YJV Cable Buying Guide
YJV cables are some of the most common power cables used around the world.
As a power cable for permanent installation, it offers aging-resistance, reliable performance, and safety.
But, of course, only if the cables are high-quality.
This post will focus on these ubiquitous cables and discuss everything you need to know before buying them.
YJV cables should not be confused with YJY cables or VV cables, as they have a different make, and offer different properties.
What is YJV Cable?
YJV cables help transmit power, typically indoors, underground, or in tunnels.
This is why they are very common around all kinds of commercial and residential infrastructures.
The YJ indicates XLPE insulation, while the V represents the PVC outer sheath.
These can also be laid underground in soil, but only loose soil, as they don’t have a lot of mechanical resistance.
YJV cables are some of the oldest cables in the world, as they have been used since the early days of electricity. These are much better than paper insulated cables.
They are also cost-effective and less expensive than some of the other options for transferring power.
Construction
YJV cable basically gets its name from its construction, i.e., the materials used in its insulation and outer sheath. It has a very simple construction.
Conductor
YJV cables have aluminum or copper conductors.
Copper conductor is more common, and it’s more reliable.
These cables can be single-core or multicore depending on the voltage requirements and application.
Insulation
The insulation material of YJV cables is cross-linked polyethylene or XLPE. XLPE has great thermomechanical properties, which is why these cables can be used in pipes, tunnels, and even buried in light soil.
XLPE insulation is highly reliable and one of the most common materials for insulation in electrical cables.
It offers high flow resistance and can withstand fairly high temperatures.
For general use like in houses or offices, this kind of insulation is quite sturdy.
Sheath
The outer sheath of the YJV cables is PVC. PVC is a strong material that can resist chemicals and oils.
It’s also a flame retardant, so these cables have higher safety standards.
Similarly, it’s also abrasion-resistant, so it can withstand minimal mechanical pressure.
Features
The features are the main distinguishing factor between YJV and other similar cables:
Voltage
YJV cables have a voltage rating of 0.6/1 kV.
These cables can handle high voltage applications in residential and commercial infrastructures.
Operating Temperature
The maximum operating temperature for these cables is 90 degrees Celsius.
However, the maximum conductor temperature cannot exceed 250 degrees for over 5 seconds.
As for lower temperature limits, the laying temperature should not be lower than 0 degrees.
Flame Retardant
YJV cables are made of flame retardant materials. While they are not exactly fire-resistant or fireproof, they are fire retardant, which means they don’t propagate fire.
In case of a fire, these might not withstand the fire completely, but they won’t cause more fire or even start a fire in case of a short circuit.
This makes them a safe choice for indoor applications.
Difference between YJV and YJV22 Cable
YJV and YJV22 cables are very similar, but they have slightly different constructions.
While both YJV and YJV22 cables have XLPE insulation and PVC sheath, the latter also has an inner sheath and armor.
This allows YJV22 cables to be sturdier and can withstand more mechanical force than YJV cables because of the dual protection layer.
The insulation is YJV22 cables, although the same material as YJV, is translucent.
They have the same kind of applications, i.e., indoors, tunnels, and pipes, but YJV22 offers more ruggedness than YJV.
Since YJV22 has more to its constructions, it’s also costlier than YJV.
It just comes down to the conditions around the applications, whether unarmored, single sheath cable would do or not.
Voltage, operating temperatures, and fire retardance are similar in both these types of electrical cables.
Standards
Almost all international bodies have standards that specify the materials, construction, and applications of YJV cables.
It’s important to buy only those cables that are following standards, preferably international standards, so as to ensure they meet the safety and performance requirements.
Here are some of the standards you can look for when buying YJV cables:
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): IEC 60228, IEC60502, IEC 60754
- British Standards Institute (BS): BS6622, BS EN 60228
You should also look out for certifications, especially about safety, such as CE, ISO, and CCC.
Applications
XLPE insulated power cables such as YJV cables are used to transmit and distribute power where the requirement is lower than 35 kV.
It’s used in many industries, including power, construction, mining, metallurgy, oil, and communication industries.
YJV cables have essentially replaced the paper insulated power cables.
These are also considered better than PVC insulated cables.
Benefits
There are many benefits to using YJV cables:
Cost-effective: As discussed above, YJV cables are more economical than some of their counterparts with different structures. Where there isn’t a risk of very high mechanical pressure, YJV cables prove highly economical.
Durable: The materials of these cables are long-lasting, which makes the whole cable durable.
It doesn’t age so easily, so once installed, you can expect a lifetime of reliability from these cables.
These can also withstand corrosion and other environmental stresses.
Halogen-free: YJV cables are halogen-free, which is a safety feature.
Since they don’t have any halogens, these don’t emit any harmful gases when they come in contact with fire.
Gases from halogens can be highly corrosive and cause respiratory damage.
Conclusion
YJV cables offer reliable power transmission and distribution.
While they can be used indoors and even under light soil, they don’t have very high tensile strength.
There are many variations of YJV cables to address those limitations (YJV22, YJY, YJLV, YJLV 32, and YJLV 42).
While they have simple construction, pay attention to the standards as those indicate whether they are quality or not.
Never buy cables that don’t follow any international standards.
In this case, you can use IEC and BS standards to find the best products that meet your requirements.
