BV 2.5mm² Single Core Electrical Cable Solid Copper Conductor PVC Insulation, Indoor Building Wiring Cable

Cable Designation & Meaning

Construction: One 2.5 mm² solid copper conductor, PVC insulation applied directly over the conductor.

BV 1×2.5 mm² — Single-Core PVC Insulated Copper Building Wire 

1. Overview & Ratings

BV 1×2.5 is a single-core PVC insulated building wire rated 450/750 V. It uses pure annealed bare copper (not tinned) as a solid Class 1 conductor, chosen for high conductivity and stable long-term contact in fixed installation. One 2.5 mm² copper wire is covered by a continuous PVC insulation; there is no braid shield, no inner sheath and no outer jacket. Finished OD ≈ 3.4 mm, ≈ 29 kg/km (est.), ≈ 20–25 A in conduit. Max conductor temperature 70 °C, -15 to +70 °C. Intended for fixed indoor wiring in conduits and panel enclosures; not for moving drag chains, outdoor UV exposure or direct burial.

2. Construction Stack (Inner → Outer, expanded)

3. Electrical Characteristics

DC resistance ≤ 7.41 Ω/km at 20 °C per GB/T 3956 Class 1 pure copper. Rated voltage 450/750 V. Estimated ampacity ≈ 20–25 A in conduit at 30 °C, up to ≈ 32 A in free air, with derating for grouping and enclosure. Insulation resistance ≥ 20 MΩ·km. Routine AC withstand test at 2000 V for 5 minutes. Typical capacitance ≈ 150 pF/m at 1 kHz. As a single-core wire it carries one phase, neutral or earth conductor per run; circuit polarity and identification are handled by insulation colour rather than internal pairing.

Insulation & Sheath Data

Electrical Parameters

Reference values: BV 2.5 at 24 A, 230 V AC → max load ≈ 5,520 VA​ (typical lighting/socket circuit). At 24 V DC → max load ≈ 576 W.

4. Thermal & Flame Behaviour

Operating range -15 to +70 °C continuous. Short-circuit withstand up to 160 °C for ≤ 5 seconds. The PVC insulation is flame-retardant per IEC 60332-1 and self-extinguishing after the ignition source is removed. The cable is halogen-containing (PVC), emitting HCl gas on burning — avoid in enclosed public or high-density spaces where LSZH wiring is required. The insulation surface is smooth and oil-limited; it should be protected from direct sunlight, solvents and prolonged moisture. Bare copper should be terminated in dry, enclosed locations.

Temperature Characteristics

Fire Performance (BV — PVC, Non-Low-Smoke)

5. Installation Practice & Handling

Minimum bending radius ≥ 4×OD ≈ 14 mm for fixed installation. The solid core is dimensionally stable but less flexible than stranded wire, so route straight runs with gentle bends and avoid repeated flexing. Terminate by stripping the insulation, inserting the solid wire into a terminal block, lug or connector, and tightening to the rated torque. Group live, neutral and earth conductors in the same conduit; keep green-yellow earth wires separate in identification. After installation, verify insulation resistance and continuity before energizing. Do not use this wire as a flexible appliance cord or drag-chain cable.

Mechanical & Installation Parameters

6. Typical Service Applications

Fixed indoor wiring in residential, commercial and light industrial buildings: lighting circuits, socket outlet branch circuits, panel internal wiring, switchboard and distribution board connections, and control-panel internal conductor runs. The 2.5 mm² section is a common choice for general-purpose household and commercial circuits feeding lights, sockets and small fixed equipment. Typical installation methods: conduit, trunking, cable tray and embedded wall wiring. It is not designed for: shielded signal transmission, moving or trailing equipment, outdoor UV-exposed runs, submersible or buried circuits, or high-temperature heater wiring.

7. Testing & Quality Assurance Regime

Routine tests (100% production): DC resistance, AC voltage withstand (2000 V/5 min), insulation resistance, conductor construction, insulation thickness, dimensional check, print legibility, mass per length, visual appearance, and packing. Type tests (per batch / material change): heat aging (100 °C/7 days), cold bend (-15 °C), insulation tensile and elongation, flame retardancy, insulation flexibility, and wall thickness uniformity. Every coil ships with mill test certificate, ROHS and REACH declarations. The 450/750 V rating uses a 2000 V withstand test.

The Wire Parameters

The Wire Test Parameters

Cross Section Structure

Construction Description

8. Factory Advantages

Pure annealed solid copper delivers stable conductivity and low resistance across long fixed runs. Continuous PVC extrusion gives a smooth, uniform wall with consistent colour and diameter. Standard circuit colours are available to prevent wiring errors at site. The solid core seats cleanly in terminal blocks and lugs, reducing loose-connection risk. 100% routine electrical QA on every coil. Cut-to-length packaging with sealed ends reduces waste. Lightweight ≈ 29 kg/km for easy coil handling. Full traceability with MTC and certification support for building-wiring tenders and project procurement.

9. Packaging, Storage & Logistics

Cut to customer-specified length on export-grade coils, with both ends sealed to prevent moisture ingress. Coils wrapped in waterproof film and cardboard, labelled with designation BV, cross-section, colour, length, weight, production date and reel number. Standard lengths 100/200/500/1000 m; custom lengths available. Store dry indoor, -10 to +40 °C, below 75% RH, away from direct sunlight, solvents and chemical fumes. FOB Shanghai/Nanjing/Qingdao; CIF and DAP available. Sample lead time 5–7 days; bulk production 15–25 days. Mixed-colour lots are packed and labelled separately.

10. Procurement Specification

State wire designation "BV 1×2.5 pure copper", required colour (red/blue/yellow/green-yellow/black/white), and length per coil. Request the routine AC withstand test record (2000 V) and DC resistance certificate for the specific batch. Note this is a pure copper (bare) fixed-wiring variant for dry indoor use — for damp or outdoor locations, specify a tinned or appropriate insulated variant. Specify any regional certification requirements (CE, etc.) at order time. Payment: 30% T/T deposit, balance against B/L copy. Documents: MTC, ROHS/REACH, COO, commercial invoice, packing list.

11. Cable Industry FAQ

Q1: What does "BV" mean? B denotes a copper conductor, V denotes PVC insulation; BV is the standard Chinese designation for a single-core PVC insulated fixed-wiring wire, equivalent to the plain building wire in IEC 60227.

Q2: Is the conductor solid or stranded? This 2.5 mm² BV uses a solid Class 1 copper wire (Ø 1.78 mm). For flexible or vibration-prone connections, a stranded RV or BVR variant should be considered.

Q3: What is the voltage rating? 450/750 V, suitable for low-voltage fixed indoor lighting, socket and panel wiring.

Q4: What current can 2.5 mm² carry? ≈ 20–25 A in conduit, up to ≈ 32 A in free air, derated for grouping and enclosure; confirm against local wiring rules and circuit protection.

Q5: Why pure copper instead of tinned? Bare pure copper gives the highest conductivity for fixed indoor contacts; tinned copper is normally chosen where moisture or outdoor corrosion is a concern.

Q6: What do the colours mean? Red = live/phase, blue = neutral, green-yellow = protective earth; yellow, black and white are supplementary colours.

Q7: Does BV have a shield? No — BV is an unshielded single-core building wire. For EMI-sensitive signal circuits, use a shielded RVVP-type multiconductor cable.

Q8: Can it be used outdoors? Not directly — limited UV resistance and bare copper oxidize in humidity. Install inside UV-protected conduit or choose an outdoor-rated cable.

Q9: What is the temperature range? -15 to +70 °C continuous.

Q10: What proof ships? Routine AC test record (2000 V) + DC resistance certificate + MTC.

Q11: When should I choose BVR instead? Where the wire must bend frequently, connect to vibrating equipment, or fit tight panel gaps, choose the stranded BVR variant; BV solid is best for straight fixed runs.