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Power Cable

Single Core 3.8/6.6KV Medium Voltage Aluminum Wire Armoured Cable

3.8/6.6kV XLPE Insulated Copper Screen Aluminum Wire Armoured Power Cable

Voltage: 3.8/6.6kV (Um=7.2kV)
Conductor: Copper or aluminum, Class 2 to IEC 60228
Screen: Extruded semi-con + XLPE, 2.5-3.2mm + copper wire/tape screen
Inner Sheath: PVC separation layer
Armour: Round aluminium wires, 1.6-2.5mm (AWA)
Overall Sheath: PVC Type ST2, MDPE, or LSZH (BS 7835)
Installation: Indoor, outdoor, underground, cable ducts, water

Product Overview

Single Core 3.8/6.6kV (Um=7.2kV) MV Aluminium Wire Armoured Cable is an XLPE-insulated, copper screen, AWA power cable designed for direct burial, underground ducts, water immersion, and outdoor installations where the unarmoured single-core cable lacks adequate mechanical protection. At this voltage class — the lowest MV level — aluminium wire armour (AWA) is mandated because steel armour on a single-core AC circuit would suffer eddy current heating. The round aluminium wires provide crush and impact resistance without the magnetic penalty, making this the default single-core MV cable for generator connections, large motor feeders, and power station auxiliary circuits installed in harsh physical environments.

AWA vs Unarmoured: When Armour is Required

The unarmoured 3.8/6.6kV cable (previous generation) is suitable only for protected indoor installations. For direct burial, outdoor cable trays, cable ducts subject to construction activity, or installations in water, the aluminium wire armour (AWA) version is specified. The AWA layer adds approximately 15-20% to the cable diameter and weight, but provides crush resistance rated for mechanical impact severity AG2 per IEC 60502. For generator cables running from the turbine hall through underground ducts to the switchyard, AWA is the standard specification — the unarmoured version would be rejected at design review for any route involving buried or exposed cable sections.

Cable Construction

MV Single Core 3.8/6.6kV AWA Cable Cross Section

1. Stranded Aluminum Conductor
2. Semi-conductor Screen
3. XLPE Insulation — 2.5-3.2mm, graduated
4. Copper Wire, Tape Screen
5. Inner PVC Sheath
6. Aluminum Wire Armor — Round wires, 1.6-2.5mm
7. Overall Sheath — PVC or MDPE (LSZH option)

1

Conductor

Copper: stranded Class 2. Aluminium: solid or stranded Class 2. Compacted circular. Per IEC 60228.

2

Semi-conductor Screen + XLPE Insulation

Extruded semi-conducting XLPE (inner) + XLPE insulation 2.5-3.2mm per cross-section. Triple-extruded for void-free bonding.

3

Copper Wire/Tape Screen

Combined copper wire and copper tape layer. Carries earth fault current and provides longitudinal water blocking. Cross-section per system fault level.

4

Inner PVC Sheath

Extruded PVC separation layer. Prevents galvanic corrosion between copper screen and aluminium armour. Essential for long-term buried cable reliability.

5

Aluminium Wire Armour

Round aluminium wires, 1.6-2.5mm diameter. Non-magnetic for single-core safety. Provides crush and impact protection per IEC 60502-2 mechanical tests.

6

Overall Sheath

PVC Type ST2 or MDPE, black, UV-stabilised. LSZH per BS 7835 for indoor public building installations. Extruded over the wire armour.

Technical Characteristics

Rated Voltage U₀/U (Um)3.8/6.6kV (7.2kV maximum system voltage)
Insulation Thickness2.5mm (25-185mm²), 2.6mm (240), 2.8mm (300), 3.0mm (400), 3.2mm (500-630)
Max. Conductor Temperature90°C (continuous), 250°C (short-circuit, max 5s)
Min. Bending Radius12 × overall diameter
ArmourRound aluminium wires, 1.6-2.5mm (graduated per conductor size)
Metallic ScreenCopper wires + copper tape, combined (e.g., 16mm² for 25mm² conductor)
Sheath OptionsPVC Type ST2, MDPE, or LSZH (BS 7835)
Installation EnvironmentsIndoor, outdoor, underground, cable ducts, water

Applicable Standards

StandardScope
BS 6622British standard for XLPE insulated single-core cables 3.8/6.6kV to 19/33kV. Governs AWA armoured single-core cable construction and testing.
IEC 60502-2International standard for extruded cables 6kV-30kV. AWA armoured cables are tested to the mechanical and electrical requirements of this standard.
IEC 60332-1Flame non-propagation test for single cable.
BS 7835LSZH sheathed cables for fire-sensitive indoor installations (power stations, public buildings).
IEC 60228Conductor specification — Class 2 stranded copper and aluminium, compacted circular.
AWA is mandatory for single-core MV cables — SWA is prohibited. IEC 60502-2 explicitly requires non-magnetic armour for single-core AC circuits. Aluminium wire armour (AWA) satisfies this requirement. If a project specification calls for "SWA" (steel wire armour) on a single-core MV cable, it is technically incorrect and must be challenged — steel wire armour on a single-core circuit will generate eddy currents that cause dangerous armour temperature rise, potentially exceeding the sheath material's thermal rating and degrading the cable over time.

Technical Specifications — Single Core 3.8/6.6kV AWA

XLPE insulation graduated by cross-section per BS 6622 / IEC 60502-2. Aluminium wire armour: 1.6mm (25-150mm²), 2.0mm (185-300mm²), 2.5mm (400-630mm²). Copper screen: combined wires + tape.

Cross Section
(mm²)
Insulation
(mm)
Cu Screen
(mm²)
Bedding
(mm)
Armour Wire
Dia. (mm)
Sheath
(mm)
Overall
Dia. (mm)
Weight Cu
(kg/km)
Weight Al
(kg/km)
1 × 252.53.41.21.61.826.31,1501,000
1 × 352.53.61.21.61.827.31,2501,050
1 × 502.53.91.21.61.828.41,5001,190
1 × 702.54.31.21.61.830.01,7401,300
1 × 952.54.71.21.61.931.82,0301,430
1 × 1202.55.01.21.61.933.22,3101,550
1 × 1502.55.31.21.62.035.12,6601,720
1 × 1852.55.81.22.02.037.43,1201,950
1 × 2402.66.31.22.02.140.33,7402,200
1 × 3002.87.01.22.02.242.94,4002,520
1 × 4003.07.71.22.52.347.25,4902,960
1 × 5003.28.51.32.52.551.66,7603,660
1 × 6303.29.51.42.52.657.08,2004,160
Copper screen cross-section: Values listed (3.4-9.5mm²) represent the combined screen cross-section of copper wires + copper tape. For systems with high earth fault levels, a larger screen may be required — contact engineering with your protection coordination study. Inner PVC sheath separates copper screen from aluminium armour to prevent galvanic corrosion in buried installations — a critical detail for long-term cable reliability.

Packaging & Delivery

🪵

Export Wooden Drum

Fumigated wooden drums. AWA cables are heavier than unarmoured but lighter than SWA equivalents due to aluminium vs steel.

🛡️

Moisture Protection

Factory-sealed cable ends with triple-layer heat-shrink caps and desiccant. AWA cables must be sealed — water ingress penetrates to armour layer and causes galvanic corrosion.

📋

BS 6622 Documentation

PD test certificate, AC voltage test report, conductor resistance measurement, armour continuity test, material traceability.

Typical Applications — Single Core 3.8/6.6kV AWA

Power Station Generator Cables

Primary application. Generator to step-up transformer connections where underground duct routing requires mechanical armour. Aluminium wire prevents eddy currents.

🏗️

Direct Burial & Underground Ducts

Single-core MV feeders in buried cable trenches and underground duct banks. AWA provides crush resistance against backfill and construction traffic.

🏭

Industrial Cable Trays

Outdoor and indoor cable trays in industrial plants. Armour protects against falling objects and accidental mechanical impact during maintenance activities.

🌊

Water Installation

Suitable for laying in fresh water. AWA + MDPE sheath combination provides long-term protection against water ingress and mechanical damage.

🔧

MV Motor Feeders (Protected Routes)

Large 6.6kV motor feeders where cable routing includes sections vulnerable to physical damage. AWA bridges the gap between unarmoured (indoor only) and full SWA (heavy and expensive).

🏢

Switchgear Interconnections

Inter-panel and inter-substation MV connections in power station and industrial switchgear buildings where armoured cable is specified for fire compartmentalisation.

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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.

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