Green BV 2.5mm² PVC Insulated Copper Control Wire Electrical Building Cable

Cable Designation & Meaning

Construction: Plain copper conductor (solid or stranded), PVC insulation, single-core non-sheathed building wire.

Applicable Standards

• GB/T 5023-2008 / IEC 60227 — Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V
• GB/T 3956 / IEC 60228 — Conductors (Class 1 solid or Class 2 stranded, copper)
• GB/T 18380 / IEC 60332 — Flame retardant tests
• GB/T 2951 / IEC 60811 — Insulating and sheathing materials — Common test methods

BV-2.5 mm² (green, protective earthing PE / equipotential bonding) — Copper PVC-Insulated Building Wire Specification & Engineering Data

1. Product Overview & Rating Summary. BV-2.5 (green) is the standard Chinese copper PVC-insulated building wire rated 450/750 V AC for interior fixed wiring, built and tested per GB/T 5023 / JB/T 8734. Unlike the blue variant (neutral N / L3 / low-voltage control), this green version is the standard protective earthing PE / equipotential bonding conductor, designed for protective earthing circuits, equipotential bonding, and earthing busbar wiring. The green colour provides clear visual distinction in earthing and bonding wiring systems. Finished diameter is about 3.6 mm, mass about 22 kg/km, supplied in 100 m coils.

2. Layer-by-Layer Construction (Conductor to Outer).

3. Electrical Characteristics. The 2.5 mm² conductor is a solid 1.78 mm annealed copper wire (Class 1, not stranded), giving a maximum DC resistance of 7.41 Ω/km at 20 °C. Routine proof is 2.0 kV AC / 5 minutes. Insulation resistance ≥ 0.011 MΩ·km. With the single core in free air at 30 °C, reference loading is about 24 A; in conduit with three grouped cores, the rating derates to about 19 A. The voltage drop on a 100 m single-phase loop at 24 A is about 3.6 V. Conductor loss at 24 A is about 4.3 W per metre at 70 °C.

Insulation Data

Electrical Parameters

Reference values: 2.5 mm² Cu at 24 A, single-phase 230 V → max load ≈ 5.5 kW. Voltage drop at 24 A ≈ 17.8 V/km per core (≈0.78% per 10 m at 230 V).

Temperature Characteristics

4. Thermal Response & Flame Behaviour. PVC insulation sustains a 70 °C continuous conductor temperature, with short-circuit capability up to 160 °C for ≤ 5 s. The cable is rated for service ambients between 0 °C and +70 °C and must not be installed below 0 °C (PVC becomes brittle). It is flame-retardant to GB/T 18380 / IEC 60332-1 (self-extinguishing). PVC contains halogen — not halogen-free; for low-smoke halogen-free earthing in public buildings, use WDZ-BYJ instead.

Fire Performance (BV — Standard)

5. Installation Practice & Handling. Minimum bend radius is 4 × OD (≈ 14 mm) for fixed installation. The solid conductor is rigid and designed for fixed installation only. Install inside conduit, trunking, or wall conduit — do not leave exposed outdoors. Use earth lugs / screw terminals for earthing connections — ensure low-resistance bond. Green colour = protective earthing PE / bonding; match phase L1 (red/black), phase L2 (yellow), and phase L3 / neutral (blue) per local wiring codes. Laying temperature must not fall below 0 °C.

Mechanical & Installation Parameters

6. Typical Service Applications. This green BV-2.5 is the standard earthing/bonding wire for: protective earthing PE circuits, equipotential bonding, earthing busbar wiring, equipment grounding, lightning protection bonding, earth electrode connections. Unlike the blue variant (neutral N and control circuits), green is chosen where protective earthing or bonding colour coding matters — in earthing busbar wiring, equipment grounding, and lightning protection bonding. It is installed inside conduit or trunking — never outdoors.

7. Testing & Quality Assurance Regime. Routine tests on every coil include conductor DC resistance ≤ 7.41 Ω/km at 20 °C, the 2.0 kV AC / 5 min withstand, dimensional check (insulation ≥ 0.8 mm; OD ≈ 3.6 mm), and visual marking. Type tests include heat ageing (100 °C / 168 h), cold bend at 0 °C, heat shock at 150 °C, flame retardancy per GB/T 18380 / IEC 60332-1, insulation resistance, conductor continuity, and colour check (green).

The Wire Parameters

The Wire Test Parameters

The Wire Cross Section Structure

Construction Description

8. Company Display

9. Packaging, Storage & Logistics. Standard delivery is 100 m per coil. Each coil carries continuous marking: BV, 2.5 mm², 450/750 V, GB/T 5023, supplier identity, production year, and sequential metre marks. Storage should be in dry, indoor premises at 0 to +40 °C, protected from UV and moisture.

10. Procurement Specification. State "BV-2.5 mm² green, 450/750 V" together with the required length. Always install inside conduit or trunking — never outdoors. For low-smoke halogen-free earthing in public buildings, specify WDZ-BYJ-2.5 green instead. Match green protective earthing PE with phase L1 (red/black), phase L2 (yellow), and phase L3 / neutral (blue) per local wiring codes. Use earth lugs for low-resistance bonding.

11. Cable Industry FAQ.

• Q1: Why use green instead of blue for this application? Green is used for protective earthing PE / equipotential bonding. Blue is used for neutral N / phase L3 / low-voltage control. In wiring systems, green provides clear visual distinction between earthing conductors and power/control circuits.
• Q2: What is the difference between green and blue BV-2.5? Electrically and mechanically identical — same conductor, same insulation, same voltage rating, same ampacity. The only difference is colour and typical application: green = protective earthing PE / bonding; blue = neutral N / L3 / low-voltage control.
• Q3: Can green BV-2.5 be used as protective earth? Yes — green is used for protective earthing PE and equipotential bonding. Note: in some conventions the standard PE conductor is green/yellow striped; solid green may be used for bonding or specific earthing applications per local codes.
• Q4: What is equipotential bonding? Equipotential bonding connects all exposed conductive metalwork (pipes, ducts, frames) to the earthing system, ensuring they are at the same potential and eliminating touch voltage hazards. Green BV-2.5 is commonly used for this.
• Q5: What is the difference between green and yellow BV-2.5? Electrically identical. Yellow = three-phase L2 / alarm indicator; green = protective earthing PE / bonding. Choose the colour based on the circuit's role in the wiring system.
• Q6: Why use solid copper instead of stranded? Solid copper (Class 1) is cheaper, stiffer, and ideal for fixed installation in conduit and trunking. It should not be flexed repeatedly — for flexing applications, use BVR (stranded flexible).
• Q7: Can BV be used outdoors? No — BV is designed for indoor dry locations only. The PVC insulation is not UV-resistant and will degrade when exposed to sunlight.
• Q8: Why is the temperature rating only 70 °C? PVC insulation softens at higher temperatures. For higher temperature rating, use BV-90 or BYJ (XLPE-insulated building wire).
• Q9: What is the maximum fault current? About 24 A in free air; in conduit with grouped cables, derate to about 19 A. For earthing circuits, the fault current depends on the earth fault loop impedance; for equipment grounding, the conductor must safely carry the earth fault current until the protective device operates.
• Q10: Can green BV-2.5 be used for lightning protection bonding? Yes — green is commonly used for lightning protection bonding connections, providing visual distinction from power circuits.
• Q11: What earth lug should I use? Use standard copper earth lugs (crimp or screw type) sized for 2.5 mm² solid conductor. Ensure the lug is tightened to the correct torque and protected from corrosion.