AVVG cable: technical characteristics, decoding, description, application

Modern electrical engineering uses a wide range of cable and wire products. Primarily, these products are used for laying electrical networks at various facilities. Among them, the AVVG cable has gained wide popularity due to its high quality and relatively low price. In order to correctly apply and make the most efficient use of the AVVG cable, a marking decoding is used that displays its design, technical characteristics and operating features.

Technical characteristics of the AVVG cable

Unom - 0.66 to 1 and 6 kV.
Rated frequency - 50 Hz. Operating mode, t from -50 °C to +50 °C. Relative air humidity (at t0 +35 °C) – up to 98%; Service life: 30 years. Warranty: 5 years (from the date of start of operation). Carrying out installation work without preheating at temperatures from -15 °C and above. Tmax permissible core heating for devices: — during operation: +70 °C; — in emergency condition: up to +80 °C. — with a short circuit: +160 °C.

Rmin of bending during installation: - for single-core devices ? 15 external?; - for multi-core devices? 7.5 external?;

Construction length: - with a section of 2.5x16 mm2 - 450 m; — with a cross section of 25x70 mm2 — 300 m; - with a cross section of 95 mm2 and above - 200 m.

It is more clearly shown in the table:

Decoding the abbreviation AVVG

AVVG is an abbreviation that, in accordance with GOST, has a unique interpretation. Let's indicate the meaning for each letter:

“A” – aluminum (material for manufacturing the current-carrying conductor);
“B” (first) – PVC film (for core insulation);
“B” (second) – PVC plastic for the outer shell;
“G” – bare (the cable has no additional protection).

Often prefixes in the form of other letters are added to AVVG through a hyphen - for example, “T” or “P”. The first indicates that the wire is intended for use in the tropics (it copes well with mold), the second indicates that the product is flat. After the letter marking, numerical values can be written.

For example, AVVG-220 4*30 is an aluminum cable with core insulation and an outer sheath made of polyvinyl chloride, designed for operation in a 220 V network. It consists of four cores with a cross-section of 30 square meters. mm. The prefix “OZH” may be added in parentheses, which indicates that the cores are made single-wire.

Step-by-step instructions for checking the integrity of cores and insulation

After transporting the cable and when accepting it from long-term storage, it is necessary to carry out a check. To do this, you need to use a tester (multimeter) with a dialing function. The check is carried out in the following order:

By connecting the device wires to the corresponding sockets “com” - black, VΩ - red, the tester is put into working condition
The switch is moved to the “ring” position
By connecting the probes to each other, its serviceability is checked: a signal should sound
Next, the cable cores are checked: the buzzer rings to indicate the presence of a circuit.

Checking the cable for the integrity of the cores and insulation using a tester
The last stage of the test is checking the insulation between the conductors. The probes touch the cores with different sheath colors. In a working product, neighboring wires do not “ring through.”

Available quality control methods

There are several methods for preliminary control and recording of the quality of manufactured cables in case of non-compliance with GOST requirements or before its verification. Full verification can only be carried out in the appropriate laboratory, observing the requirements of regulatory and technical documentation.

External inspection (primary)

The initial inspection should reveal the numerical correspondence of cores, wires and color markings. The integrity of the insulating material must be checked. Complete absence of mechanical defects. If a defect or nonconformity is discovered, the manufacturer or supplier must be notified. The warranty period for products is on average 5 years and starts from the moment of its operation.

Measuring structural dimensions

Checking the core diameter, their number, and insulation thickness is done using a special tool. Using an ohmmeter or multimeter specified by the equipment manufacturer, the cross-section of the current-carrying conductors is checked.

AVVG power cables with aluminum conductors are characterized by low cost and good quality and have established themselves in the electrical market as the best conductive equipment. The service life will be at least 30 years if the operating requirements are met.

Application area

Well, the last question that we would like to consider is the purpose of the AVVG cable and the conditions for its installation. This conductor can be used in the following electrical installation work:

laying overhead power lines;
laying the network along cable overpasses, bridges and even in blocks;
electrical installation in partially flooded, damp and dry areas.
installation of wiring in explosive and fire hazardous areas.

As for laying the AVVG cable in the ground, you need to take into account that this type of electrical cable is not armored, so in case of mechanical damage it will quickly fail. It is recommended to use electrical cables for underground installation only if there are no significant mechanical loads on the site and the corrosive activity of the soil is low.

So we have presented all the main technical characteristics of the AVVG cable, an explanation of its markings and, no less important, its purpose. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the PVS wire, which is no less often used by electricians!

Available quality control methods

External inspection (primary)

Measuring structural dimensions

VVG GOST cable: certificate of conformity

VVG wire is a cable product.
It is based on aluminum or copper wire, which is covered on top with a special polyethylene, or less often plastic, sheath. The design consists of two components. This is the core that is responsible for conducting current, and the insulation material.

The certificate of conformity for cables of the VVG and VVGNG types is an official document that confirms the fact that the manufactured products comply with the requirements of GOST and basic standards.

In accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, cables are subject to official certification without fail. This is stated in the all-Russian product classifier for group OP-35. This applies to wires that are intended for stationary installation with voltages up to 1 kW.

If the product is manufactured taking into account technical conditions, then a voluntary certificate can be issued after taking into account all the requirements for the final product.

Features of technical operation

AVVG is used in many areas of life. This is an indispensable electrical component when constructing distribution substations at industrial facilities and arranging switchboard local power lines. It is often used when laying wiring inside residential premises and production workshops.

During the installation and operation of the AVVG cable, it is necessary to ensure the absence of mechanical and compression damage, since the product is not protected by armored tape. The wire is highly sensitive to stretching, which can damage the polyvinyl chloride insulating layer. Thus, in the process of laying along walls or support pillars, it is necessary to ensure minimal sagging.

If laying in the ground is required, then you should buy a cable marked AVVGz. These products differ from conventional AVVG wires in a denser arrangement of cores. To reduce the free space, PVC plastic is added inside, which is also used to produce the outer shell. First, a trench is dug, then a sand cushion is created, and only then the cable is laid. After making sure that there is no tension, the route is covered with a layer of sand at least 150 mm thick.

Important! Regardless of the type of cable chosen, when laying in the ground, additional protection should be provided with warning tape. Its thickness and length are selected in such a way as to completely cover the cable, both in width and length. At points where a large load on the ground is permissible, the conductor is protected by a metal pipe.

The AVVGng cable is an ideal option for installing electrical networks at facilities with increased fire safety requirements, where non-flammable products are required. The prefix “ng” means no combustion even if the components are laid in bundles.

Where can I use it?

In the domestic sphere, AVVG cable with a small core cross-section is actively used - up to 6 square meters. mm. The presence of a double protective layer (core insulation and outer shell) allows the product to be used for open wiring without cable ducts. On the other hand, the plastic box retains its aesthetics, so it is still recommended for use. If you plan to organize hidden wiring, then the cable should be hidden inside the corrugation.

PVC plastic allows it to resist ultraviolet rays, so the AVVG cable can be placed even outdoors, in the open air. The design of the wire allows you to protect it from dust and moisture, so you can safely install electrical circuits in more humid rooms - basements, cellars and where there is a high probability of mold.

Advice! AVVG cannot be used in steam rooms, baths and other similar places, since the upper limit of the operating temperature range is +50 degrees. Celsius. As you know, the average air temperature in a steam room is approximately +90 degrees. Celsius.

Storage and transportation requirements

The cable is supplied and stored on special wooden drums. During the winding process, the ends of the wire are fixed on the “cheek” of the drum, which simplifies checking the product. The shelf life of AVVG depends on the conditions:

outdoors – 2 years;
under canopies in pavilions – 5 years;
in specialized warehouses – 10 years.

Do not confuse drums with coils. However, AVVG can be transported and stored in the latter, but the weight of one must be up to 25 kg. Additionally, the coil is equipped with packaging that prevents arbitrary unwinding. Regardless of the choice, a label or technical passport is affixed to the product, which is hidden in a waterproof shell.

How is AVVG deciphered?

AVVG cable marking description is presented below:

the symbol “A” indicates that the core composition is made of aluminum; if this letter is not present, then the product is copper;
the designation “B” indicates that the insulating layer of the wires is made of PVC materials;
the second letter “B” indicates the external insulation of the cable itself, made of the same PVC, but more dense;
symbol “G” - indicates that the wire is bare and does not have armored protection.

What the product looks like
Numbers may also be included in the markings. For example, wire AVVG 3×15. This means that the wire has three cores with a cross-section of 15 mm² each.

Additional pointers:

AVVG-P is a flat-type raw material;
APvVG - insulation is made from vulcanized polyethylene raw materials;
AVBbShv - indicates that the wire is armored.

Wire in section

In fact, the label contains all the necessary information for a person. But not even all electricians understand this. Therefore, when contacting a specialist, it is advisable to give preference to an experienced person.

Electrical cable AVVGng

The decoding “ng” denotes a PVC shell with low flammability.

The structural elements of the AVVGNG cable are the same as those of AVVG LS. A conductor, which can be single-wire or multi-wire. Insulation consisting of PVC in white, yellow, blue, green, red, crimson, brown, black. A layer of winding that includes non-woven fabric. Shell with increased fire resistance.

The AVVGng device is used in the same conditions as AVVG, but also in explosive areas.

Marking of power cables with PVC insulation

Now let’s take a closer look at the labeling of various modifications of the AVVG power cable, on the basis of which you can create a brief description of each product.

Symbolic marking

The first letter in the name of the electrical product does not change, so the cores of such a cable are made exclusively of aluminum. If this letter is not present (in other brands of wire), then the cores are made of copper.

In addition to AVVG, there are other modifications - AVVP, APVG, AVBbShv, APvBbShv, etc. Depending on the position, one or another letter indicates a certain design feature:

The letter located in second place characterizes the material used to manufacture the insulation of individual cores. As written above, “B” is polyvinyl chloride, “P” is polyethylene, “Pv” (if the letter is lowercase, it refers to the capital one standing on the left side of it) is vulcanized polyethylene. Another feature is that if there is no “A”, the second character is in first place (ВВГ), which means that each letter of this list is shifted one position to the left.
The symbol in the third position characterizes the material from which the sheath of the entire wire is made. “B” – polyvinyl chloride, “A” – aluminum, “BB” – armored protection made of steel or galvanized tape.
The letter in the fourth position indicates the presence of additional protection on the cable. The symbol “G” indicates its absence, in which case the wire is called bare. The letters "Шш" indicate that the additional outer sheath is a polyvinyl chloride hose.

In addition to the symbols “T”, “P” and “ozh” the following meanings can be assigned to the abbreviation:

ng – the product does not support combustion;
LS – materials produced when burning emit a minimal amount of smoke and harmful gas;
LTx – no evaporation of toxic or slightly toxic substances occurs during combustion.

Digital marking

From the example discussed above, it becomes clear: the first number after the letter designation indicates the rated voltage in volts. Sometimes it is indicated in kilovolts. Then the abbreviation looks like this - AVVG-0.22. Then follow the numbers characterizing the number of current-carrying wires and indicating their cross-section (they all have the same cross-section).

Testing the quality of AVVG in laboratory conditions

To confirm compliance with the stated technical and operational requirements, various quality control methods are used. It is best to have the cable tested in specialized laboratories.

First, its external condition is checked: make sure there are no cracks or other signs of mechanical damage. Next, the number of cores is counted in the section, the color of their insulation is recorded, after which the obtained data is compared with the information from the technical documentation attached to the product. Then more painstaking checks begin: the number of wires of each core is counted (if it is not a monolithic cable with the prefix “ozh”).

In the laboratory, they make sure that there are no breakdowns in the insulation and test it for strength. An ohmmeter and a multimeter allow you to determine resistance.

Cable design

The electrical product has a simple structure. Current-carrying conductors are made of high-quality aluminum. Their number varies from one to six. They can be single-wire (monolithic) or multi-wire. In the first case, the letter designation “ozh” is added to the marking. If these symbols are absent, then the cable is multi-wire.

The insulation has a specific color marking that corresponds to generally accepted international standards. The blue shell indicates the “neutral” conductor, yellow-green or brown – grounding, red – phase. If there are several phases in the cable, then other colors are selected - black, orange, green, purple, etc.

When constructing a diagram of the cross-section of an AVVG cable, a different color marking is used: red indicates the cable insulation, yellow indicates the core, black indicates the outer sheath.

Many product manufacturers add Mylar tape between the outer sheath and the rest of the cable. With its help, prompt, fast and safe removal of the shell is ensured. In a two-core cable, the cross-sections of the current-carrying cores are always the same; in other cases, the value may differ. Often, either the grounding or neutral conductor has a smaller cross-section, but in a six-core AVVG cable, both have a smaller cross-section.