🔧 Huanghe Cable | Products & Technical Guides | Armoured Power Cable | Cable Procurement & Specification
⏱️ Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Key Takeaways
| Datasheet Specification | Key Parameter / Standard | Engineering Risk if Overlooked |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Voltage Rating | 0.6/1 kV (LV) or U₀/U(Uₘ) (MV) | Insulation breakdown under system overvoltage |
| 2. Conductor Material | Copper vs Aluminium (IEC 60228) | Under-sizing conductor leading to thermal overheating |
| 3. Armour Type | SWA / DSTA (Multicore) vs AWA (Single-core) | Severe eddy current heating if ferromagnetic armour is used on 1-core AC |
| 4. Short-Circuit Rating | IEC 60865-1 (k-factor: Cu=143, Al=94) | Cable melt/catastrophic failure during earth fault |
When purchasing an underground armoured power cable, the supplier’s datasheet is one of the most important documents to review before placing an order. However, many buyers focus mainly on the conductor size, voltage and price while overlooking construction details that can affect installation, performance and compliance.
This becomes particularly important when several manufacturers submit quotations for what appears to be the same cable. A quotation may describe the product simply as a 4-core 240 mm² armoured power cable, but the actual constructions may differ in conductor material, insulation, armour, sheath, electrical characteristics, dimensions or testing requirements.
For procurement engineers and electrical contractors, the goal is therefore not simply to find a lower cable price. The goal is to confirm that the products being compared are technically equivalent for the intended application.
This guide explains 12 specifications that should be checked when reviewing an armoured power cable datasheet and comparing supplier quotations.
Table of Contents
Before checking individual electrical values, first confirm what type of cable the datasheet actually describes.
An armoured power cable may have a construction such as conductor, insulation, metallic screen where applicable, filler or bedding, armour and outer sheath. The exact construction depends on the cable type, voltage level, installation method and applicable standard.
For example, a low-voltage cable and a medium-voltage cable should not be compared simply because both are described as “armoured power cables”. Their internal construction and electrical requirements can be substantially different.
When opening a datasheet, look for the complete cable designation or construction description and identify:
This first check prevents a common procurement mistake: comparing products that have similar names but different technical constructions.
The cable voltage rating must be compatible with the electrical system in which the cable will operate.
For LV cables, a designation such as 0.6/1 kV may be used. Medium-voltage cables use different voltage designations depending on the system and applicable standard.
Do not rely only on a product title such as “11kV cable”. Check the complete voltage designation stated in the technical datasheet and confirm that it corresponds to the project requirement.
For MV cables, also review whether the datasheet clearly identifies the relevant electrical layers, including the conductor screen, insulation screen and metallic screen where applicable.
Procurement tip: When comparing quotations, ask every supplier to state the complete cable voltage designation. “11kV cable” alone is often not enough information for a proper technical comparison.
The number of cores affects the cable construction, installation arrangement, accessories and overall project cost.
Depending on the application, an armoured power cable may be supplied as a single-core or multicore construction. LV distribution projects commonly use multicore cables, while MV systems may use single-core or three-core arrangements depending on the system design.
When checking a datasheet, confirm:
For example, “3 × 240 mm²” and “1 × 240 mm²” represent very different cable supply requirements. Make sure the quotation and datasheet use the same format as the project specification.
The conductor section is one of the most important parts of a power cable datasheet. Check both the conductor material and the nominal cross-sectional area.
Common conductor materials for power cables include copper and aluminium. The nominal cross-sectional area may be specified in square millimetres, such as 35 mm², 70 mm², 120 mm² or 240 mm².
Also check the conductor construction, which may include stranded or compacted constructions depending on the cable and applicable standard.
| Datasheet item | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Copper or aluminium | Affects electrical and physical characteristics |
| Cross-section | Nominal conductor area in mm² | Used in current, voltage-drop and short-circuit calculations |
| Construction | Stranded, compacted or specified construction | Can affect resistance, diameter and installation characteristics |
A larger conductor is not automatically the better choice. The correct conductor size must be determined from the project load, installation conditions, voltage-drop requirements, short-circuit requirements and applicable design criteria.
The insulation material determines important thermal and electrical characteristics of the cable.
Common power cable insulation materials include XLPE and PVC. The correct material depends on the cable voltage, operating conditions, applicable standard and project requirements.
When reviewing the datasheet, check the insulation material together with the stated operating temperature and short-circuit temperature where these values are specified.
For medium-voltage cables, the insulation system should also be reviewed together with the conductor and insulation screens. A datasheet should provide enough information to understand the complete electrical construction.
For many medium-voltage cables, the metallic screen is an important part of the cable construction and should be reviewed separately from the armour.
Depending on the cable design, the metallic screen may use copper tape, copper wires or another specified metallic construction. The exact design depends on the applicable standard and project requirements.
When reviewing an MV cable datasheet, check:
It is critical to distinguish between the metallic screen and the armour:
For an armoured power cable, the armour provides mechanical protection and forms an important part of the overall cable construction.
A datasheet may identify armour using terms such as SWA, DSTA or AWA. These terms should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Armour term | Typical description | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| SWA | Steel wire armour | Material, wire construction and applicable standard |
| DSTA | Double steel tape armour | Tape material, dimensions and construction |
| AWA | Aluminium wire armour | Suitability for the cable configuration and installation |
For single-core AC cables, non-magnetic armour (such as AWA) must be selected. Using ferromagnetic materials (such as SWA or DSTA) around a single-core AC conductor causes continuous electromagnetic induction, generating excessive eddy current and hysteresis losses that severely overheat the cable and degrade insulation.
Therefore, when reviewing a datasheet, do not stop at the word “armoured”. Confirm exactly what armour material and construction the supplier is offering.
The outer sheath is the cable’s external protective layer and must be suitable for the installation environment.
Common sheath materials include PVC and PE, while specific projects may require additional environmental or fire-performance characteristics.
Check the following where applicable:
A standard PVC-sheathed cable and a cable designed for a more demanding environmental condition should not automatically be treated as equivalent products.
Have a Cable Datasheet You Want to Compare?
Send your existing cable specification or supplier datasheet to Huanghe Cable. We can help identify the key construction details that should be confirmed before quotation comparison.
A cable datasheet may show a current rating, but this number should always be considered together with the conditions under which it was calculated.
The allowable current of an underground armoured power cable can depend on conductor size and material, insulation, installation method, soil or ambient conditions, circuit arrangement, spacing and other thermal factors.
| Condition | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Installation method | Direct buried, duct, tray or other? | Changes heat dissipation |
| Ambient or soil conditions | What temperature and thermal assumptions were used? | May affect allowable current |
| Circuit / Laying Formation | Are cables arranged in Trefoil (Triangular) or Flat formation? Are multiple circuits installed together? | Trefoil formation minimizes inductive unbalance and spatial footprint, whereas Flat formation offers better thermal dissipation but alters current-carrying capacity. Derating factors must account for both cable spacing/formation and group proximity heating. |
When comparing supplier datasheets, ask for the rating conditions and calculation basis instead of comparing ampacity values alone.
Cable sizing must consider both normal operating current and fault conditions.
Short-circuit withstand capacity is a critical safety parameter for power cables, especially in medium-voltage distribution networks and high-fault-level industrial systems.
For conductor short-circuit calculations according to IEC 60865-1 and Huanghe Cable engineering standards, adiabatic thermal formula equations apply standard material k-factors (such as 143 for copper and 94 for aluminium with XLPE insulation) to determine earth fault withstand capacity.
Check whether the datasheet states the maximum short-circuit current for a specified duration, typically 1 second. Verify the short-circuit rating for both the main conductor and the metallic screen or armour.
During a short circuit, the conductor and relevant metallic components can be exposed to very high currents for a short period. The cable construction must therefore be suitable for the project’s fault-current requirements.
Depending on the cable construction, review:
Do not assume that a larger conductor automatically satisfies every short-circuit requirement. The required withstand depends on the project fault level, protection clearing time and cable construction.
Physical dimensions may seem less important than electrical specifications, but they can directly affect transportation and installation.
Check the following values on the datasheet:
These figures are important when checking trench dimensions, ducts, cable trays, pulling equipment, transportation and drum planning.
| Physical specification | Procurement relevance |
|---|---|
| Overall diameter | Confirms compatibility with ducts, trays and installation routes |
| Weight per metre | Useful for transport and installation planning |
| Minimum bending radius | Helps verify whether the cable route is practical |
| Delivery length | Affects drum quantity, joints and logistics |
Do not rely on approximate dimensions from a previous project. Different cable constructions can produce different diameters and weights even when the conductor cross-section is the same.
The final technical check is to identify the exact standard used for the cable design, manufacture and testing.
A datasheet stating only “manufactured according to IEC standards” does not provide the same level of information as identifying the specific applicable cable standard.
Different IEC standards cover different cable types and voltage ranges. For example, IEC 60502-2 addresses power cables with extruded insulation for rated voltages from 6 kV up to 30 kV for fixed installations.
Depending on the project, the buyer may also need to review relevant test documentation.
Common documentation requirements may include:
The documents should always be checked against the actual cable construction being supplied. A certificate should not be considered sufficient simply because it contains an IEC reference.
Once you have quotations from several suppliers, compare their datasheets line by line rather than comparing the headline product name and price.
A practical sequence is:
This approach makes technical differences visible before price becomes the main deciding factor.
For example, two suppliers may both quote a 4-core 240 mm² armoured power cable, but one may offer copper conductors while the other offers aluminium. The armour or sheath may also differ, or the published current rating may be based on different installation assumptions.
These products should therefore not automatically be treated as equivalent simply because the conductor cross-section is the same.
Before approving an armoured power cable quotation, use the following checklist to confirm that the technical information is complete.
| No. | Specification | Confirm Before Ordering |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cable construction | Complete construction and cable type |
| 2 | Voltage | Complete voltage designation |
| 3 | Cores | Number of cores and conductor arrangement |
| 4 | Conductor | Material, cross-section and construction |
| 5 | Insulation | Material and relevant thermal characteristics |
| 6 | Metallic screen | Material and construction where applicable |
| 7 | Armour | Type, material and construction |
| 8 | Sheath | Material and environmental requirements |
| 9 | Current rating | Ampacity and calculation conditions |
| 10 | Short circuit | Fault-current withstand requirements |
| 11 | Physical data | Diameter, weight and bending radius |
| 12 | Standards and testing | Applicable standard and required test documents |
If you are preparing an RFQ, provide as much of the required technical information as possible so that every supplier quotes against the same basis.
Product: Armoured power cable
Voltage: [required voltage]
Number of cores: [number]
Conductor: Copper / Aluminium
Cross-section: [mm²]
Insulation: [XLPE / PVC / specified material]
Metallic screen: [if applicable]
Armour: [SWA / DSTA / AWA / other]
Sheath: [PVC / PE / other]
Installation: [direct buried / duct / tray / other]
Required length: [m or km]
Applicable standard: [IEC / BS / project specification]
Required documents: [datasheet / test report / certificate / inspection requirements]
A clear RFQ gives each manufacturer the same technical basis for pricing, which makes the resulting quotations easier to compare.
Huanghe Cable is a cable manufacturer established in 1980, with experience in the production of power cables for international customers.
The company’s product range includes low-voltage and medium-voltage power cables, including armoured cable constructions using copper or aluminium conductors and different insulation, armour and sheath configurations.
Huanghe Cable also supports customized cable specifications according to project requirements and applicable standards.
The company manufactures cables in accordance with relevant IEC requirements and has IEC/CB-related certification and testing experience, together with CCC and ISO qualifications. Third-party inspection requirements can also be discussed according to the project.
For buyers comparing manufacturers, the most useful starting point is to provide the complete technical requirements rather than requesting a price based only on a general product description. This allows the supplier to confirm the cable construction and quotation basis more accurately.
Need an Armoured Power Cable Datasheet or Quotation?
Share your voltage, conductor size, cable construction, installation method and required quantity. Huanghe Cable can review the specification and provide a quotation based on your requirements.
There is no single specification that determines whether a cable is suitable. Start with the cable construction, voltage rating, conductor, insulation, metallic screen, armour, sheath, current rating, short-circuit performance and applicable standard. These specifications should be considered together.
The cable constructions may not actually be identical. Differences can include conductor material, insulation, metallic screen, armour, sheath, testing requirements, dimensions and delivery requirements. Technical equivalence should be confirmed before comparing prices.
No. SWA refers to steel wire armour, while AWA refers to aluminium wire armour. The appropriate armour depends on the cable construction and installation application. Single-core AC cables must be provided with non-magnetic armour, e.g. AWA.
Yes, but only after checking the calculation conditions. Installation method, ambient or soil conditions, circuit arrangement and other factors can affect the allowable current. Comparing ampacity numbers without comparing their assumptions can produce misleading results.
The exact document package depends on the project. Common requirements may include a technical datasheet, applicable standard information, relevant test reports or certificates and specified inspection documentation.
Yes. Huanghe Cable can discuss customized cable constructions according to the required conductor, voltage, insulation, metallic screen, armour, sheath, installation conditions and applicable standards.
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