(N)3GHSSHCH Medium Voltage Power Cable — 8.7/15 kV and 12/20 kV

A single earth fault takes down an entire feeder. Production halts. Switchgear trips cascade. Every second of downtime erodes a project’s margin. The (N)3GHSSHCH is manufactured to stop that sequence before it starts. It pairs XLPE insulation with a dual-layer copper shield and a concentric conductor layout, then locks the assembly inside a galvanized steel-wire armour. The result is a power link that clears fault currents aggressively, tolerates brutal site handling, and simplifies system earthing — lowering the installed cost of each meter while keeping personnel and downstream equipment out of the fault path.

Copper Screen and Concentric Conductor

Each phase is individually wrapped with a copper tape screen. A second layer of helically wound copper wires sits concentrically around the 3-core bundle. This twin-shield architecture routes earth-fault and capacitive charging currents back to the source within milliseconds. Protection relays react instantly. Arc energy stays contained. Cable trays in chemical plants and underground concrete trenches no longer present the same thermal risk during short-circuits.

Steel-Wire Armour That Replaces Conduit

A dense layer of galvanized round steel wires sits directly under the outer sheath. Crush ratings, tensile strength, and impact resistance jump well above those of an unarmoured tape-screened cable. Contractors pull it through ducts and lay it directly in the ground without separate mechanical protection. Installation man-hours drop. Copper theft from exposed ground conductors stops being a line item on the site security report.

Halogen-Free Sheath for Enclosed and Public Spaces

The outer jacket uses a halogen-free compound — the “H” in the designation means exactly that. When burned, it releases low-density smoke and minimal toxic acids. That compliance detail matters inside tunnels, mass transit hubs, and underground substations where evacuation air stays trapped. No retrofitting of fire barriers. No last-minute specification pushback from the AHJ.

XLPE Core That Runs at 90°C° Continuously

Cross-linked polyethylene lets the conductor operate 20°C to 30°C hotter than PVC-based cables of similar rating. Higher ampacity per cross-section means a smaller, lighter cable can often carry the same load. Voltage drops flatten out. The temperature margin also buys extra transient capacity during start-up surges — a practical hedge when plant expansions outpace grid upgrades.

Technical Specifications and Construction

Industry Applications and Scenario Validation

• Wind Farm Collector Grids — Cable runs between turbines endure constant torsional movement and mechanical vibration. The steel-wire armour absorbs mechanical fatigue while the concentric conductor eliminates the need for a separate earth cable, cutting trench width and material cost.
• Chemical and Refining Plants — Corrosive atmospheres and mandatory fire-safety codes dominate cable selection. The halogen-free outer sheath limits acid gas production, and the robust bedding compound resists hydrocarbon exposure without swelling.
• Utility Distribution Networks — Direct-buried and duct-route installations in suburban areas rely on the concentric neutral for earth-return paths. Utilities can standardize on a single cable design for both 8.7/15 kV earthed-neutral systems and 12/20 kV isolated-neutral feeders.
• Metro and Rail Infrastructure — Enclosed stations and long tunnel sections force low-smoke requirements. The (N)3GHSSHCH meets IEC 61034 smoke-density limits and keeps evacuation routes navigable long after a fire event begins.
• Mining and Tunnelling — Falling rock, mobile equipment impact, and high ambient humidity punish flimsy cable designs. The armour resists crush forces; the fully screened core blocks moisture ingress that would otherwise trigger partial discharge and premature failure.

International Compliance and QA Standards

✅ IEC 60502-2 – Power cables with extruded insulation for rated voltages from 6 kV to 30 kV
✅ VDE 0276-620 – German national compliance for medium voltage power cables
✅ IEC 60332-1 – Flame retardance (single cable test)
✅ IEC 61034 – Smoke density measurement (LSZH verification)
✅ IEC 60885-3 – Partial discharge test (after production routine test)
✅ CE Marking – Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
✅ RoHS / REACH – Material compliance available upon request
✅ ISO 9001 – Manufacturing quality management system

FAQ

How do I choose between the 8.7/15 kV and the 12/20 kV rating for my project?
It depends entirely on the system earthing configuration and the maximum expected fault-clearance time. Use 8.7/15 kV where the earth fault is cleared within one second in solidly earthed systems. Choose 12/20 kV for systems that are isolated, resonant-earthed, or where fault currents can persist for longer than one but less than eight hours. Over-specifying the U₀/U rating adds unnecessary cost; under-specifying it invites insulation degradation.

Can this cable be supplied with aluminium conductors instead of copper?
The standard build uses stranded copper. However, we regularly engineer the same construction with aluminium conductors for large project tenders where weight and commodity pricing drive the economics. Feasibility depends on available cross-sections and terminal compatibility. Just ask for an aluminium option review at the RFQ stage.

What is the typical delivery length on a single drum, and what lead time should we budget?
Standard drum lengths are 500 m or 1,000 m, though custom continuous lengths can be arranged to reduce splicing on long feeder runs. For common cross-sections of 95 mm² to 240 mm², ex-works lead time sits at 4–6 weeks. Larger conductors or specialized colour coding may push that to 8 weeks. We always confirm the exact schedule against current mill capacity before we take an order.

Does the concentric copper conductor work as the equipment earthing conductor, or do I still need a separate earth core?
Yes, the concentric layer is designed to function as both the metallic screen and the earth continuity conductor. Its cross-sectional area is calculated to carry earth-fault currents according to the system requirements you specify. In many utility applications, this eliminates a dedicated earth core, simplifies cable termination, and reduces total copper usage.

Get Project-Specific Data: Request a Quotation

Every parameter sheet we print is matched to a factory acceptance test report. Send us your system voltage, required cross-section, and installation environment. You will receive a full datasheet with dimensional drawings, ampacity derating tables, and a valid delivery timeline within one working day.