Low Voltage Aerial Bundled Cable (LV-ABC) is a type of electrical cable with conductor cores that can be 2, 3, or 4 cores depending on the type twisted together, used to transmit current with a voltage of 0.6/1kV.
With excellent weather resistance capabilities and reasonable cost, low voltage aerial bundled cable has gradually become the leading solution in power distribution. Understanding the structure, technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of low voltage aerial bundled cable is extremely important for engineers and students newly entering the electrical industry.
1. General Introduction to low voltage aerial bundled cable
1.1 What is low voltage aerial bundled cable?
Low voltage aerial bundled cable, also known as LV-ABC (Low Voltage Aerial Bundled Cable), is a type of electrical cable primarily used for transmitting current with a voltage of 0.6/1kV in power and industrial systems. The distinctive feature of this cable type is that the conductive cores can be 2, 3, or 4 cores depending on the type, twisted together.
1.2. Structure
In terms of structure, low voltage aerial bundled cable typically consists of the following main components:
Conductor: Made primarily from aluminum or aluminum alloy (used for cases requiring strength capability), class 2 conductor, aluminum strands are concentrically twisted and compacted.
Insulation: Black XLPE with 2% carbon
After the cores are insulated, they are twisted together.
1.3. Technical characteristics and applicable standards
Regarding technical characteristics, low voltage aerial bundled cable has:
Nominal voltage (Uo/U): 0.6/1kV.
Impulse test voltage 1.2/50μs:
Nominal cross-sectional area < 35mm²: 15kV.
Nominal cross-sectional area ≥ 35mm²: 20kV.
Maximum nominal operating temperature of conductor: 90ºC.
Maximum short-circuit temperature for 5s of conductor: 250ºC.
Regarding standards, low voltage aerial bundled cable currently applies domestic and international standards such as AS/NZS 3560; TCVN 6447; IEC 60502-1; IEC 60228...
2. Classification of low voltage aerial bundled cable
Low voltage aerial bundled cable is typically classified into 2 main types:
Self-supporting low voltage aerial bundled cable:
LV-ABC 2 cores: Consists of 1 phase core and 1 neutral core. Some types manufactured by Ngoc Lan Cable include ABC 2x16, ABC 2x25, ABC 2x35, ABC 2x50, ABC 2x70...
LV-ABC 3 cores: Consists of 2 phase cores and 1 neutral core. Currently, at Ngoc Lan Cable, there are types such as ABC 3x16, ABC 3x25, ABC 3x35, ABC 3x50, ABC 3x70...
LV-ABC 4 cores: Consists of 3 phase cores and 1 neutral core. Ngoc Lan Cable has manufactured types such as ABC 4x16, ABC 4x25, ABC 4x35, ABC 4x50, ABC 4x70...
Low voltage aerial bundled cable with self-supporting neutral wire:
LV-ABC 3C + 1C: Consists of 3 phase cores and 1 neutral core made of aluminum alloy. Some types that our factory has manufactured include ABC 3x16+1x25, ABC 3x35+1x25, 3x50+1x35, 3x70+1x50...
LV AERIAL BUNDLED CABLE (ABC)
Nominal area
Structure
Appox. Conductor diameter
Nom. Thickness of insulation
Max. Diameter of core
Approx. Overall diameter of cable
Max. DC resistance at 20ºC
Approx. Weight
Permissble current
2C
3C
4C
2C
3C
4C
2C
3C
4C
2C
3C
4C
mm²
N° x mm
N° x mm
N° x mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
Ω/km
kg/km
kg/km
kg/km
A
A
A
16
CC
CC
CC
4.80
1.3
7.9
14.8
16.0
17.9
1.910
133
199
265
96
78
78
25
CC
CC
CC
5.80
1.3
9.2
16.8
18.1
20.3
1.200
188
281
375
125
105
105
35
CC
CC
CC
7.00
1.3
10.3
19.2
20.7
23.2
0.868
245
367
490
155
125
125
50
CC
CC
CC
8.20
1.5
11.9
22.4
24.2
27.1
0.641
327
491
654
185
150
150
70
CC
CC
CC
9.70
1.5
13.6
25.4
27.4
30.7
0.443
458
687
917
225
185
185
95
CC
CC
CC
11.50
1.7
15.9
29.8
32.2
36.1
0.320
622
933
1244
285
225
225
120
CC
CC
CC
12.85
1.7
17.5
32.5
35.1
39.3
0.253
764
1146
1529
315
260
260
150
CC
CC
CC
14.50
1.7
18.9
35.8
38.7
43.3
0.206
956
1433
1911
350
285
285
LV AERIAL BUNDLED CABLE (ABC) WITH MESSENGER NEUTRAL CORE
Nominal area
Appox. Conductor diameter
Nom. Thickness of insulation
Approx. Overall diameter of cable
Max. DC resistance at 20ºC
Permissble current
Min. breaking load
Approx. Weight
Active
Neutral
Active
Neutral
Active
Neutral
Active
Neutral
Active
Neutral
mm²
mm
mm
mm
Ω/km
A
kN
kg/km
3x16+1x25
CC
7 x 2.14
1.3
1.3
4.80
6.42
1.910
1.200
78
2.2
3.5
313.26
3x25+1x25
CC
7 x 2.14
1.3
1.3
5.80
6.42
1.200
1.200
105
3.5
3.5
395.85
3x35+1x25
CC
7 x 2.14
1.3
1.3
7.00
6.42
0.868
1.200
125
4.9
3.5
481.63
3x50+1x35
CC
7 x 2.52
1.5
1.3
8.20
7.56
0.641
0.868
150
7.0
4.9
621.97
3x50+1x50
CC
19 x 1.8
1.5
1.5
8.20
9.00
0.641
0.641
150
7.0
7.0
946.80
3x70+1x50
CC
19 x 1.8
1.5
1.5
9.70
9.00
0.443
0.641
185
9.8
7.0
1143.64
3x70+1x70
CC
19 x 2.14
1.5
1.5
9.70
10.70
0.443
0.443
185
9.8
9.8
1178.22
3x95+1x70
CC
19 x 2.14
1.7
1.5
11.50
10.70
0.320
0.443
225
13.3
9.8
1424.02
3x120+1x70
CC
19 x 2.14
1.7
1.5
12.85
10.70
0.253
0.443
260
16.8
9.8
1651.62
3x150+1x70
CC
19 x 2.14
1.7
1.5
14.50
10.70
0.206
0.443
285
21.0
9.8
1923.95
3. Advantages and disadvantages of low voltage aerial bundled cable
3.1. Advantages
Low voltage aerial bundled cable has many outstanding advantages such as:
Lightweight, easy to install: With aluminum as the main material, LV-ABC is much lighter than copper wire, helping to save costs on poles, pillars, and installation and maintenance labor.
Reasonable price: Aluminum prices in the market are cheaper than copper, so when considering the overall economic value, aerial bundled cable remains the optimal choice for many projects.
Good corrosion resistance: The XLPE insulation layer helps protect the conductor core from corrosion due to direct contact with the environment, and can also resist UV rays.
Aerial bundled cable has a special structure that makes it difficult to hook, limiting electricity theft.
The twisted structure helps reduce cable impedance to only 1/3 compared to power lines using 4 single cables, helping to reduce power loss.
Convenient for construction in complex terrain such as forests, residential areas without requiring wide clearance.
3.2. Disadvantages
Besides the advantages, low voltage aerial bundled cable also has some limitations to note:
Difficult to weld and connections are not as durable and safe as copper wire.
Requires aluminum core purity up to 99.7% to ensure stable transmission quality.
Prone to incidents when operating overload on the power distribution system.
Cannot be buried underground.
4. Applications of low voltage aerial bundled cable
Low voltage aerial bundled cable has many applications in power distribution systems such as:
Used in overhead power distribution systems (power lines suspended on poles), especially in residential areas, urban areas, or rural areas with concentrated population density.
Used to transmit electricity in industrial zones, factories, enterprises, ensuring stable operation of the electrical system.
Applied in street lighting systems, residential area lighting thanks to good load-bearing capacity, easy construction and maintenance.
Construction of new, independent power networks from old power networks, suitable for new urban areas or developing areas.
5. Notes when using and maintaining low voltage aerial bundled cable
Some things you need to note when using and maintaining low voltage aerial bundled cable:
Regular inspections should be performed to promptly detect any damage or abnormalities of the cable and accessories to implement appropriate remedial measures.
Regularly check insulation resistance to detect early signs of partial discharge and the risk of short circuits.
When replacing or repairing, use the correct specialized accessories with proper techniques to ensure connection quality.
Choose reputable cable suppliers with warranty policies and dedicated after-sales technical support.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
6.1 Is it better to choose low voltage aerial bundled cable with aluminum core or aluminum alloy core?
The choice depends on the specific requirements of each project such as budget, construction conditions, and usage environment. You can refer to the following principles:
For short and medium transmission projects with flat terrain and little weather impact, using aluminum core is appropriate.
For projects with power lines crossing complex terrain or in places exposed to harsh environmental conditions, priority should be given to aluminum alloy cores.
6.2 How to identify good quality low voltage aerial bundled cable?
To identify good quality low voltage aerial bundled cable, consider the following factors:
Origin: Cable manufactured by reputable brands in the market with strict quality management systems.
Standard certifications: Products that meet quality certifications according to IEC, TCVN... standards issued by reputable organizations.
Technical specifications: Cables with clear technical specifications regarding materials, cross-sectional dimensions... and these specifications must comply with industry standards and actual usage needs.
Cable surface: The cable sheath must be smooth, uniform, with no cracking or blistering.
Sample testing: If conditions permit, randomly select some products to verify the electromechanical parameters before mass deployment.
7. Summary
Above is all the basic information about low voltage aerial bundled cable that electrical technicians, electrical engineering students, and interested individuals need to understand thoroughly. This article has provided knowledge from the concept, structure, advantages and disadvantages to the application of ABC cable in practice.
However, these are just foundational knowledge; when actually constructing and operating, you need to follow the specific design and guidelines for each project. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to consult professional literature or ask experienced experts and engineers to ensure safety and efficiency.
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