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Clear Flexible Grounding Cable bare copper earthing wire

Clear Flexible Grounding Cable Earthing Copper Wire with Transparent PVC Jacket

600V Clear Flexible Copper Grounding Cable — Transparent PVC Jacket, ASTM B-172 Fine Strand
Voltage: 600V, temporary protective grounding only
Conductor: Soft drawn copper, ASTM B-172 rope-lay bunch strand, 665-2,109 × 0.010″
Insulation: Transparent PVC — visual inspection of copper before each use
Bending: 4 × D (tightest of any power cable), +5°C to +70°C flex
Sizes: 2 AWG (33.6mm²) to 4/0 AWG (107mm²), 100m roll
Application: Portable earthing jumpers for de-energised line maintenance
Standard: IEC 61138, ASTM B-172, EN 60332-1-2

Product Overview

Clear Flexible Grounding Cable with Transparent PVC Jacket is a 600V single-core heavy-gauge copper grounding jumper cable manufactured to IEC 61138 and ASTM B-172. Its defining feature is the fully transparent PVC jacket — allowing visual inspection of the copper conductor for strand breakage, corrosion, or mechanical damage before every use. This is not a permanent building earth wire; it is a temporary protective grounding jumper used by utility lineworkers when working on de-energised high-voltage circuits. Before work begins, the lineman applies these flexible jumpers to bond all phases together and to earth, creating an equipotential zone that protects against accidental re-energisation or induced voltages from adjacent live circuits.

The cable is constructed with an extraordinarily fine-stranded soft drawn bare copper conductor — up to 2,109 individual strands of 0.010-inch (0.254 mm) wire in the 4/0 AWG variant. This extreme stranding count, combined with a bending radius of just 4× the cable diameter (the tightest of any power cable in our range), produces a cable that handles like rope — essential for linemen who must manipulate heavy-gauge copper conductors at arm's length from a bucket truck or while wearing insulating gloves. The transparent PVC jacket is formulated for outdoor UV exposure, moisture resistance, and flexibility at temperatures from +5°C to +70°C during handling, with a short-circuit withstand of 160°C for 5 seconds.

Unlike permanent earthing conductors that are buried in the ground or installed in conduit for decades, clear grounding jumpers are portable equipment — stored in the line truck, inspected before each job, clamped to the de-energised conductors with temporary earth clamps, and removed after work is complete. The transparent jacket is the critical safety feature: it enables the mandatory pre-use visual inspection required by utility safety codes such as IEEE 1048 and IEC 61230 without cutting or stripping the insulation. Available in four large AWG sizes (2, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0), these jumpers provide the massive fault current capacity needed to safely bypass a high-voltage line if it is accidentally re-energised during maintenance — the cable must survive long enough for the upstream protection (circuit breaker or fuse) to operate.

1

Ultra-Flexible Fine Strand Copper

Soft drawn bare copper, 665-2,109 strands of 0.010" wire per ASTM B-172. Rope-like flexibility, 4×D bending radius — handles like cord, not cable.

2

Transparent PVC Jacket

Clear PVC insulation allows visual inspection of the copper conductor for strand breakage, corrosion, or damage — mandatory pre-use safety check for temporary grounding.

3

600V Temporary Grounding

Per IEC 61138 for portable earthing equipment. Designed for temporary protective bonding of de-energised circuits during maintenance — not for permanent installation.

4

Heavy AWG 2-4/0 Range

2 AWG (33.6mm²) to 4/0 AWG (107mm²). Massive fault current capacity for high-voltage line maintenance. 100m standard roll length.

5

Utility Safety Equipment

Used with temporary earth clamps per IEEE 1048 / IEC 61230. Creates equipotential zone protecting linemen from re-energisation and induced voltages.

6

Flexibility at Temperature

70°C continuous, 160°C/5s short-circuit. Bending radius 4×D — tightest in our product line. Flex temp range +5°C to +70°C.

Technical Characteristics

Rated Voltage600V
Max. Conductor Temperature+70°C (continuous)
Max. Short-Circuit Temperature+160°C (max 5 seconds)
Operating Temperature (Flexed)+5°C to +70°C
Min. Bending Radius4 × cable diameter
FlammabilityEN 60332-1-2
Conductor TypeFlexible stranded soft drawn bare copper, per ASTM B-172
Insulation TypeTransparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Applicable Standards

StandardScope
IEC 61138International standard for portable earthing equipment — cables for portable earthing and short-circuiting. The primary standard governing temporary protective grounding jumpers.
ASTM B-172ASTM standard for rope-lay stranded copper conductors having bunch-stranded members. Governs the ultra-flexible fine-strand conductor construction unique to portable earthing cables.
EN 60332-1-2Single cable vertical flame test. Fire safety requirement for utility equipment cables used in substations and overhead line environments.
IEEE 1048IEEE Guide for Protective Grounding of Power Lines. Referenced utility safety practice mandating visual inspection of grounding jumpers before each use — enabled by the transparent jacket.
⚠️ Safety-Critical Application: Clear grounding jumpers are personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical workers — not general-purpose building wire. The transparent jacket exists for one reason: pre-use visual inspection for strand damage. A grounding jumper with a broken strand may not carry full fault current, and a lineman relying on it for protection would be at risk. Always inspect before use per IEEE 1048. Replace any jumper showing visible copper discolouration, strand breakage, or jacket cuts.

Technical Specifications

Flexible stranded soft drawn bare copper per ASTM B-172. Transparent PVC insulation. Four AWG sizes. Ultra-fine bunch stranding: 665 to 2,109 individual 0.010-inch wires. 100m standard roll length per export wooden case and pallet. US customary units: 1 mil = 0.001 inch = 0.0254 mm.

Size
(AWG)
Stranding
(No. × inches)
Nominal Area
(mm²)
Insulation
(mils)
Insulation
(mm)
Cable O.D.
(inches)
Cable O.D.
(mm)
2665 × 0.01033.6952.410.5413.7
1/01,064 × 0.01053.5952.410.6516.5
2/01,323 × 0.01067.41102.790.7118.0
4/02,109 × 0.010107.21102.790.8521.6
Bunch stranding explained: Unlike conventional concentric-lay stranding where wires are arranged in neat geometric layers (7, 19, 37 strands), ASTM B-172 "rope-lay" bunch stranding groups fine wires into sub-bundles called "bunches" which are then twisted together — similar to how a wire rope is constructed. This produces a conductor with extreme flexibility at the cost of slightly higher DC resistance and a less perfectly circular cross-section. The 4/0 AWG cable contains 2,109 individual wires — each 0.010 inches (0.25 mm) in diameter — making it as flexible as a thick rope despite carrying the equivalent of 107mm² of copper. The transparent PVC insulation is NOT UV-stabilised for permanent outdoor installation — it is designed for portable use and must be stored away from direct sunlight when not in service per manufacturer guidance.

Packaging & Delivery

ParameterStandard
Package100m per roll, export wooden case and pallet
Roll MarkingManufacturer, AWG size, 600V, IEC 61138, conductor stranding, length, weight, batch number
Cable EndsHeat-shrink end caps to prevent moisture ingress during storage
Outer ProtectionWooden case prevents crushing of transparent PVC jacket during long-distance shipping
Delivery ConditionFactory-new, tested per IEC 61138, ASTM B-172

Typical Applications

Clear transparent grounding jumpers are utility-grade personal protective equipment — not building wire. They are used exclusively for temporary protective earthing during maintenance of de-energised electrical equipment:

Overhead Line Maintenance

Temporary bonding of all phases to earth before linemen work on de-energised power lines. Creates safe equipotential zone per IEEE 1048.

🏭

Substation Maintenance

Portable earthing of busbars, circuit breakers, and disconnect switches during maintenance outages in transmission and distribution substations.

🔍

Visual Inspection Before Use

Transparent jacket enables mandatory pre-use inspection — lineman checks for broken strands, discolouration, and jacket integrity before mounting clamps.

🔧

Generator & Motor Earthing

Temporary protective grounding of large rotating machines during overhaul, winding tests, and bearing replacement — flexible cable contours around frame obstructions.

🧰

Utility Line Truck Equipment

Standard issue on every line maintenance truck — stored on the truck, inspected at the start of each shift, deployed as personal protective equipment.

🛡️

Protection Against Induced Voltage

Adjacent live circuits induce voltage on de-energised lines through capacitive and inductive coupling. Grounding jumpers short this induced voltage to earth, protecting workers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

As a factory, we offer flexible MOQ depending on the cable type. For standard stock items, MOQ is low; for customized specifications, please contact our sales team for a detailed quote.

Yes, Qiangli cables are manufactured in compliance with international standards such as UL, CE, TUV, and VDE. We provide full test reports and certificates upon request.

Absolutely. We have a dedicated R&D team that can customize cable structure, material, color, and printing to meet your specific project needs.

For standard products, lead time is usually 7-15 days. For large-scale project orders or customized products, it typically ranges from 20 to 30 days.

Yes, we provide free samples for most standard cables. You only need to cover the international courier costs. Contact us to arrange your sample shipment.

inquiry@qiangligroup.com +86 153 3220 6813