This document provides an overview of different types of power cables including their classifications, constructions, essential requirements, and testing procedures. The key types discussed are: 1) Thermoplastic cables like PVC and PE which are inexpensive but have limitations on operating temperature. 2) Thermosetting cables like XLPE and EPR which can operate at higher temperatures but are more expensive. 3) Paper or oil-filled cables which are reliable but heavy, costly, and difficult to repair. Proper handling, storage, laying, and testing of cables is important to ensure safety and performance.

1. National Power Training Institute
Power System Training Institute
Cable and its Classification
Project
Submitted By: -
Mr. Somnath Das
&
Mr. Aritra Paul
Guided By:-
Mr. K. Vetrivel Mr. M. N. Murthy
Assistant Director, Director, PSTI,
PSTI, Bangalore Bangalore

2. Classification of cables
Paper : PILE (Paper insulated Lead Covered Cables)
OFC (Oil filled cables)
Polymers : PVC (Poly venial chloride)
XLPE (Cross linked Poly ethylene)
EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber)
Cable Conductor
Conductor : Stranded & Solid
: Copper & Aluminum
POWER CABLES
A power cable is an assembly of two or more electrical conductors, usually held together with an overall sheath.
The assembly is used for transmission of electrical power. Power cables may be installed as
permanent wiring within buildings, buried in the ground, run overhead, or exposed.
Essential requirement of good cable are
1) The conductor used in cables should be tinned stranded copper or aluminum of high conductivity. Stranding is
done so that conductor may become flexible and carry more current.
2) The conductor size should be such that the cable carries the desired load current without overheating and
causes voltage drop within permissible limits.
3) The cable must have proper thickness of insulation in order to give high degree of safety and reliability at the
voltage for which it is designed.
4) The cable must be provided with suitable mechanical protection so that it may withstand the rough use in laying
it.
Construction of cables
Cores or conductors
A cable may have one or more than one core (conductor) depending upon the type of service for which it is
intended. The conductors are made of tinned copper or aluminum and are usually stranded in order to provide
flexibility to the cable.
 Insulation
Each core or conductor is provided with a suitable thickness of insulation, the thickness of layer depending
upon the voltage to be withstood by the cable. The commonly used materials for insulation are
impregnated paper, varnished cambric or rubber mineral compound.
 Metallic Sheath
In order to protect the cable from moisture, gases or other damaging liquids (acids or alkalis) in the soil
and atmosphere, a metallic sheath of lead or aluminum is provided over the insulation.
 Bedding
Over the metallic sheath is applied a layer of bedding which consists of a fibrous material like jute or
hessian tape. The purpose of bedding is to protect the metallic sheath against corrosion and from
mechanical injury due to armouring.

3.  Armouring
Over the bedding, armouring is provided which consists of one or two layers of galvanized steel wire or
steel tape. Its purpose is to protect the cable from mechanical injury while laying it and during the course
of handling. Armouring may not be done in the case of some cables.
 Serving
In order to protect armouring from atmospheric conditions, a layer of fibrous material (like jute) similar to
bedding is provided over the armouring. This is known as serving.
A typical Power Cable
Types of Cables
There are different varieties of power cables mainly cables are named and differentiated according to the type and
nature of insulation used in them.
1) Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic compounds are materials that go soft when heated and harden when cooled.
a) PVC (Poly Vinyl chloride) CABLES
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulated cable is now the most usual low voltage cable. It is mainly dominant in the low
voltage and some specialist applications. Telecommunication is also an important application for PVC. PVC cables
have a number of benefits. PVC cables can be different core types.

4. Advantages
 Good electrical and insulation properties over a wide temperature range
Inherent fire safety
 Excellent durability and long-life expectancy
 Easy processing characteristics to achieve desired specification for end-products
Cost-effectiveness
Disadvantages
 It is not recommended for use above 70° Celsius although it can be taken to 80° for short periods.
 Sensitive to UV and oxidative degradation.
 Limited thermal capability and not suitable for HV and MV operations.
 Thermal decomposition evolves HCI because it contains halogens.
b) PE (Poly Ethylene) Cables
 PE (Polyethylene) – is part of a class of polymers called Polyolefin’s. Polyethylene has lower dielectric
losses than PVC and is sensitive to moisture under voltage stress (i.e. for high voltages only).
Advantages
 Lowest dielectric losses.
 High initial dielectric strength.
Disadvantages
 Highly sensitive to water treeing.
 Material breaks down at high temperatures.
2) Thermosetting
Thermosetting compounds are polymer resins that are irreversibly cured (e.g. by heat in the vulcanization process)
to form a plastic or rubber
a) XLPE CABLES
XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) – has different polyethylene chains linked together (“cross-linking”) which helps
prevent the polymer from melting or separating at elevated temperatures. Therefore XLPE is useful for higher
temperature applications. XLPE has higher dielectric losses than PE, but has better ageing characteristics and

5. resistance to water treeing. Normal operating temperatures are typically between 90C and 110C. Temperature limit
is 250C.
Advantages
 Cross linked polyethylene insulated power cable (XLPE cable), having no necessity of metallic sheath, has
much flexibility and is light in weight as compared with the conventional paper insulated cable. Nowadays
XLPE cable is widely applied from 600 V to 154 kV transmission lines
 Owing to the excellent electrical characteristics, XLPE cable has an advantage of greater continuous and
short-circuits current carrying capacity. In addition to that, it is easy in handling and installing as compared
with the conventional paper insulated and leads sheathed cables.
 It has low thermal resistivity.
 Max continuous operating temperature is 150 deg
 Overload :130 deg for 4 hrs
 Max short circuit temperature:250 deg
 Very low tan delta in EHV application
 Lighter in weight and maintenance free installation.
Disadvantages
 Higher manufacturing cost
 Low resistance to pd
 Absorb moisture freeing problem
 Permanent failure –HV & EHV
 Medium sensitivity to water treeing (although some XLPE polymers are water-tree resistant)
b) EPR CABLES
EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber) cables are more flexible than XLPE and PE cables but have higher dielectric
losses and normal operating temperatures are typically between 90C and 110C. Temperature limit is 250C.
Advantages
 Low dielectric loses
 Improved material properties at high temperatures

6.  Low sensitivity to water treeing
 It can be used for MV operation.
Disadvantages
 Medium-High dielectric losses
 Costlier than XLPE and PVC cables.
3) Paper or Oil based
Paper Based insulation is the oldest type of power cable insulation and is still used mainly for high voltage cables.
The paper insulation must be impregnated with a dielectric fluid (e.g. oil resin or a synthetic fluid). A lead sheath is
commonly applied over the insulation to prevent water or moisture ingress into the paper insulation, which is
sensitive to moisture.
Advantages
 Low-Medium dielectric losses
 Not harmed by DC testing
 Known history of reliability
Disadvantages
 High weight and high cost
 Requires hydraulic pressure / pumps for insulating fluid
 Difficult to repair
 Degrades with moisture
PACKING, HANDLING AND STORAGE
PACKING
Cables are generally received wound on wooden drums, both the ends of the cable being easily accessible for
inspection and testing. However short length may be transported in coils without drums with prior intimation to
customer. In case of paper-insulated lead-sheathed cables, both the ends of cables should be protected from
moisture by means of plumbed lead caps. In case of PVC and XLPE cables sealed plastic caps or heat shrinkable
caps should be used. The cable shall be wound on drums and packed. The cable drums shall carry the following
information either stenciled or contained in a label attached to it.
• Reference of Indian standard,
• Manufacture's name or trade-mark;
• Type of cable and voltage grade;
• Number of cores;
• Nominal cross-sectional area of conductor;
• Cable code;

7. • Length of cable on the drum;
• Number of length on the drum (if more than one);
• Direction of rotation of drum (by arrow);
• Gross mass;
• Country of manufacture;
• Year of manufacture
• The cable drums or label may also be marked with ISI Standard mark.
HANDLING
On receipt of cable drums visual inspection of drums should be made ensuring drum packing is original. When
unloading the cables, certain precautions are to be taken to ensure the safety of the cables.
a) The cable drums should not be dropped or thrown from railway wagons or trucks during unloading operations as
the shock may cause serious damage to cable layers. A crane should be used for unloading cable drums. When
lifting drums with the crane, it is recommended that the lagging should be kept in place to prevent the flanges from
crushing on to the cable. If the crane is not available, a ramp should be prepared with approximate inclination of
1:3 or 1:4. The cable drum should be rolled over the ramp by means of ropes and winches. Additionally, a sand
bed at the foot of the ramp may be prepared to brake the rolling of the cable drum.
b) Cable should not be dragged along the earth surface.
c) The arrows painted on the flange of the drum indicate the direction in which the drum should be rolled. The
cable will unwind and become loose if the drum is rolled in the opposite direction. Improper handling or uncoiling of
cable from reels or coils often results in the “springing” of armour of the cable and kinking of the cable both of
which are very difficult to be corrected. It reduces effective cable life considerably. To avoid this, the following steps
are to be followed:
I) If the cable is supplied on a reel, it should be mounted on a shaft and cable paid off from the reel while it rotates.
Suitable brakes should be applied on the flanges of the reel.
ii) If the cable is supplied in large coils these should be mounted on a turn table with suitable brakes and cable paid
off while the turn table rotates.
iii) Small coils of cables can be made to roll along the ground for uncoiling.
iv) Cable should be neither pulled straight from the coil while the coil rests on the ground nor taken off turn from
reel while it is lying on its flange on the ground.
v) Also never allow the reel to rotate at high speed during payoff.
STORAGE
The site chosen for storage of cables should be well drained. Cable should be stored in a dry covered place to
prevent exposure to climatic conditions and wear and tear of wooden drums and it should preferably on a concrete
surface/firm surface, which will not cause the drums to sink and thus lead to flange rot and extreme difficulty in
moving the drums. However cable drum can be stored in uncovered area, but the area should be free from
corrosive agents such as chemicals and fumes etc. Also the lagging should be kept in place to avoid cable surface
from direct sunrays. The cables stored in hot condition at higher temperature may cause oxidation of outer sheath
jacket, whenever a cable length is cut, it should be recapped to avoid ingress of water in the cable. All drums
should be stored in such a manner as to leave sufficient space between them for air circulation. It is desirable for
drums to stand on battens placed directly under the flanges. During storage the drum should be rolled to an angle
of 90 º once every 3 months, This will avoid collapsing of barrel of drum due to weight pressure continuously in one
direction for longer period.
In no case, should the drum be stored “on the flat” that is, with flange horizontal. If it is necessary to rewind a cable
on to another drum, the barrel of the drum should have a diameter not less than that of the original drum.
LAYING
The selection of the route should first be decided keeping in view the intermediate and ultimate use of the cable as
an intermediate part of the transmission and distribution system.
For transporting the cable drum to site, it is necessary to check the road condition, whether it has loose soil, is
marshy, water logged etc. If possible, cables should be laid along the footpath rather than the carriageway. Plans
for future building projects should be considered. The route should be away from parallel running gas, water pipes
and telephone cables. Also suitable locations for cable joints and end termination should be selected as required.
On receipt of the drum at site, the plank should be removed and the cable is examined for exterior damage, if any.

8. To avoid damage to the protective covering and the insulation the cable must not be pulled across hard and sharp
objects. For laying of cables special cares to be taken to prevent sharp bending, kinking, twisting. Cable should be
unwound from drum by proper mounting the cable drum on a cable wheel making sure the spindle is strong
enough to carry the weight without bending and that it is lying horizontally in the bearings so as to prevent the drum
creeping to one side or the other while it is rotating.
This is incorrect way of pulling the cable & will cause kinks & twist in cable. Shall be avoided at all.
Cable must not be pulled across hard & sharp object to avoid the damage to the covering & insulation.
Cable must be laid in ducts or trenches as showing in Fig.
Provision should be made to break the drum to avoid further rolling & buckling of cable during sudden stop.
A simple wooden plank can serve this purpose Cable must be pulled from the top
However, following salient points are to be considered during laying procedure of cables laid in racks and in build-
in trenches.

9. 1) For laying of cables, power cables are to be placed at the bottom most layer and control cables at top most
layer.
2) Single core power cables for use on a.c system shall be laid in delta formation supported by nonmagnetic
material. Trefoil clamps of suitable size are to be placed at regular intervals but preferably not more than 800 mm.
Axial spacing of two circuits in delta formation shall not be less than 4 times the cable dia. In case of multicore
power cables, cables shall be laid side by side, with spacing not less than one cable diameter. However de rating
factors for cables laid on trenches are to be referred. Multicore power cables and single core D.C circuits may be
clamped by means of galvanized mild steel saddles. The saddles shall not be placed at intervals more than 1500
mm. for horizontal and 1200 mm. for vertical runs.
3) Multicore control cables can be laid touching each other on cable racks and wherever required may be taken in
two layers. They should be clamped by means of PVC straps both for horizontal and vertical runs, (alternatively,
fabricated aluminum clamps may be used) at regular intervals
.
4) a) If the cable are buried directly in ground. I.S. 1255 is to be followed for code of practice. However generally
cables are laid 1000 mm. below finished ground level at any point of cable run and 75 mm. of sand cushioning to
be provided.
b) In loose soil concrete pillar should be provided for as support and hence pipes are recommended to the used for
cable path
5) If there is a possibility of mechanical damage, cable should be protected by means of mild steel covers placed
on racks.
6) Method of Installation:
• Three Core Cables: Installed independently
• Single Core Cables: Three cables in a trefoil touching each other
7 Maximum safe pulling forces (when pulled by pulling eye).
Aluminum conductor cables: 3.0 kg/mm²
Copper conductor cables: 5.0 kg/mm²
Proper method of pulling of cable should be used. Refer I.S. 1255-1983, code of practice for installation and
maintenance of power cables.
BENDING RADIUS
While Installing Cables, the following minimum bending radius should be observed such that the cables, and
especially the insulation, are not damaged. Wherever possible, larger bending radii should be used.
VOLTAGE GRADE OF CABLES RECOMMENDED MINIMUM BENDING RADII
Up to 1.1KV (12 X D) For Multi Core Cables
Up to 1.1KV (15 X D) For Single Core Cables
3.3 KV up to 11KV (15 X D) For Single and Multi Core Cables
Above 11 KV (15 X D) For Multi Core Cables
(20 X D) For Single Core Cables
Where 'D' is the overall diameter of Cables.
TESTING INSULATION RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT OF CABLE
The voltage rating of I R Tester (Megger) should be chosen as following table:
VOLTAGE GRADE RATING OF IR VOLTAGE GRADE RATING OF IR
OF CABLES
TESTER
(MEGGER) OF CABLE TESTER (MEGGER)
1.1 KV 500V 11KV 1000V
3.3 KV 1000V 22KV 2500V
6.6 KV 1000V 33KV 2500V

10. Terms regarding Cable Termination
Cable Gland:
A cable gland (in the U.S. more often known as a cable connector or fitting) is a device designed to attach and
secure the end of a cable to the equipment. A cable gland provides strain-relief and connects by a means suitable
for the type and description of cable for which it is designed—including provision for making electrical connection to
the armour or braid and lead or aluminum sheath of the cable, if any. Cable glands may also be used for sealing
cables passing through bulkheads or gland plates.
Cable glands are mechanical cable entry devices and can be constructed from metallic or non-metallic materials.
They are used throughout a number of industries in conjunction with cable and wiring used in electrical
instrumentation and automation systems.
Cable glands may be used on all types of electrical power, control, instrumentation, data and telecommunications
cables. They are used as a sealing and termination device to ensure that the characteristics of the enclosure which
the cable enters can be maintained adequately.
These are the four main materials from which cable glands are made:
Plastic
Brass
Aluminum
Stainless steel
Although cable glands are often called "connectors", a technical distinction can be made in the terminology, which
differentiates them from quick-disconnect, conducting electrical connectors. The distinction is often not made.
There are at least 2 types of thread standard 1) PG standard 2) Metric standard (millimeter)
Cable Lugs
Cable lugs are devices used for connecting cables to electrical appliances, other cables, surfaces, or mechanisms

11. Hole Saw
A hole saw (also styled hole saw), also known as a hole cutter,[1] is a saw blade of annular (ring) shape, whose
annular kerfs creates a hole in the work piece without having to cut up the core material. It is used in a drill. Hole
saws typically have a pilot drill bit at their center to keep the saw teeth from walking. The fact that a hole saw
creates the hole without needing to cut up the core often makes it preferable to twist drills or spade drills for
relatively large holes (especially those larger than 25 millimeters (1.0 inch)). The same hole can be made faster
and using less power.
The depth to which a hole saw can cut is limited by the depth of its cup-like shape. Most hole saws have a fairly
short aspect ratio of diameter to depth, and they are used to cut through relatively thin work pieces. However,
longer aspect ratios are available for applications that warrant them.
Cutting with a hole saw is analogous to some machining operations, called trepanning in the trade, that swing a
cutter analogous to a fly cutter in order to achieve a similar result of annular kerfs and intact core.
Cable Rating

12. Pictorial Example of Installation of Cables:

13. <<<<<<<<The END>>>>>>>>