Bulk Chinese Mains Cable

Chinese mains cable: overview

When designing products and specifying components for export to China, Chinese-approved cable must be used for the mainslead, powercord, and equipment wire. Read on for an overview of the different types available, their specifications, and recommended applications.

Chinese cable insulation colours

Insulation core colours follow the international standard of green with yellow stripe for earth, brown for line, and light blue for neutral. On multicore cable the additional line wires are yellow, red, and light grey. Modern fixed wiring follows the same pattern (but older installations follow the old Soviet Russian or ‘communist colour coding’: L1 yellow, L2 green, L3 red, neutral black).

Chinese mains cable current ratings

Cable sizes also follow the international standard, with 0.5mm for 3A, 0.75mm for 6A, 1.0mm for 10A, 1.5mm for 16A, and 2.5mm for 25A.

In the Chinese IEC 60227 standards, conductors are copper unless otherwise stated, e.g. aluminium. Most normal temperature ratings are 65°C or 70°C unless otherwise specified. Some example cable designations: ‘B’ may mean flat cable, ‘L’ is aluminium conductor, ‘P’ is screened, ‘R’ is flexible, ‘V’ is pvc, ‘S’ is twisted cable, ‘W’ is weather or water resistant, ‘Y’ is oil resistant, ‘Z’ is flame retardant, ’90’ is 90°C (temperature) rated.

Specifications for voltage ratings and insulation and jacket materials are also largely similar to international cables as both are based on the same standard, IEC 60227. See individual bullet points below for pvc at 300V to 500V pvc, and 300V to 750V on rubber. The same mains flex can sometimes conform to both sets of standards and carry both sets of approvals, which simplifies procurement and export.

However, this does not mean that all cables are suitable or approved for use in mainland China. CCC approved cable must be used in China, of a suitable type (e.g. IEC 53 RVV) and bearing the China Compulsory Certificate CCC mark.

IEC 60227 PVC cables

PVC cable is for indoor use, non-industrial and not for cooking. It is specified in the standard GB/T 5023.5, in full Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V – Part 5 Flexible cables (cords); more information construction and materials can be found in the supplementary standard GB/T 8815 Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for wire and cable.

    • 60227 IEC 52 RVV cable is a light pvc sheathed cord, rated voltage 300/300V and available as 2 core flat 0.5 and 0.75mm, and 3 core round 0.75mm. This is commonly used for unearthed applications and the equivalent international cables would be H03VVH2-F (for flat) and H03VV-F (for round).
      • 60227 IEC 53 RVV is an ordinary pvc sheathed cord, rated voltage 300/500V and only available as round: 3 core 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5mm, and 4 core 1.0, 1.5, 2.5mm. This is comparable to H05VV-F and is the most widely used mains flex.
      • 60227 IEC 57 RVV-90 is also a 300/500V round pvc cable available in the same sizes, but with a higher temperature rating of 90°C, like the harmonised H05V2V2-F. Common uses are anywhere temperatures are higher than normal, either ambient, or used to power equipment designed to get hot, e.g. heaters, kettles, blowers.
      • 60227 IEC 74 RVVYP is 300/500V, round pvc flexible, 70C, and available in 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5mm sizes. However, it adds oil-resistance and a screen, making it suitable for industrial automation.

      Chinese cable sizes and current ratings

      CSA in mm 2 No and size of CU strands Current rating
      0.75 24 × 0.20 6A
      1.00 32 × 0.20 10A
      1.5 30 × 0.25 16A
      2.5 50 × 0.25 25A
      4.0 56 × 0.30 32A
      6.0 84 × 0.30

      IEC 60245 rubber cables

      Rubber cables are harder wearing, more resistant to environmental factors like oil and water, and heavy duty versions have higher voltage ratings. They are specified in standard GB 5013.4 Rubber insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750V — Part 4: Cords and flexible cables and also in JB/T 8735 Rubber insulated cords and flexible cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V – Part 2: Tough rubber sheathed flexible cables for general purposes. The insulation on the individual cores is made from EPR (ethylene propylene rubber), and the outer jacket from natural rubber or chloroprene rubber (CR, also known under the trade name neoprene).

      • 60245 IEC 51 RX is a textile-sheathed rubber cable similar to H03RT-H used for e.g. electric irons.
      • 60245 IEC 53 YQ light is a light rubber cable rated 300/300V and available in both 2 core and 3 core in 0.3mm and 0.5mm. IEC 53 YQW adds water resistance. This is only suitable for low current applications and we would almost always recommend one of the larger cables below.
      • 60245 IEC 53 YZ is a general rubber cable with voltage rating of 300/500V similar to H05RR-F. It comes as both 2 and 3 core, in cable sizes of 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5mm. IEC 53 YZW is the same but adds water resistance, like H05RN-F.
      • 60245 IEC 66 YC is a heavy rubber cable with voltage rating of 450/750V. It comes as 2 core in 1.0 and 1.5mm cable sizes, 3 core 1.0, 1.5, 2.5mm, and for three phase 4 core 1.0, 1.5, 2.5mm. IEC 66 YCW adds water resistance similar to H07RN-F.
      Bulk Chinese Mains Cable

      Chinese mains cable: summary

      Chinese mains flexes are similar to international ones, but vary in the details; the correct specification must be checked, and in all cases they must be CCC marked and approved. We hold all the appropriate certification on record so this is not a problem.

      We stock 60227 IEC 52 two-core flat in 0.75mm, and 60227 IEC 53 three-core round pvc Chinese mains cable in 0.75mm, 1.0mm, and 1.5mm. Additionally we also hold 60245 IEC 57 YZW rubber cable in 3 core 1mm only. All these can easily be supplied on short leadtimes, and for the other types please get in touch as they can be manufactured on request.

      Contact us for more information on any of these cable types, either in bulk or with plugs and connectors attached, and we can discuss options and provide quick quotations; call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

      T: +44 1264 353 489

      E: morvan@morvantrading.com

      Head Office
      Morvan Trading Ltd,
      Westover Farm,
      Goodworth Clatford,
      Andover, Hampshire,
      SP11 7LF