4 Core + Earth Cable 4x10mm²+1x6mm² RVV for Three Phase + Earth Supply

Cable Designation & Meaning

Construction: Extra-heavy PVC sheathed flexible cord, round profile (5-core, 4+1 configuration)

RVV 4×10.0 + 1×6.0 mm² — Cable Specification & Engineering Data

1. Product Overview & Rating Summary. RVV 4×10.0+1×6.0 is a five-core flexible PVC-insulated PVC-sheathed cord rated at 300/500 V AC (50 Hz) and 70 °C conductor temperature, built around four 10.0 mm² annealed copper Class 5 flexible main conductors plus one 6.0 mm² neutral / protective-earth conductor — each PVC-insulated and collectively jacketed in a second PVC oversheath. Manufactured and type-tested to GB/T 5023.5 (60227 IEC 53) / IEC 60227-5, with flexible conductors per GB/T 3956. Finished diameter is about 22.0 mm and nominal mass about 850 kg/km (≈ 85 kg per 100 m), supplied on 100 m reels or cartons. With all four main cores energised, the cord carries about 57 A in free air at 25 °C (engineering estimate) — a 3P+N+E flexible feed for industrial equipment, sub-mains and larger three-phase loads, where a dedicated neutral/earth conductor is required in a single flexible cable.

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

3. Electrical Characteristics. Each 10.0 mm² main conductor is held to a maximum DC resistance of 1.91 Ω/km at 20 °C, rising to around 2.42 Ω/km at the 70 °C operating point. The 6.0 mm² neutral conductor is held to a maximum of 3.08 Ω/km at 20 °C (about 3.91 Ω/km at 70 °C). Every length survives the routine 2.0 kV AC power-frequency proof held for five minutes. Finished-cable insulation resistance remains above 0.0075 MΩ·km at 70 °C, and typical figures include main-core capacitance ≈ 200 nF/km and 50 Hz AC impedance ≈ 1.91 Ω/km. With all four main cores energised, reference loading is about 57 A in free air at 25 °C, and the loop voltage drop at 57 A is about 0.22 V per metre.

Electrical Parameters

Reference values: 10 mm² flexible cord — typical current carrying capacity 40–55 A. For 3-phase + N + PE at 400 V, max balanced load ≈ 32.6 kW (47 A per phase). At 47 A, voltage drop ≈ 2.4 V/km per core (≈0.6% per 100 m at 400 V line-to-line).

Temperature Characteristics

• Max. conductor operating temp.: 70 °C
• Max. short-circuit temp. (≤5 s): 160 °C
• Emergency overload temp.: 85 °C
• Min. installation ambient temp.: −15 °C (PVC flexible)
• Service ambient range: −15 °C to +70 °C (PVC sheath)

4. Thermal Response & Flame Behaviour. PVC insulation sustains a 70 °C continuous conductor temperature. The cord is rated for service ambients between −15 and +70 °C, must not be uncoiled below 0 °C without pre-conditioning, and uses 25 °C as the reference ambient for ampacity. Flame behaviour meets the single-cable vertical test GB/T 18380.12 (IEC 60332-1), meaning the cord self-extinguishes when the flame source is removed. Because both insulation and sheath are halogenated PVC, the cord emits smoke and hydrogen chloride in a fire; low-smoke zero-halogen projects must specify an LSZH variant.

5. Installation Practice & Handling. Bends must not fall below 6 times the actual outer diameter — about 132 mm for this size. Termination requires stripping 22–25 mm and always using a ferrule on the flexible Class 5 strands to prevent wire fraying. Reels held below 0 °C in storage must be warmed indoors before uncoiling; pulling tension should stay within 690 N, and the cord must never be used as a pulling rope. The 57 A reference requires derating whenever ambient temperature or bundling deviates from reference conditions. This cord is not for direct burial, outdoor UV exposure or continuous repetitive flexing — for those duties choose an armoured cable, a UV-stabilised jacket or a continuous-flex (trunking) cable respectively.

Mechanical & Installation Parameters

• Minimum bending radius: ≥ 6 × OD → ≈ 121 mm at Ø20.2 mm
• Max. pulling tension: light, avoid pulling; use strain relief gland
• Direct burial: NOT suitable
• Conduit ID: ≥ 1.5 × OD → ≥ 30 mm; use 40 mm or 50 mm conduit
• Fixing: cable clips, cable ties
• Flexing: suitable for light flexing only (10 mm² is stiff)

6. Typical Service Applications. This five-core 3P+N+E cord is the flexible feed for three-phase industrial loads that require a dedicated neutral and protective earth in one cable: supply to small three-phase motors up to about 4 kW, industrial welding-machine and battery-charger leads, interconnection between distribution boards and three-phase load centres, air-conditioner and heat-pump outdoor-unit feeds up to 12 kW, pump and fan motor leads, workshop CNC machine-tool power drops, laboratory equipment and test-set supplies, stage and exhibition three-phase temporary power distribution, agricultural greenhouse and irrigation controls, EV-charger / car-wash equipment interconnects, and light industrial three-phase power feeds. Approved installation methods include fixed wiring inside appliances, cable trunking and indoor ducting in dry locations, both indoors and in covered sheltered spaces.

7. Testing & Quality Assurance Regime. Routine tests on every length include conductor DC resistance verification for both main cores (≤ 1.91 Ω/km) and the neutral core (≤ 3.08 Ω/km) at 20 °C, the 2.0 kV AC / 5 min withstand, conductor continuity across all five cores, and dimensional inspection covering main insulation ≥ 1.00 mm, neutral insulation ≥ 0.80 mm, sheath ≥ 1.40 mm and overall diameter ≈ 22.0 mm. Sample and type tests comprise PVC insulation and sheath tensile strength (≥ 10 MPa) with elongation (≥ 100 % insulation / ≥ 125 % sheath), PVC heat deformation at 80 °C, PVC shrinkage at 150 °C, the single-cable vertical flame test, bending and cold-bend tests at −15 °C, and the voltage test after flexing. A factory test certificate accompanies each reel.

Cable Parameters

Cable Test Parameters

Cable Cross Section Structure

Cable Construction Description

8. Standards & Conformity. Design and production are governed by GB/T 5023.5 and IEC 60227-5 for 300/500 V flexible cords (60227 IEC 53). Conductors satisfy GB/T 3956 / IEC 60228 Class 5 — the 10.0 mm² main conductor as 126 wires of 0.32 mm (R ≤ 1.91 Ω/km) and the 6.0 mm² neutral conductor as 84 wires of 0.30 mm (R ≤ 3.08 Ω/km). Flame behaviour is proven by GB/T 18380.12. General test methods follow GB 5023.1 / GB 5023.3, while surface marking complies with GB/T 6995. Cables can also be supplied to IEC, BS, DIN, UL or VDE requirements on request. Because the PVC jacket contains halogen, tunnels, metro systems, hospitals and other confined public areas call for an LSZH variant.

9. Packaging, Storage & Logistics. Standard delivery is 100 m per reel or carton, with bespoke cut lengths available on request. Each reel carries type, voltage, supplier identity, production year and sequential metre marking per GB/T 6995. Storage should be in dry, covered premises at −15 to +40 °C, shielded from direct sunlight, moisture, oils and sharp objects; reels remain sealed until installation. In cold conditions, condition reels indoors to ≥ 0 °C before uncoiling. During transit, reels must be secured against rolling and impact, and the cord must never be dragged across abrasive ground or sharp edges.

10. Procurement Specification. State "RVV 300/500 V 4×10.0+1×6.0" together with the required length or reel arrangement, insulation colour combination and marking preferences. Specify the sheath colour (black is standard) and the standard 3P+N+E colour-coding (black/red/blue for phases, yellow-green for neutral/earth). Always request the factory test certificate to confirm the actual diameter (≈ 22.0 mm), weight (≈ 850 kg/km) and both main and neutral conductor resistances for the production batch. Where low-smoke zero-halogen or continuous-flex construction is needed, order the LSZH or H05VV5-F variant respectively.

11. Cable Industry FAQ.

• Q1: Why use a 4+1 core cable instead of a 4-core cable? A 4-core cable carries three phases plus one return — but in a 3P+N+E system you need both a neutral (current-carrying) and a protective earth (safety). The 4+1 design puts the three phases in the three large cores, the neutral in the fourth large core, and the protective earth in the smaller central core — all in one jacket, eliminating the need for a separate earth wire.
• Q2: Why is the neutral core smaller (6.0 mm²) than the main cores (10.0 mm²)? In a balanced three-phase system the neutral carries little or no current, so it can be downsized. However, for non-linear loads (switch-mode power supplies, VFDs) the neutral can carry significant harmonic current — in those cases specify a full-size neutral (4×10+1×10) instead.
• Q3: What does Class 5 flexible conductor mean? Class 5 (GB/T 3956) is made of many thin wires (126 × 0.32 mm at 10.0 mm², 84 × 0.30 mm at 6.0 mm²), giving the cord its flexibility and bend endurance. Class 2 (used in power cables like YJV) uses fewer thicker wires and is much stiffer.
• Q4: Can this cable drive a three-phase motor directly? Yes for small motors up to about 4 kW at 57 A. Larger motors require motor-rated cable (YJV) with short-circuit and overload protection coordinated to the starter. Always size the cord to the full-load current plus a safety margin.
• Q5: Why is 10.0 mm² rated at about 57 A while power cables carry far more? Cross-section directly determines current-carrying capacity. 10.0 mm² is still a light-duty flexible cord cross-section; 16.0 mm² already carries about 76 A and 25.0 mm² about 101 A. Oversizing unnecessarily increases cost, diameter and copper weight.
• Q6: Can RVV be used outdoors? Not in its standard form: the PVC jacket is not UV-stabilised and will degrade under prolonged sunlight. For outdoor use specify a UV-stabilised jacket or an armoured cable. For burial, use a steel-tape armoured power cable.
• Q7: What is the difference between neutral (N) and protective earth (PE)? The neutral (N) is a current-carrying conductor that completes the AC circuit; it is normally at close-to-zero voltage but can carry current. The protective earth (PE) carries no current under normal conditions but provides a low-resistance path to earth in the event of an insulation fault, protecting people from electric damage.
• Q8: Why can PVC only run at 70 °C while XLPE runs at 90 °C? PVC is a thermoplastic that softens and deforms at elevated temperature; XLPE is cross-linked into a thermoset network that retains its shape up to 90 °C. This is why RVV (PVC) is limited to 70 °C and YJV (XLPE) to 90 °C.
• Q9: Why does finished diameter vary between manufacturers for the same nominal size? Standards set minimum insulation and sheath thicknesses plus electrical performance, but not a precise overall diameter. Stranding compaction, filler design and sheath tolerance differ between plants — published 4×10+1×6 figures cluster around 22.0 mm — so the actual measured diameter must be used when sizing glands and clips.
• Q10: Which tests confirm acceptability on delivery and before energisation? At delivery, verify the factory test certificate (main resistance ≤ 1.91 Ω/km, neutral resistance ≤ 3.08 Ω/km, 2.0 kV/5 min withstand, dimensions ≈ 22.0 mm), jacket legibility and reel integrity. After installation, complete an insulation-resistance test plus a 2.0 kV AC / 5 min withstand, then confirm all five conductors identified correctly before energising.
• Q11: What service life can be expected? When installed and operated within the stated temperature and voltage limits, PVC flexible cords are designed for a service life of around 10–15 years in dry indoor conditions; sustained overload, repeated flexing beyond the 6 × OD minimum radius, ultraviolet exposure, or operation above 70 °C will materially shorten that life.