VV-0.6-1kV
VV Cable — PVC Insulated and PVC Sheathed 0.6/1 kV Power Cable
Both layers in PVC: the economical 0.6/1 kV build for circuits whose load is known, stable and well inside a 70 °C conductor limit.
VV reads literally as PVC insulation under a PVC sheath, and it is still the cable many Chinese and Asian building projects are specified around. What you gain is a lower price per metre and fast, forgiving terminations. What you accept is a lower thermal ceiling: the conductor runs to 70 °C continuously and 160 °C for up to 5 s under short circuit, so the same cross-section carries noticeably less current than a YJV equivalent.
That trade is honest, and it works when the load is genuinely known. Size the circuit with the IEC 60502-1 PVC ampacity table and confirmed correction factors for ambient temperature and grouping, and a VV feeder will run for thirty years without complaint. Problems begin when the building's occupancy grows and someone adds load to a board designed to a number the insulation cannot reach. Voltcore supplies both families and prints the ampacity comparison on every quotation so nobody has to discover that limit later.
Specification
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated voltage U0/U (Um) | 0.6/1 (1.2) kV |
| Conductor | Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded copper, IEC 60228 |
| Core count | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3+1, 3+2, 4+1 |
| Cross-section range | 1.5 - 400 mm² |
| Insulation | PVC type A (PVC/A) to IEC 60502-1 |
| Oversheath | PVC type ST1, black or grey |
| Max conductor temperature, continuous | 70 °C |
| Max conductor temperature, short circuit (5 s) | 160 °C |
| Minimum installation temperature | 0 °C |
| Minimum bending radius, multi-core | 15 × overall diameter |
| Test voltage at 50 Hz | 3.5 kV, 5 min |
| Flame behaviour | Self-extinguishing PVC compound to IEC 60332-1-2 |
| Insulation resistance constant at 20 °C | Minimum 36.7 MΩ·km per IEC 60502-1 |
| Expected continuous service life at rated load | Typically 25 - 30 years in dry indoor installation |
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. ConductorAnnealed copper, Class 1 solid up to 6 mm² and Class 2 stranded above, to IEC 60228
- 2. InsulationPVC type A compound extruded over each conductor with the thickness schedule of IEC 60502-1, colour-coded or numbered cores
- 3. Laying-up and fillerCores cabled together with PVC-compatible polypropylene fillers and closed with a binder tape to hold the round profile
- 4. OversheathPVC type ST1 extruded over the assembly in black as standard, with grey or white available for indoor visible runs
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 | 7/0.85 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 15.4 | 345 |
| 4×6 | 7/1.04 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 16.7 | 450 |
| 4×10 | 7/1.35 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 19.4 | 680 |
| 4×16 | 7/1.70 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 21.9 | 970 |
| 4×25 | 7/2.14 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 25.2 | 1440 |
| 4×35 | 7/2.52 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 27.6 | 1900 |
| 4×50 | 19/1.78 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 30.8 | 2540 |
| 4×70 | 19/2.14 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 35.4 | 3540 |
| 4×95 | 19/2.52 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 40.4 | 4700 |
| 4×120 | 37/2.03 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 44.4 | 5860 |
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
- 70 °C continuous conductor rating with a 160 °C / 5 s short-circuit limit, matching the PVC tables rather than the XLPE ones.
- PVC compound is intrinsically flame-retardant and self-extinguishing, meeting IEC 60332-1-2 without relying on added fillers.
- Strips cleanly along the core, cutting termination time and reducing the risk of nicking the conductor during preparation.
- Lower material cost per metre than XLPE, which matters most on lightly loaded circuits with many metres installed.
- Insulation resistance above 36.7 MΩ·km at 20 °C, verified on every drum rather than on type-test samples alone.
- Tolerates repeated handling and re-bending better than cross-linked insulation during building fit-out.
- Sizes above 25 mm² use stranded conductors so pulling through conduit stays manageable.
Typical applications
- Distribution boards in residential blocks, offices and retail units with known load
- Lighting and small power circuits sized against a defined occupancy profile
- Indoor risers and floor distribution where the route is dry and protected
- Temporary site distribution that will be relocated rather than buried permanently
- Refurbishment projects matching brown-field PVC installations already in place
- Auxiliary supplies for pumps, fans and plant skids at fixed duty
Ordering options
- Flame-retardant and fire-resistant compounds to GB/T 19666 where specified
- Round single-core (BV-type alternatives) for conduit work
- Grey or white sheath for visible indoor runs
- Cut lengths with printed metre marking and end caps
- XLPE alternative (YJV) quoted alongside on request
Standards manufactured to
- IEC 60502-1
- GB/T 12706.1
- IEC 60228 (conductor)
- IEC 60332-1-2 (flame propagation)
- HD 308 S2 (core identification)
- EN 50575 (CPR reaction to fire)
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 VV PVC Insulated PVC Sheathed Power 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
VV PVC Insulated PVC Sheathed Power Cable — frequently asked questions
How much current does VV carry compared with YJV at the same size?
Roughly 20 % less. For example 4-core 95 mm² VV runs about 215 A in air at 30 °C against about 260 A for the same dimension in YJV, because the PVC conductor limit is 70 °C rather than 90 °C. If your circuit needs 260 A, specify 120 mm² in VV or stay at 95 mm² and move to YJV.
Is VV still allowed under modern specifications?
Yes, and it remains common across Asia, Africa and the Middle East for building distribution. It complies fully with IEC 60502-1 and GB/T 12706.1. Some utilities and large industrial clients now exclude it for main feeders, so check the project specification; where VV is permitted and the load is fixed, it remains a defensible choice.
Can VV be used outdoors or buried?
Not buried: there is no armour, so excavation damage reaches the cores directly. Outdoors in conduit or on tray it survives, though prolonged direct UV exposure shortens sheath life and we recommend the UV-stabilised black compound. For any open-ground route, specify VV22 with steel tape armour, or reconsider the thermal headroom.
What happens if VV is overloaded past 70 °C?
PVC is a thermoplastic, so sustained overload softens the insulation and it can deform under compression at cleats and bends, eventually leading to a short between cores. This is the principal argument for XLPE on circuits that may grow. Voltcore can supply both options so designers decide with voltage drop and derating figures rather than assumptions.
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