BV 2.5mm2 White PVC Insulated Single Core Copper Building Wire 450/750V Household Electrical 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 (white) — Copper PVC-Insulated Building Wire Specification & Engineering Data

1. Product Overview & Rating Summary. BV-2.5 (white) 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 PV cables (0.6/1.0 kV DC, XLPE, UV-resistant, outdoor rated), BV is a single-layer PVC-insulated solid copper wire designed for indoor dry locations. The white colour is commonly used for neutral circuits or general-purpose building wiring. Finished diameter is about 3.6 mm, mass about 22 kg/km, and it is 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 — significantly lower than PV cables' 90/250 °C XLPE rating. 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 — it is not halogen-free; for low-smoke halogen-free applications, 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 — it should not be flexed repeatedly. Install inside conduit, trunking, or wall conduit — do not leave exposed outdoors. Use standard screw terminals, crimp lugs, or wire nuts — no MC4 connectors needed. White colour = neutral / general-purpose; match phase colours (red/yellow/blue) and protective earth (green/yellow) per local wiring codes. Laying temperature must not fall below 0 °C.

Mechanical & Installation Parameters

6. Typical Service Applications. This white BV-2.5 is the standard building wire for: interior fixed wiring, socket outlets, lighting circuits, switchgear, distribution boxes, residential and commercial building wiring. The white colour is typically used for neutral circuits or general-purpose wiring in residential and commercial buildings. It is installed inside conduit or trunking — never outdoors or in direct sunlight.

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.

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 white, 450/750 V" together with the required length. Always install inside conduit or trunking — never outdoors. For low-smoke halogen-free applications, specify WDZ-BYJ-2.5 instead. Match white neutral with red/yellow/blue phase conductors and green/yellow protective earth per local wiring codes.

11. Cable Industry FAQ.

• Q1: What is the difference between BV and PV cables? BV is a 450/750 V AC building wire with PVC insulation, designed for indoor fixed wiring. PV cables are 0.6/1.0 kV DC with XLPE insulation, designed for outdoor solar PV arrays. BV uses solid copper (Class 1); PV cables use stranded tinned copper (Class 5). BV has no outer sheath; PV cables have double-layer insulation + sheath.
• Q2: Why use white colour? White is the standard building wire colour for neutral circuits or general-purpose wiring. Phase conductors use red (L1), blue (L2), and yellow (L3); protective earth uses green/yellow striped.
• Q3: Why use solid copper instead of stranded? Solid copper (Class 1) is cheaper, stiffer, and ideal for fixed installation in conduit. It should not be flexed repeatedly — for flexing applications, use BVR (stranded flexible).
• Q4: 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. For outdoor use, use UV-resistant solar cable or outdoor-rated power cable.
• Q5: Why is the temperature rating only 70 °C? PVC insulation softens at higher temperatures. PV cables use XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) rated 90 °C. If higher temperature rating is needed, use BV-90 or BYJ (XLPE-insulated building wire).
• Q6: Why is BV not halogen-free? PVC contains chlorine (halogen). When burned, PVC releases corrosive HCl gas. For low-smoke halogen-free applications in public buildings, use WDZ-BYJ (XLPO insulation).
• Q7: What is the maximum circuit current? About 24 A in free air; in conduit with grouped cables, derate to about 19 A. This typically serves 16 A or 20 A socket circuits.
• Q8: Can BV be used for 220V lighting? Yes — BV-2.5 is the standard wire for 220V lighting and socket circuits in residential buildings, typically protected by 16 A or 20 A circuit breakers.
• Q9: What is the maximum voltage? 450/750 V AC — suitable for standard 220V/380V building electrical systems.
• Q10: How long does it last? When properly installed in conduit indoors, BV building wire has a service life matching the building itself — typically 30+ years.
• Q11: What is BVR? BVR is the stranded (flexible) version of BV — same PVC insulation and voltage rating, but uses stranded copper conductor instead of solid. BVR is used where flexibility is needed (e.g. behind switchgear panels).