YCW-450/750V
YCW Weather and UV-Resistant Heavy Rubber Cable, 450/750 V
The heavy-duty rubber cable with a UV-stabilised CPE sheath, for plant that lives outdoors and never gets put away.
YCW takes the YC construction and changes the sheath for one that is stabilised against sunlight and ozone. That is the whole difference, and it is the one that matters on a quay crane, an irrigation pump or a site lighting tower, where the cable is never coiled at night and never sees a roof. EPR insulation and Class 5 conductor stay the same; the sheath compound is where the extra life is bought.
The mechanical duty is unchanged as well, and it is severe. A cable that hangs outdoors on moving plant is flexed by the wind, abraded against its own guide, and heated by the sun while it carries current. Voltcore produces YCW in 2 to 5 cores from 2.5 mm² to 150 mm² with a CPE sheath that holds both the oil resistance and the weather resistance a mixed duty site asks for.
Specification
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated voltage U0/U | 450/750 V |
| Conductor | Class 5 flexible plain copper, IEC 60228 |
| Cross-section range | 2.5 – 150 mm² |
| Number of cores | 2, 3, 4, 5, 3+1 |
| Insulation | EPR rubber compound, IE4 type, 0.9–1.6 mm |
| Sheath | UV-stabilised CPE heavy rubber, SE4 type, 1.5–2.8 mm |
| Maximum conductor temperature | +60 °C continuous |
| Minimum installation temperature | −25 °C |
| Minimum bending radius | 6 × overall diameter on mobile duty |
| UV and ozone resistance | UV-stabilised CPE sheath for continuous outdoor exposure |
| Oil resistance | CPE sheath to the oil resistance requirements of JB/T 8735.2 |
| Standard | JB/T 8735.2, GB/T 5013.4, IEC 60245-4 |
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. ConductorClass 5 flexible plain copper, 50 × 0.25 mm to 396 × 0.40 mm, to IEC 60228
- 2. SeparatorPolyester tape separator over the conductor
- 3. InsulationEPR rubber compound, IE4 type, 0.9–1.6 mm nominal, colour identified
- 4. Filler and binderRubber filler or textile binder to keep the assembly circular under flexing
- 5. SheathUV-stabilised CPE heavy rubber, SE4 type, 1.5–2.6 mm nominal, black, oil and abrasion resistant
- 6. MarkingSheath print with JB/T 8735.2, YCW, size, voltage and metre mark
Reference dimensions and weights
| Nominal cross-section (mm²) | Conductor structure (n×mm) | Insulation thickness (mm) | Sheath thickness (mm) | Approx. overall diameter (mm) | Approx. weight (kg/km) | Max. DC resistance at 20 °C (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 50 × 0.25 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 10.5 | 168 | 7.98 |
| 4 | 56 × 0.30 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 12.1 | 232 | 4.95 |
| 6 | 84 × 0.30 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 13.5 | 308 | 3.30 |
| 10 | 80 × 0.40 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 17.0 | 492 | 1.91 |
| 16 | 126 × 0.40 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 19.6 | 700 | 1.21 |
| 25 | 196 × 0.40 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 23.9 | 1060 | 0.780 |
| 35 | 276 × 0.40 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 27.3 | 1420 | 0.554 |
| 50 | 396 × 0.40 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 32.0 | 1970 | 0.386 |
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
- UV-stabilised CPE sheath instead of a general-purpose rubber, for continuous outdoor exposure.
- 450/750 V rating with a 1.5–2.6 mm sheath, thick enough for a run that is dragged and clipped outdoors.
- CPE compounds resists mineral oil and hydraulic fluid as well as sunlight, which suits mobile plant.
- EPR insulation holds at 60 °C and stays workable to −25 °C, so winter installation proceeds without heating.
- Class 5 copper to IEC 60228 with a short lay where the cable runs over a sheave or onto a spring reel.
- Minimum bending radius of 6 × overall diameter on mobile duty, tabulated per size for a festoon layout.
- Sizes from 2.5 mm² to 150 mm² in 2 to 5 cores, covering a lighting tower and a quay crane alike.
Typical applications
- Quay, gantry and container handling cranes
- Irrigation pumps and agricultural machinery in open fields
- Site lighting towers and temporary outdoor distribution
- Open-cast and surface plant that is never garaged
- Outdoor amusement, event and stage installations
- Mobile harbour and lock equipment with continuous weather exposure
Ordering options
- 2 to 5 cores plus 3+1, 2.5–150 mm²
- UV-stabilised CPE sheath as standard; PCP available where oil duty is absent
- Short-lay Class 5 conductor for spring reel and festoon duty
- Tinned copper for coastal and marine-adjacent installations
- Drums, cut lengths, and private-label printing under OEM supply
Standards manufactured to
- JB/T 8735.2
- GB/T 5013.4
- IEC 60245-4
- IEC 60228
- IEC 60332-1-2
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 YCW Weather & UV-Resistant Heavy Rubber 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
YCW Weather & UV-Resistant Heavy Rubber Cable — frequently asked questions
What is the practical difference between YC and YCW?
The sheath. Both are 450/750 V heavy-duty rubber constructions with the same EPR insulation and Class 5 conductor, but YCW carries a UV and weather-stabilised sheath for permanent outdoor exposure. A YC cable used permanently in the sun will chalk and crack within a few seasons; YCW is the specification to write for plant that lives outside.
How long will the sheath last in direct sun?
It depends on the UV dose and on whether the cable is under tension, but a UV-stabilised CPE sheath is built for a decade or more of continuous outdoor service. The things that shorten it are not the sun but the mechanical ones: a permanent bend tighter than 6 × overall diameter, or a clip that clamps the cable instead of holding it.
Is YCW oil resistant as well as weather resistant?
With the CPE sheath, yes, which is the reason to choose it over PCP on mobile plant. CPE holds its properties against mineral oil, hydraulic fluid and grease, and it also carries the UV stabiliser. PCP is better against ozone alone but swells more in oil. Where the cable sees both, as on a crane, CPE is the compound to name.
Can YCW be used on a spring reel or a festoon?
Yes, with the short-lay conductor option. A reel or a festoon puts the cable through the same bend thousands of times a week, and the standard lay is not built for that. Order the short-lay construction and give Voltcore the bend radius, the travel speed in m/min and the cycle rate, and the construction will be matched to the duty.