Cable Selection Guide

Introduction

This comprehensive guide helps you select the right Radicab cable for your application. Proper cable selection ensures safety, efficiency, and longevity of your electrical installation.

Radicab & Vitex Power Product Portfolio

Our comprehensive range of cables under the Radicab and Vitex Power brands covers all electrical installation needs.
  • Power Cables
Product Name Type Applications Key Features
Multistrand Single Core Flexible House Cable Flexible conductor Residential & commercial wiring High flexibility, Easy installation
Panel Single Core Cable Panel wiring Electrical panels, Distribution boards Compact design, Reliable
Solid Single Core Cable Solid conductor Fixed installations, Conduit wiring Cost-effective, Low resistance
Single Core PVC Insulated Building Wires (H07V-R & H07V-U) Standard compliance European standard installations International quality, Versatile
PVC Round Multicore Flexible Cable Multi-core flexible General purpose power distribution Multiple cores, Durable PVC
Rubber Round Multicore Flexible Cable Rubber insulated Heavy duty, Industrial applications Weather resistant, Tough
Flat Multicore Flexible Cable Flat profile Surface mounting, Neat appearance Space-saving, Easy routing
Twin Flat Cable (Grey Wire) 2-core flat Residential wiring, Lighting circuits Economical, Simple installation
  • Instrumentation & Control Cables
Product Name Type Applications Key Features
Round Multicore Control Cable Multi-core control Automation, Control panels Multiple cores, Signal integrity
Shielded Cable EMI protected Sensitive electronics, Instrumentation Electromagnetic shielding, Low noise
Solid Single Core Cable Solid conductor Fixed installations, Conduit wiring Cost-effective, Low resistance
Hook-Up Wire Single core hookup Internal wiring, Electronic assemblies Flexible, Various colors available
Single Core Flexible Wire Single conductor Panel wiring, Connections High flexibility, Easy termination
Twin Twisted Flexible Wire Twisted pair Signal transmission, Communication Noise reduction, Balanced transmission
  • Audio-Video Cables
Product Name Type Applications Key Features
Flexible Speaker Cable Multi-strand Home theater, PA systems Clear audio, Flexible routing
Twin Parallel Speaker Cable Parallel conductors Speaker connections, Audio systems Balanced transmission, Easy identification
Twin Parallel Transparent Speaker Cable Transparent sheath High-end audio, Aesthetic installations Clear insulation, Premium quality
  • Communication Cables
Product Name Type Applications Key Features
Co-Axial Cable Coaxial TV antenna, Satellite connections Excellent shielding, Low loss
CCTV Cable Video + Power Surveillance systems, Security Combined video & power, Convenient
CAT 6 LAN Cable Category 6 Computer networks, Data centers High-speed data, Gigabit Ethernet
  • Application-Based Specialty Cables
Product Name Specific Use Applications Key Features
BMS Cable Building Management HVAC control, Smart buildings System integration, Reliable communication
Fire Alarm Cable Fire detection Fire alarm systems, Safety circuits Fire resistant, High reliability
Fire Survival Cable Emergency circuits Emergency lighting, Critical systems Maintains operation during fire
Solar Cable Solar power Solar panels, Renewable energy UV resistant, Weather proof
Elevator Flat Cable Lift systems Elevators, Moving installations Flat design, Flexible for movement
Welding Cable Arc welding Welding equipment, Heavy duty Highly flexible, Heat resistant
Battery Cable DC power Battery banks, UPS systems Low resistance, High current capacity
  • Armoured Power Cables
Product Name Specific Use Applications Key Features
PVC Insulated Copper Armoured Cable PVC insulation + Armour Underground installation, Industrial Mechanical protection, Moisture resistant
XLPE Insulated Copper Armoured Cable XLPE insulation + Armour High voltage distribution, Heavy duty Higher temperature rating, Durable
  • Submersible Cables
Product Name Specific Use Applications Key Features
Flat Agriculture Submersible Cable Flat profile Borewell pumps, Agriculture Water resistant, Compact design
Round Agriculture Submersible Cable Round profile Deep well pumps, Water supply Complete water immersion capability

Cable Selection Criteria

  • Current Carrying Capacity
Select cable size based on:
  • Maximum load current (in Amperes)
  • Ambient temperature and installation conditions
  • Voltage drop limitations (typically 2-5%)

Typical Current Ratings (for PVC/XLPE Cables)

Conductor Size (sq.mm) Current Rating (A)
2-Core		 Current Rating (A)
3-Core		 Current Rating (A)
4-Core
1.5 18 15 14
2.5 25 21 19
4 34 28 26
6 44 37 34
10 61 50 46
16 83 68 62
25 112 91 83
35 138 112 102
50 168 138 125
70 207 169 153
95 245 201 182
120 283 232 210
  • Voltage Grade Selection
System Voltage Cable Voltage Grade Typical Applications
230V AC Single Phase 1100V Grade Domestic, Office lighting & power
400V AC Three Phase 1100V Grade Industrial machinery, Motors
3.3 kV 3.3/6.6 kV Grade Distribution feeders, Industrial plants
11 kV 11/22 kV Grade Primary distribution, Substations
33 kV 33/66 kV Grade Transmission lines, Major substations
  • Insulation Material Selection
Insulation Type Temperature Rating Advantages Applications
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) 70°C Cost-effective, Good electrical properties General purpose, Indoor wiring
XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene) 90°C Higher temp rating, Better aging Power distribution, Industrial
HR PVC (Heat Resistant) 90°C Improved thermal performance High temperature areas
EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber) 90°C Excellent flexibility Mobile equipment, Outdoor
  • Environmental Considerations
Environment Recommended Cable Type Special Features Required
Residential Buildings FR/FRLS House Wire Fire retardant, Good insulation
High-rise Buildings FRLS/ZHFR Cables Low smoke, Zero halogen
Industrial Areas Armoured/XLPE Cables Mechanical protection, Oil resistance
Outdoor/Underground Armoured Power Cables Moisture resistance, UV protection
Chemical Plants Special Grade Cables Chemical resistance, Flame retardant
Coastal/Marine Tinned Copper Conductors Corrosion resistance
High Temperature Areas XLPE/Silicone Cables 90°C+ temperature rating
Data Centers/Hospitals ZHFR Cables Zero halogen, Low smoke emission

Technical Specifications

  • Conductor Specifications
Parameter Specification Standards
Conductor Material Electrolytic Grade Copper (99.9% purity) Aluminium Alloy (for specific applications) IS 8130
High-rise Conductor Class Class 1 (Solid) - Rigid cables Class 2 (Stranded) - Flexible cables Class 5 (Fine stranded) - Extra flexible IS 8130
Conductor Class Class 1 (Solid) - Rigid cables Class 2 (Stranded) - Flexible cables Class 5 (Fine stranded) - Extra flexible IS 8130
Tinning Available for coastal/marine environments IS 8130
Resistance As per IS standards for respective sizes IS 1554
  • Insulation & Sheathing Specifications
Parameter PVC Insulation XLPE Insulation
Insulation Resistance ≥100 MΩ-km at 70°C ≥100 MΩ-km at 90°C
Dielectric Strength As per IS 694/IS 1554 As per IS 7098
Tensile Strength ≥12.5 N/mm² ≥12.5 N/mm²
Elongation at Break ≥150% ≥200%
Heat Shock Test 175°C for 1 hour 200°C for 1 hour
Flame Retardancy Pass as per IS 10810 Pass as per IEC 60332
  • Safety & Performance Parameters
Parameter Requirement Test Standard
Fire Retardance Pass single vertical flame test IS 10810 / IEC 60332-1
Low Smoke Emissionh Light transmittance ≥60% IEC 61034
Zero Halogen Halogen content less than 0.5% IEC 60754
Acid Gas Emission pH ≥4.3, Conductivity ≤10 μS/mm IEC 60754-2
Flame Propagation Pass as per category IEC 60332-3
Water Penetration Pass (for armoured cables) IEC 60811

Installation Guidelines

  • Installation Methods
Method Suitable Cable Types Derating Factor Considerations
Surface Mounting (Cleat/Clamp) PVC, XLPE House Wires 1.0 Easy maintenance, visible routing
Conduit (PVC/Metal) FR/FRLS Wires 0.8-0.9 Mechanical protection, space limitations
Cable Tray Power & Control Cables 0.85-0.95 Good ventilation, easy additions
Underground Direct Burial Armoured Cables 0.7-0.8 Soil thermal resistivity critical
Underground in Ducts Armoured/Unarmoured 0.75-0.85 Easier maintenance than direct burial
  • Bending Radius Requirements
Cable Type Minimum Bending Radius Notes
Unarmoured Power Cables 12 × Overall Diameter For installation
Armoured Cables (SWA) 15 × Overall Diameter Larger radius to prevent armour damage
Flexible Cables 6 × Overall Diameter More flexible during installation
Control & Instrumentation 12 × Overall Diameter Maintain signal integrity
  • Temperature Derating Factors
Ambient Temperature PVC Insulated (70°C rated) XLPE Insulated (90°C rated)
25°C 1.10 1.07
30°C (Standard) 1.00 1.00
35°C 0.94 0.96
40°C 0.87 0.91
45°C 0.79 0.87
50°C 0.71 0.82
55°C 0.61 0.76

Standards & Certifications

  • Indian Standards (IS)
Standard Title Application
IS 694 PVC Insulated Cables for Working Voltages up to 1100V House wiring, LT power cables
IS 1554 Part 1 XLPE Insulated Cables up to 1100V Power distribution
IS 7098 Part 1 XLPE Cables for Voltages 3.3 kV to 33 kV HT/EHV power cables
IS 8130 Copper Conductors for Insulated Electric Cables Conductor specifications
IS 10810 Fire Performance of Electric Cables Fire safety testing
  • International Standards
Standard Title Relevance
IEC 60502 Power Cables with Extruded Insulation International power cable specs
IEC 60332 Tests on Electric Cables under Fire Conditions Fire propagation testing
IEC 60754 Test on Gases Evolved During Combustion Halogen & corrosivity tests
IEC 61034 Measurement of Smoke Density Low smoke cable testing
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations UK wiring regulations
  • Quality Certifications
  • BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Certification Mark
  • ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management System
  • ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental Management
  • OHSAS 18001 - Occupational Health & Safety
  • RoHS Compliance - Restriction of Hazardous Substances

Cable Color Coding Standards

  • Single Phase AC Installation
Function Color Code (Old) Color Code (New - IEC) Notes
Phase (Live) Red Brown Carries current to load
Neutral Black Blue Return path for current
Earth (Ground) Green Green/Yellow striped Safety earthing
  • Three Phase AC Installation
Function Color Code (Old) Color Code (New - IEC)
Phase R (L1) Red Brown
Phase Y (L2) Yellow Black
Phase B (L3) Blue Grey
Neutral Black Blue
Earth (Ground) Green Green/Yellow striped
  • Control & Instrumentation Cables
  • Numbered cores (1, 2, 3...) with colored stripes
  • Screen/Shield: Tinned copper braid or aluminum foil
  • Pairs: Twisted color-coded pairs for signal integrity

Quick Selection Guide

  • Application-Based Selection
Application Recommended Radicab Product Typical Size Special Considerations
Residential Lighting Circuits Solid Single Core Cable 1.5 sq.mm Use conduit for protection
Residential Power Outlets Multistrand Single Core Flexible Cable 2.5 sq.mm Flexible for easy wiring
Air Conditioners (1.5-2 Ton) PVC Round Multicore Flexible Cable 2.5-4 sq.mm 3-core with earth
Ceiling Fans & Appliances Twin Flat Cable (Grey Wire) 1.5 sq.mm Neat surface mounting
Water Heaters/Geysers PVC Round Multicore Flexible Cable 4 sq.mm Heat resistant terminations
Borewell/Submersible Pumps Flat/Round Agriculture Submersible Cable 3/4 core, 4-16 sq.mm Complete water immersion rated
Industrial Motors Rubber Round Multicore Flexible Cable Based on HP rating Durable for harsh conditions
Control Panels & Automation Round Multicore Control Cable 1.5-4 sq.mm Multi-core for multiple signals
CCTV Installation CCTV Cable Standard coaxial Video + power combined
Computer Networks CAT 6 LAN Cable 23 AWG Gigabit Ethernet support
Solar Panel Connections Solar Cable 4-6 sq.mm UV resistant for outdoor
Elevator/Lift Systems Elevator Flat Cable As per lift capacity Flexible for moving installations
Welding Equipment Welding Cable 25-95 sq.mm Highly flexible, heat resistant
Fire Alarm Systems Fire Alarm Cable 1.5 sq.mm twisted Fire resistant, reliable
Emergency Lighting Fire Survival Cable 1.5-2.5 sq.mm Operates during fire
Speaker/Audio Systems Flexible Speaker Cable 2×0.75 to 2×2.5 sq.mm Low resistance for audio quality
Underground Power XLPE Armoured Cable 16-240 sq.mm Mechanical protection
Building Management Systems BMS Cable / Shielded Cable Multi-pair EMI protection for signals
  • Building-Type Based Selection
Building Type Main Feeders Distribution Circuits Final Circuits Specialty Cables
Individual House PVC Armoured Cable 16-50 sq.mm PVC Round Multicore 6-16 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 1.5-4 sq.mm Submersible Cable for pumps
Residential Apartments (4-8 floors) XLPE Armoured 50-120 sq.mm PVC Round Multicore 16-35 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 2.5-6 sq.mm Elevator Cable, Fire Alarm
High-Rise Buildings (>15 floors) XLPE Armoured 120-300 sq.mm Rubber Round Multicore 35-95 sq.mm Solid/Multistrand 4-10 sq.mm Fire Survival, Elevator Cable
Commercial Offices XLPE Armoured 70-185 sq.mm PVC Round Multicore 25-70 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 2.5-6 sq.mm CAT 6 LAN, CCTV Cable
Industrial Facilities XLPE Armoured 185-400 sq.mm Rubber Round Multicore 50-150 sq.mm Control Cable 4-16 sq.mm Welding, Control, Shielded
Hospitals XLPE Armoured 120-240 sq.mm Rubber Round Multicore 50-120 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 4-10 sq.mm Fire Survival, BMS Cable
Shopping Malls XLPE Armoured 185-400 sq.mm PVC/Rubber Multicore 70-150 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 4-10 sq.mm Fire Alarm, CCTV, Speaker
Data Centers XLPE Armoured 240-500 sq.mm Rubber Round Multicore 95-185 sq.mm Solid Single Core 6-16 sq.mm CAT 6, Battery Cable, BMS
Agricultural Farms PVC Armoured 25-95 sq.mm PVC Round Multicore 10-35 sq.mm Multistrand Flexible 2.5-6 sq.mm Submersible Cable (Flat/Round)
Solar Installations PVC Armoured 16-70 sq.mm Solar Cable 4-16 sq.mm Solar Cable 2.5-6 sq.mm Solar DC Cable, Battery Cable

Common Issues & Solutions

  • Voltage Drop Issues
  • Problem : Appliances not working at full capacity, lights dimming
  • Solution : Use larger conductor size or reduce cable length. Voltage drop should not exceed 2-3% for lighting and 5% for motors.
  • Cable Overheating
  • Problem : Cable getting hot during operation
  • Causes : Undersized cable, overloading, poor connections, inadequate ventilation
  • Solution : Verify load current, check if cable is rated for actual current with derating factors. Ensure proper terminations and ventilation.
  • Premature Cable Failure
  • Problem : Cable insulation breakdown, short circuits
  • Causes : Mechanical damage, moisture ingress, chemical exposure, excessive heat
  • Solution : Use armoured cables for mechanical protection, ensure proper sealing for outdoor/underground installations, select appropriate insulation material for the environment.

Cable Sizing Calculations

  • Example 1: Residential Air Conditioner

Given: 2 Ton AC, 230V AC, Power = 2000W, Distance = 20m, Ambient temp = 40°C

Step 1 – Calculate Current:

Current (I) = Power / Voltage = 2000W / 230V = 8.7A

Step 2 – Apply Safety Factor:

Design Current = 8.7A × 1.25 = 10.9A

Step 3 – Apply Derating Factor:

At 40°C for PVC cable, derating factor = 0.87

Required Current Rating = 10.9A / 0.87 = 12.5A

Step 4 – Select Cable:

From rating table: 1.5 sq.mm (18A) is adequate, but 2.5 sq.mm (25A) recommended for future-proofing

Step 5 – Check Voltage Drop:

For 2.5 sq.mm copper, resistance ≈ 7.41 Ω/km

Voltage drop = 2 × I × R × L = 2 × 10.9 × 7.41 × 0.02 = 3.23V (1.4% – Acceptable)

Recommendation: PVC Round Multicore Flexible Cable – 3 Core × 2.5 sq.mm

  • Example 2: Industrial Motor

Given: 10 HP Motor, 415V 3-phase, Efficiency = 90%, PF = 0.85, Distance = 50m

Step 1 – Calculate Current:

Power (kW) = 10 HP × 0.746 = 7.46 kW

Current = (7460) / (√3 × 415 × 0.85 × 0.90) = 13.6A

Step 2 – Apply Safety Factor:

Design Current = 13.6A × 1.25 = 17A (considering starting current)

Step 3 – Select Cable:

From rating table: 4 sq.mm (28A for 3-core) would work, but 6 sq.mm (37A) recommended

Recommendation: Rubber Round Multicore Flexible Cable – 4 Core × 6 sq.mm (or PVC Armoured for underground)

Cable Storage & Handling

  • Storage Guidelines
  • Store cables in cool, dry, well-ventilated area
  • Protect from direct sunlight, moisture, and chemicals
  • Store drums/reels on wooden platforms, not directly on ground
  • Rotate drums periodically to prevent flat spots
  • Keep cable ends sealed to prevent moisture ingress
  • Handling Precautions
  • Do not drop or impact cable drums
  • Unroll cables properly, do not drag or pull roughly
  • Avoid excessive bending beyond minimum radius
  • Protect cables from sharp edges during installation
  • Use proper cable pulling lubricants for long conduit runs
  • Inspection Before Installation
  • Check for physical damage to insulation and sheath
  • Verify cable marking and specifications
  • Ensure proper length without splicing requirement
  • Test insulation resistance before final connection

Technical Support & Contact

For technical queries, custom specifications, or application-specific recommendations, please contact our technical support team.

RADICAB Technical Support