What is Medium Voltage Cable?
Medium Voltage Cable is power cable most often used in the commercial, industrial and electrical utility industries. The standard voltage rating for MV (medium voltage) cable falls between 5 kV and 35 kV, but this range can vary for different manufacturers and standards. MV-90 cable and MV-105 cable, rated for up to 90°C and 105°C, respectively, are two of the most common call-outs. Medium voltage power cable is available in a wide range of styles, and you should learn its basic construction and common uses before making any purchase.
Construction
Medium voltage cable is offered in single and multi-conductor, and shielded and unshielded styles, with a flexible design for installation. A medium voltage power cable is frequently designed with either Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) or Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) insulation. Some common jacket materials used for MV cable are Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE).
The most popular shield options are a copper tape shield, helically applied to the insulation, or a copper wire shield. Medium voltage cable is available with two types of insulation levels, 100% or 133%. These insulation levels allow the cable to better handle a voltage increase should system faults occur. Which insulation level you choose depends on the fault clearing time of the system.
If the fault clearing time is one minute or less, the 100% insulation level cable is used. 100% is generally used in grounded systems where there is only a minimal voltage rise. The 133% insulation level is used when a fault is cleared in less than 1 hour. It is commonly used in high resistance grounded systems or ungrounded systems where voltage levels may rise from phase to phase.
Applications
A medium voltage power cable is typically used as the main power source for a wide variety of applications. If you install these cables according to NEC standards, they are suitable for use in wet or dry locations. Known for their electrical stability and rugged design, medium voltage cables are found in tough applications like pulp and paper mills, petrochemical plants, steel mills, textile mills, water, and sewage treatment facilities, mines, railroads, and electrical utility generating plants. MV cable is also approved for use in conduit, open tray, aerial, direct burial, and underground ducts.
As you can see, medium voltage cable is offered in a variety of insulation materials, jacket compounds, and voltage ratings, and it may be the perfect fit for your industrial or utility application. Search through Allied Wire’s selection of Industrial Medium Voltage Power Cable today.