RVV-300-500V
300/500 V PVC Flexible Round Cable — Building Mains and Equipment Leads
Fine-stranded Class 5 copper in a flexible round PVC sheath: the 300/500 V lead for building mains connections, movable plant and appliance supply.
Flexible round cable solves a different problem from buried distribution: the supply point moves, vibrates or is re-routed, and a rigid stranded conductor would work-harden and crack at the gland. This 300/500 V construction uses Class 5 fine copper stranding per IEC 60228, so the same 2.5 mm² cross-section contains dozens of hair-thin wires instead of seven, and the finished core bends repeatedly without failing.
The rating deserves a word of warning before anyone reaches for it on a drawing. At 300/500 V it is a building mains and equipment lead — H05VV-F territory, equivalent to type 60227 IEC 53 and the Chinese RVV designation — not a distribution feeder. Use it for appliance and machine connections, temporary wiring within a building, small power feeds to movable equipment and internal panel wiring. Sizing still follows the current tables, and for continuous runs inside insulated walls the derating is significant.
Specification
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated voltage U0/U | 300/500 V |
| Conductor | Plain or tinned copper, Class 5 flexible to IEC 60228 |
| Core count | 2, 3, 4, 5 cores |
| Cross-section range | 0.75 - 35 mm² |
| Insulation | PVC/D flexible compound to IEC 60227-5 |
| Sheath | PVC type ST5 flexible grey (black on request) |
| Max conductor temperature, continuous | 70 °C |
| Max conductor temperature in short circuit (5 s) | 160 °C |
| Service temperature, fixed installation | -15 °C to +70 °C |
| Minimum installation temperature | -5 °C when handled carefully; 0 °C recommended |
| Minimum bending radius, occasional flexing | 4 - 6 × overall diameter |
| Test voltage at 50 Hz | 2 kV, 5 min |
| Flame behaviour | IEC 60332-1-2 single vertical flame test |
| Reference designations | 60227 IEC 53 cross-references broadly with H05VV-F for general duty |
Layer-by-layer construction
Listed from the conductor outward. Read this alongside the specification table — the two together tell you whether the cable will survive its installation method.
- 1. ConductorBare or tinned annealed copper wires bunched to Class 5 to IEC 60228, giving repeated flex life without work-hardening at the gland
- 2. InsulationFlexible PVC/D compound extruded over each bunched conductor with harmonic colour coding to IEC 60227
- 3. Laying-upInsulated cores twisted together with a short lay length so the round profile and flexibility survive repeated bending
- 4. SheathExtruded flexible PVC type ST5 in grey as standard, black or white also supplied, extruded as a filling-type sheath over the twisted cores
Reference dimensions and weights
| Nominal cross-section (mm²) | Conductor structure (no./mm) | Insulation thickness (mm) | Sheath thickness (mm) | Approx. overall diameter (mm) | Approx. net weight (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3×0.75 | 24/0.20 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 75 |
| 3×1 | 32/0.20 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 90 |
| 3×1.5 | 30/0.25 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 9.0 | 125 |
| 3×2.5 | 49/0.25 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 10.6 | 185 |
| 3×4 | 56/0.30 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 12.1 | 260 |
| 3×6 | 84/0.30 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 13.4 | 355 |
| 3×10 | 84/0.40 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 16.8 | 570 |
| 3×16 | 126/0.40 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 19.4 | 830 |
| 3×25 | 196/0.40 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 23.5 | 1270 |
| 3×35 | 276/0.40 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 26.4 | 1700 |
Reference figures for preliminary sizing and drum planning. Overall diameter and weight vary with strand construction and sheath thickness tolerance; certified drawings are issued with each quotation.
Engineering characteristics
- Class 5 bunched conductor with 0.20 mm or 0.25 mm wires survives thousands of flex cycles that would fracture a Class 2 strand.
- 300/500 V rating suits single-phase and three-phase equipment leads, small power and internal machinery supply.
- Flexible PVC grade stays pliable down to around -15 °C in fixed installation, so cold-weather handling does not crack the sheath.
- Harmonic or standard colour coding to IEC 60227 is offered so European and Asian panel builders can wire from the same drum.
- Tinned copper version resists oxidation in humid plant rooms and extends conductor life at compression joints.
- RoHS and REACH compliant compounds, with CE marking available for EU supply.
- Minimum bending radius of 4 - 6 × overall diameter during occasional movement, far tighter than a distribution cable permits.
Typical applications
- Appliance and portable tool supply leads in commercial kitchens and workshops
- Internal wiring of control panels, machine frames and assembly jigs
- Temporary wiring within buildings during fit-out or events
- Connection of movable equipment such as pumps, fans and compressors
- Small office power cords and extension leads assembled by OEM customers
- Stage, exhibition and event power distribution where cable is laid and recovered repeatedly
Ordering options
- 2, 4 or 5 core versions alongside the standard 3-core supply
- Tinned copper conductors for humid or coastal installations
- Black, white or coloured sheaths with sequential metre marking
- Cut-to-length reels and retail-ready cartons with OEM artwork
- LSZH flexible version to IEC 60754-1 and IEC 61034-2 for public buildings
Standards manufactured to
- GB/T 5023.5 / IEC 60227-5 (type 53)
- IEC 60228 (Class 5 conductor)
- IEC 60332-1-2 (flame propagation)
- RoHS and REACH
- CE marking available
- HD 21 / EN 50525-2-11 cross-reference for H05VV-F
Manufactured to other standards on request. Send the standard number with your RFQ and we will quote against it rather than against a near-equivalent.
Price and availability for 300/500 V PVC Flexible Round Building Mains Cable
Include cross-section, core count, voltage grade, route length and installation method — those five determine price more than anything else on the page.
- Engineer-reviewed before pricing
- Reference drawings issued with the quotation
- Free sample up to free sample up to 5 m
300/500 V PVC Flexible Round Building Mains Cable — frequently asked questions
Can this flexible cable replace VV for fixed building distribution?
Only for short equipment connections, not for distribution. Its 300/500 V rating and 70 °C PVC limit suit leads and internal wiring. Fixed mains distribution inside a building should use VV or YJV at 0.6/1 kV, sized from the appropriate installation-method table. We will flag it if an enquiry looks like it is trying to stretch this cable beyond its duty.
Is this the same as H05VV-F?
It is broadly equivalent for general duty: 300/500 V, Class 5 copper, PVC insulation and PVC sheath. Dimensions track closely, though H05VV-F is normally described as cord up to 4 mm² per conductor while type 53 constructions extend higher. Voltcore supplies both formats and can match either set of nominal dimensions on request.
What current can a 3-core 2.5 mm² flexible lead carry?
Around 20-26 A depending on installation method, ambient temperature and whether the lead is coiled. Coiling is the trap: a coiled flexible lead loses heat and derates sharply. For continuous duty we recommend sizing up, and never running a flexible lead at name-plate current while wound on a reel.
Do you offer a low smoke version for public buildings?
Yes. The LSZH flexible edition uses halogen-free bedding and sheath, tested to IEC 60754-1 for acid gas and IEC 61034-2 for smoke density, and it is intended for public areas, transport facilities and any building with defined evacuation requirements. Lead times match the PVC version.
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