International Harmonised Cable (HAR) in Bulk
As well as being a trade stockist of moulded powercords, Morvan Trading also supply just the mains flex in bulk. We can offer mainscable ranging in size from a 50m drum to 10km reels and multiples in between. Depending on the specification of the cord we can also offer a measuring and cutting service for non-standard lengths and part drums.
We can supply the correct flex for all global applications on short leadtimes. Our technical team can help identify and specify cords and answer any questions, or contact our sales for bulk pricing on our range of cords. If we don’t stock it, we can usually source from a UK or EU manufacturer, or failing that from the far east.
Most of our moulded mainsleads are on pvc, with a few on rubber; we can offer these and many more options on bulk mains flex. We can also supply specialist wire, including tri-rated equipment wire for internal wiring, SWA steel wire armoured flex for maximum mechanical protection, shielded cord for limiting electro-magnetic interference, 4 and 5 core for three-phase use, and others.
We offer all three instrument control flexes: standard pvc ‘YY’; shielded ‘CY’; and ‘SY’ with galvanised steel wire braid and extra sheath. Tri-rated equipment wire or panel wire is used for internal wiring within the equipment. It is a single core wire manufactured from heat resistant pvc in a wide variety of colours, and as the name suggests meets or exceeds the requirements for three different bodies: UL, CSA and BS 6231.
Get in touch now for a swift, competitive quotation, call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us
International Harmonised Cable
Mainscable for North America, Australia, China, India, and Japan and Taiwan is different: please see relevant pages or our universal page. Mains flex for the rest of the world outside North America is measured in millimetres squared, and is described in standards documents EN 50525, IEC 60227 and IEC 60228. Further specifications can be found under CENELEC HD-21 for pvc and HD-22 for rubber cords.
The cross-sectional area relates to the wire’s size and ampacity, so a larger cross-section means a larger cord, and a higher current can be carried: 0.75mm2 wire is smaller and carries less current than 1.50mm2. The sizes are set out in IEC60228, and see table for the corresponding ratings.
Per EN 60445 s.6 and IEC 60227-1 s. 4.1.2 the cores must have harmonized colouring: brown (live), blue (neutral), green/yellow (earth). Three phase four core flex is brown-black-grey-green/yellow, and 5 core is brown-black-grey-blue-green/yellow. This replaces the old UK core colours of red (live), black (neutral) and green (earth) which are obsolete.
Harmonized mains flexes have a code that designates the cable type, starting with an H, e.g. H05VV-F, and may also have HAR or <HAR> marked on (recognised equivalent national standards may have an ‘A’, e.g. A05VV-F used in the UK on 1.25mm mains flex).
European Norm 50525 is a standard accepted by CENELEC (Comité Européen de Normalisation Électrotechnique) the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation. Whilst approvals can be issued to any factory provided they meet the requirements, the <HAR> mark on HAR cable may only be used if the manufacturer is based within a CENELEC member country (full list on their website).
The first two digits after the initial ‘H’ are expressed as two values (Uo/U) and provide the voltage rating phase-to-earth (Uo) and phase-to-phase (U) for the cores’ insulation. This is measured in RMS, i.e. the root mean square, in alternating current. Unlike DC, AC is not constant, so an average is used. For example: H03VVH2-F is 300/300V, H05VV-F is 300/500V and H07RN-F is 450/750V. Even higher voltage ratings include 0.6/1kV Uo/U. At normal mains voltages of 220-250V, H03, H05, and H07 are all suitable, although higher mechanical strength may be required from an environmental rather than electrical perspective.
In context, the mains power application for HAR cable is usually 220-240V AC.
Harmonised cable current ratings
| CSA | Amps* |
| 0.50 mm | 3A |
| 0.75 mm | 6A |
| 1.00 mm | 10A |
| 1.25 mm† | 13A |
| 1.50 mm | 16A |
| 2.50 mm | 25A |
| 4.00 mm | 32 A |
| 6.00 mm | 44A |
* 2- and 3-core general use
† UK national standard; see also Japan and Taiwan
Harmonised cable voltage ratings
| H… | Uo | U |
| H03 | 300 V | 300V |
| H05 | 300 V | 500 V |
| H07 | 450 V | 750 V |
HAR Cable Insulation
The most common insulation materials are PVC (Poly Vinyl Chrloride) and rubber. PVC is standard for domestic and light commercial use, and is designated VV for PVC conductor insulation and PVC outer jacket, e.g. H03VV-F.
Two core flat flex adds H2, e.g. H03VVH2-F. PVC is thermoplastic, i.e. softens when heated and hardens when cooled. The opposite is thermoset cord, e.g. rubber, which cures and keeps its characteristics when cooled after manufacture. Rubber cord is more flexible than pvc, especially at lower temperatures, and is more resistant to abrasion; rubber inners and rubber jacket are RR, e.g. H05RR-F.
Polychloroprene Ethylene Propylene Rubber (PCP EPR, trade name ‘neoprene’) also has oil resistance and is better suited to outdoor use; it is designated RN for rubber cable jacket and neoprene conductor insulation, e.g. H07RN-F.
Heat resistant H05V2V2-F or 3093Y is a pvc mains power cord manufactured to not degrade at higher temperatures and is generally rated up to 90°C, as opposed to 60-70°C for standard pvc. Silicon insulated cords are also used for extreme heat resistance. Arctic grade 3183AG is suitable for low-temperature and rough use and is often used on building sites in yellow sheath colour for 110V and blue for 240V.
Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH, LS0H, LSF) H05ZZ-F and H05Z1Z1-F polyolefin cord is flame-retardant and limits the release of poisonous gases and corrosive chemicals when burnt. H03RT-H has heat rubber inners and a textile sheath for use with electric irons and similar equipment. Some industrial automation and chemical applications call for polyurethane (PU) H05BQ-F for resistance to fluids and medium mechanical stresses; the major user of PU cable is the medical and food equipment environments, due to polyurethane’s chemical formulation being bacteria resistant.
Most of Morvan’s bulk cords are approved by VDE in Germany which is recognised internationally, or BS/BASEC in the UK. The test report or certificate from either of these bodies usually sufficient worldwide. It should be noted that near-identical cord sold into Australia should have Australian approvals (our Australian cable is currently tested and approved by NSW) and likewise for China (approved by CCC).
Variations
PVC – flat
H03VVH2-F inc 2192Y
H05VVH2-F inc 3192Y
6242Y twin and earth
PVC – round
H03VV-F inc 2182Y, 2183Y flex
H05VV-F inc 3182Y, 3183Y, 3184Y, 3185Y
A05VV-F
Arctic grade 3183A 3183AG
PVC – heat resistant
H05V2V2-F inc 3092Y, 3093Y, 3094Y, 3095Y
Rubber and rubber neoprene
H05RR-F inc 3183, 3183TRS
H05RN-F inc 3183P
H07RN-F inc 6383P, 6384P, 6385P
H07RN8-F pump cable
Low smoke zero halogen poleolefin
H05ZZ-F
H05Z1Z1-F inc 3182B, 3183B, 3184B, 3185B
6424B twin and earth
Control cable
VDE standards inc CY, SY, YY
SWA steel wire armoured
Equipment wire
H05V-K inc 6491X, 6491B
H07V-K
H07V2-K tri rated
UL1007, UL1061, UL 1569, UL 1015 hook up wire
BS4808 DefStan 61-12 defence standard cable
Polyurethane (PU)
H05BN4-F 3183TQ
H07BN4-F 6383TQ
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
Understanding Harmonised Cable
The image below provides details of our cable coding key.
Contact us now for more information about any of our North American bulk cables, to talk through various options, and receive competitive prices by return, call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us
Head Office
Morvan Trading Ltd,
Westover Farm,
Goodworth Clatford,
Andover, Hampshire,
SP11 7LF