APPLICATIONS

PowerGuard® cables are intended for use in wet or dry locations for distribution of single or three phase medium- voltage power. These cables may be installed in ducts, exposed to sunlight or direct buried.

CONSTRUCTION

Single conductor cable with filled strand copper conductors, true-triple extrusion, dry cured insulation system consisting of a thermosetting semiconducting conductor shield, high dielectric strength PowerGuard® tree-retardant crosslinked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) insulation, thermosetting semiconducting insulation shield, copper concentric neutral wires, water blocking agents, black encapsulating cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) jacket.
Conductor:
1000 kcmil and Smaller - Compact stranded soft drawn copper.
Larger than 1000 kcmil - Compressed concentric stranded soft drawn copper.
Stranded conductors are water-blocked with conductor filling compound.
Conductor Shield:
Extruded thermosetting semiconducting cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) shield which is free stripping from the conductor and bonded to the insulation.
Insulation:
Extruded, Tree-Retardant Cross-linked Polyethylene (TR-XLPE) - 100% insulation level.
Insulation Shield:
Extruded thermosetting semiconducting cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) shield with controlled adhesion to the insulation providing the required balance between electrical integrity and ease of stripping.
Metallic Shield:
Solid bare annealed copper wires helically applied and uniformly spaced.
Water-blocking agents:
Applied over the insulation shield and around the concentric neutral wires to resist longitudinal water penetration. Longitudinal water penetration shall be tested in accordance with the latest edition of ICEA T-34-664 except that the minimum requirement is 15 psig for 1 hour.
Outer jacket:
An extruded-to-fill black non-conducting cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) jacket, meeting the physical requirements of Table 1, below, when tested by the methods specified in ANSI/ICEA S-94-649. The jacket shall be free-stripping and not interfere with an intimate contact between the neutral wires and the underlying extruded insulation shield. The jacket is sunlight resistant and marked. The jacket shall contain a print legend marking, sequential length (meter or feet) marking and three longitudinal extruded red stripes.

STANDARDS
These cables are manufactured and tested to meet or exceed the following standards:

• ASTM B3 – Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
• ASTM B8 – Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard, Medium-Hard, or Soft
• ASTM B496 – Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
• ICEA S-94-649 – Concentric Neutral Cables Rated 5 Through 46 kV
• ICEA T-31-610 – Test Method for Conducting Longitudinal Water Penetration Resistance Tests on Blocked Conductors
• ICEA T-34-664 – Test Method for Conducting Longitudinal Water Penetration Resistance Tests on Longitudinal Water Blocked Cables
• ICEA P-45-482 – Short Circuit Performance of Metallic Shields and Sheaths on Insulated Cable
• AEIC CS8 – Extruded Dielectric, Shielded Power Cables Rated 5 Through 46 kV
• CSA C68.5 – Primary Shielded and Concentric Neutral Cable for Distribution Utilities

LISTINGS AND CERTIFICATIONS
CSA certified in accordance with CSA C68.5 – File 257759

NOTES
1. Dimensions and weights are subject to standard manufacturing tolerances and are subject to change without notice.
2. Cables are manufactured, tested and marked to meet or exceed the requirements in ANSI/ICEA S-94-649 and CSA C68.5 for concentric neutral cables rated 5-46 Kv and the latest revision of AEIC CS8.
3. The concentric neutral size is calculated based on the equivalent short-circuit capabilities for LLDPE jacketed cable (ICEA P-45-482).
4. Utilizing a 105ºC normal operating conductor temperature will increase cable ampacity rating but will reduce the cable fault capability. If the user plans on operating these cables at 105ºC conductor temperature for normal operation and 140ºC for emergency overload, please contact American Wire Group for the applicable cable ampacity and shield fault capability ratings.

UPDATED:  3/12/2025