Q & A of the Day – Is the DC voltage rating of these cables the same as in BS 7671?

Published: 29 September 2015 Category: Q&A

Robin asks this question, which concerns the DC voltage rating for a power cable. It has been answered by BASEC (Theme – Cable, Wiring and Wiring Accessories):

Q & A of the Day – Is the DC voltage rating of these cables the same as in BS 7671?

This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.

Question: A standard low voltage (LV) power cable is rated at 0.6/1kV. Is the DC voltage rating of these cables the same as the definition in BS 7671, which states that the LV DC power is 1500VDC?

Answer: The reference to DC voltage rating in BS 7671 may relate to the DC voltage limit defined in the Low Voltage Directive. For AC, this is 1000V, and for DC it is 1500V.

LV cable standards generally provide AC voltage ratings (such as 600/1000V) but many also include informative DC ratings. For example, in BS 6724 (600/1000V AC LSHF armoured power cables), indicative DC ratings are offered in Annex A, which are 1000V DC for single core cables and 1500V DC for two core cables (between conductors). 

The cable manufacturer should be consulted if there is any uncertainty.

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