UV Resistant Aerial 0.6/1kV 3x185mm2 Aluminium XLPE Insulated Power Cable

Product Overview

Sunlight destroys polymer cable slowly and then suddenly. Ultraviolet radiation attacks the outer surface, breaks the polymer chains, and after two or three summers in a coastal or desert site the sheath has chalked, cracked and started to admit moisture. This three core 185mm2 cable answers that with a carbon black loaded XLPE insulation and a black HDPE oversheath that both pass a seven hundred and twenty hour xenon arc test with more than eighty percent property retention.

The conductor is stranded aluminium, chosen because overhead runs and long outdoor spans need low weight and low cost rather than maximum ampacity per square millimetre. 185mm2 aluminium carries the same order of current as a much smaller copper conductor while keeping the stringing hardware and pole loads manageable.

HDPE also brings salt spray and chemical resistance, which is why the construction suits coastal and industrial outdoor routes. Combined with sealed drum ends and UV stabilised sheath, the cable can sit on a pole line for decades without the surface degradation that turns a good design into a maintenance liability.

Technical Specifications

Key Advantages

• Carbon black loaded XLPE plus HDPE sheath resist UV ageing for decades outdoors.
• Aluminium 185mm2 keeps overhead stringing loads and pole hardware cost down.
• HDPE resists salt spray, ozone and industrial chemical atmosphere.
• Three core assembly reduces the number of overhead supports needed.
• Weather wrapped drums can be stored outdoors on site without sheath damage.

Typical Applications

• Overhead low voltage distribution along roads and boundaries
• Coastal, island and salt atmosphere installations
• Solar farm string and inverter outdoor runs
• Desert and high altitude sites with strong UV exposure
• Industrial plant outdoor pipe rack and cable bridge

Quality Assurance and Test Data

UV resistance is verified with xenon arc exposure testing, and each batch is checked for insulation thickness, sheath integrity by 6 kV spark test and conductor resistance. Our engineers can confirm support spacing and expansion loops for the temperature range on your site. Aluminium 3x185mm2 phases inside a UV resistant HDPE sheath give an aerial cable that survives both sun and salt without surface cracking.

Ordering and Delivery Notes

Outdoor and coastal routes are ordered against a support spacing and sun exposure check. Send the pole layout, the average UV index or latitude and the salt exposure level, and we confirm support intervals, expansion loops and whether a grease filled conductor is worthwhile at terminations. The UV resistant cable is then drummed to the exact route length so no joint is needed on a pole that is hard to access.

Selection and Test Summary

• A UV resistant HDPE sheath is what separates an outdoor cable from a cable that happens to be installed outdoors.
• Along an overhead coastal line the 3x185mm2 aluminium conductor keeps pole loads low while the XLPE Insulated Power Cable resists salt atmosphere.
• For a solar site the UV resistant HDPE sheath variant is supplied in 1000 m drums, weather wrapped for site storage.
• Where the overhead coastal line passes salt spray we recommend grease filled strands and tinned lugs on the 3x185mm2 aluminium conductor.
• For a boundary line the overhead coastal line construction can be supplied with a messenger, so the XLPE Insulated Power Cable hangs as a bundle.
• Our UV resistant HDPE sheath is black pigmented through the wall, not coated, and every 3x185mm2 aluminium drum carries the UV test reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does the UV resistance last in service?
A: The sheath is stabilised for continuous outdoor exposure; our xenon arc test covers 720 hours, equivalent to several years of intense sun, and HDPE retains over eighty percent of its properties afterwards.

Q: Is aluminium conductor acceptable for overhead spans?
A: Yes, provided support spacing and sag are designed for the conductor weight, which our engineers can calculate from your pole layout.

Q: Can this cable be installed in salt spray zones?
A: The HDPE sheath is resistant to salt atmosphere, and for terminals in coastal sites we recommend tinned lugs or grease filled joints.

Q: What is the smallest drum length available?
A: Standard drums are 1000 m, but we cut to the exact route length so you avoid waste and extra joints.

Q: Is grease filled conductor needed at coastal terminations?
A: For severe coastal sites we recommend grease filled strands and tinned lugs at the terminations of this UV resistant cable, and we can supply both with the order.

Send your pole spacing, sun exposure and route length, and we will confirm support spacing, UV performance and the delivered price for this UV resistant overhead cable.