable in damp areas, the tags are made of plastic.

Tags are:

- Marking cable U-134;

- marking cable У-153;

- Marking cable U-135;

- Marking cable U-136.

Tip

So, as can be seen from the article, the marking of wires and cables (GOST, by the way, this is what the consumer should pay first attention to when buying) is very diverse. And an ordinary person will not be easy to figure it out. Therefore, we advise you to use specialists to work with cables and wires. It will be good if the services of this master include not only the necessary work, but also the purchase of the necessary material, so that you will not get confused. If you decide to independently perform any work related to cables and wires, then you should wish you luck in this difficult matter!