How to Specify Primary UD Cable

by Nick Ware

A. VOLTAGE RATING
(15, 25, 28, 35, or 46kV)

B. CONDUCTOR
     1. Metal (aluminum or copper)
     2. Size (AWG or kcmil)
     3. Temper (1/2, 3/4, or full hard aluminum/soft copper)
     4. Stranding (solid or stranded)
     5. Strand filled (yes or no)

C. STRAND SHIELD
1. Type (conventional shield, or supersmooth)

D. INSULATION
1. Type (standard or tree retardant XLPE or EPR)
2. Thickness

E. INSULATION SHIELD
1. Any special strippability or indent requirements (industry standards cover this quite adequately)

F. NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR
     1. Number and size of wires (example: 16 x #14 denotes 16 individual wires of No. 14 AWG size)
     2. Number and size may also be quantified by specifying either one-third neutral or full neutral
     3. If specifying a longitudinally applied corrugated tape, specify the thickness of the tape (typically 8 or 10 mils) and whether the overlap is to be sealed with a hot melt adhesive

G. OVERALL JACKETS (OPTIONAL)
     1. Encapsulating (50 or 80 mils thickness above neutrals)
     2. Non-encapsulating (50 or 80 mils thickness, requires mylar separator)
     3. Materials available (insulating polyethylene, semiconducting polyethylene)

H. MISCELLANEOUS
     1. Desired reel footage lengths
     2. Total quantity required
     3. Requested delivery date
     4. Additional shipping information
     5. Additional standards (cable will be produced to ANSI/ICEA S-94-649 or ANSI/ICEA S-97-682 unless otherwise noted)