VVG cable: technical specifications, decoding of marking

For the transmission of electricity over distances, along with overhead lines, power cables are widely used. As for the electricity supply to consumers located in the buildings of industrial enterprises, as well as the implementation electrical wiring in residential buildings, for this purpose insulated wires and cable are widely used lines. One of the most successful types of such wires, which has been widely used in electrical networks, is VVG cable.

In general, a power cable is an electric conductor of a large cross section with one or more cores. Each such core is covered with a layer of insulation, in addition, they are all enclosed in a protective sheath. Also, in some models, shields or armor may be used to enhance their performance.

During operation, power cables pass very large currents through them, so their insulation individual live conductors from each other and from the external environment is made in compliance with the highest requirements reliability.

Transmission and distribution of electricity in low-power household electrical networks is carried out using copper and aluminum electrical wires that are significantly inferior to power cables in reliability and power, but are more compact, convenient to use and cheap.

Characteristics of VVG cables

It is advisable to begin the description of such products by deciphering their abbreviations. Consider it on the example of a VVG 2x4 cable. Decoding of VVG cable:

• the first letter "B" corresponds to the PVC insulation of cable cores,
• the second "B" - PVC insulation shell,
• the letter "G" means the absence of protective cover,
• and figures 2x4 - respectively, the number of cores and their cross section.

The maximum temperature at which continuous use of wires of the VVG brand is permissible is +50 С0, and the minimum is –50 С0. In this case, the maximum possible temperature of their heating during overload can reach +80 С0, and in the case of a short-circuit current flowing for no more than 4 s, it is allowed to increase to +160 С0.

We continue to get acquainted with the technical characteristics of the VVG cable, it has several (from one to 5) individual copper cores that are covered with insulation. If the number of such conductors is more than 2, then all of them can have the same diameter or one of the conductors intended for zero or ground wires can have a slightly smaller cross-section.

As the insulation material in the manufacture of VVG cables, polyvinyl chloride plasticate or, in short, PVC is used. This material is a type of plastic, which is characterized by high dielectric properties, resistance to aggressive chemicals and low combustibility. There are cable models whose insulation is made of PVC compound, which has improved properties:

• Reduced Flammability (VVGng).
• Reduced smoke and gas emissions.

Veins can be issued in integral (single-wire) and in multi-wire version. In addition, VVG cables are distinguished with round and sector (segment) sections of copper conductors.

The cross section of each individual core depends on their purpose and the capacity of the consumers fed. The line of VVG cables provides models whose core section varies from 1.5 to 240 mm2. Depending on the diameter and number of cores, the weight of the VVG cable also varies.

Depending on the functional purpose, the required cross-section and the place of laying, there may be VVG cables of various diameters are used, made in different versions: flat, non-combustible, etc. d.

There are such options for labeling:

1. VVG. Universal option.
2. AVVG. With aluminum cores.
3. VVGng. Incombustible.
4. VVG-P and VVGng-P. Flat and, accordingly, non-combustible flat.
5. VVGz. Filled. It is understood that between the insulated conductors there is an additional dielectric filler.

When laying any cable line, there is a need for bends and turns of live wires. In order to ensure maximum reliability and durability of such an electrical network, it is necessary to adhere to clearly defined requirements for the maximum bending radius of its conductors. For the VVG brand, this parameter is from 7.5 to 15 of its diameters.

Scope of application

The VVG power cable of any section is designed for use in electric networks with a voltage of 660 and 1000 V with a frequency of 50 Hz. The main purpose of such cable lines is to power powerful consumers of electricity at enterprises and industrial objects, however, they can also be used with success when installing home electrical wiring (for example, VVG 2X4 and VVG 3X2.5).

The isolation of these products does not allow their laying in places with aggressive environmental influences. These gasket options include:

1. In the ground without the use of special boxes.
2. In ponds. Although the insulation characteristics of such wires allow laying them in places with high humidity, they are not intended for use in water.
3. Under a layer of plaster. Since the external insulation of VVG power cables is made of PVC compound and does not have an additional protective layer, it is better to use VVG-ng grade if necessary to lay them under the plaster.

Despite all the positive qualities of PVC insulation, its significant disadvantage is poor frost resistance. Therefore, work on laying such lines cannot be carried out at temperatures below –15 ° C.

Advantages of VVG cables

Due to its excellent technical characteristics, power cables of the VVG brand have the following advantages:

1. Ensuring high quality of transmitted electricity. The main task of any power transmission system is to maximize the quality of electrical energy. For this, the conductors of such a system must have such technical characteristics as low active and reactive resistance, as well as high quality insulation. Today, copper is one of the best materials for use in such systems.
2. Incombustibility. It allows the use of wires of this type in rooms with high fire hazard.
3. High tensile insulation. It makes it possible not only to protect the electrical network from the occurrence of short circuits in case of unintentional mechanical impact on the wires, but also provides ease of installation of wiring, as well as the operation of electrical appliances. In addition, products of the VVG brand are characterized by increased resistance to mechanical vibrations.
4. High dielectric properties of PVC insulation. This allows you to make reliable and powerful cables of relatively small diameter. According to normative documents, each VVG copper power cable is tested by increased voltage, the value of which, depending on the rated voltage of the cable, is 3 or 3.5 kV.
5. Resistance to moisture. Although such products are not designed for laying in water, their isolation is quite resistant to the effects of a humid environment. This allows the use of cables of this type in places with high humidity (reaching 98%), which include bathrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, showers, etc.
6. High reliability. The VVG power cable laid in protective systems, such as special cable ducts, corrugated tubes or cable cabs, is extremely reliable.
7. Long term of operation. According to the description of the technical characteristics, the minimum service life of this cable is 30 years.
8. Wide range. A large selection of cross-sections of copper and aluminum conductors allows you to accurately select the required cable diameter for powering electrical installations of a certain power. This makes it possible to significantly save money on the design and installation of wiring. In addition, the ability to use VVG-P cables (flat) allows you to achieve maximum convenience when performing installation work.
9. Convenient color and digital marking of conductive wires. The phase wire is insulated in white, red or brown, the neutral wire is blue, and the ground wire is yellow with a green stripe.

The choice of VVG cable for the electrical wiring of the apartment

To supply electricity to the shield at the entrance to the apartment, as a rule, a power cable VVG 3X6 is used, (it can also be 3X10 and 3X16).
Unlike PVA and ShVVP wires, often used for wiring, the VVG 2X4 copper cable Meets higher requirements, as it is designed for use also in industry. In other words, VVG 2x4, with an equal cross section, has a larger maximum allowable current, higher insulation quality, it supports combustion much worse. In addition, each such product undergoes production tests, which cannot be said about most of their household counterparts. As for the choice of the type and cross-section of the cable for powering electrical appliances located in the apartment itself, then everything depends, first of all, on their technical characteristics. One of the most common is the brand VVG 2x4.

Power calculation table

When choosing a cable, you need to know what is the permissible load of each wire section. Add up the power of all consumers on the selected power line, take a margin of at least 30% and select the required cable cross-section in accordance with the table.

Conductor cross section, sq. Mm	Copper conductors
220 V	380 V
current, A	power, kWt	current, A	power, kWt
1,5	19	4,1	16	10,5
2,5	27	5,9	25	16,5
4	38	8,3	30	19,8
6	46	10,1	40	26,4
10	70	15,4	50	33
16	85	18,7	75	49,5
25	115	25,3	90	59,4
35	135	29,7	115	75,9
50	175	38,5	145	95,7
70	215	47,3	180	118,8
95	260	57,2	220	145,2
120	300	66	260	171,6

The disadvantage of VVG cables is their relatively high price, so it is advisable to use them for connecting powerful consumers of electricity, for example, electric stoves, hobs or flow water heaters.