Cables Selection Guide
Cables are divided into power, control and signal, fire, data and communication groups by the job they carry out; selection depends on the function of the line.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Cables category.
Cable groups and which one suits which job
The subgroups are divided by what the line carries.
- Power: Low voltage cables are for installation, panel and underground supply lines; they include the NYA, NYAF, NYM, NYY, TTR, N2XH and NHXMH types with copper conductors and the NAYY and NA2XH types with aluminum conductors. Solar cables of type H1Z2Z2-K, for the DC side of photovoltaic systems, form a separate group.
- Control and signal: Under low-current cables you find control cables such as YSLY and YSLCY, signal cables such as LIYY and LIYCY, and silicone, PUR, coaxial, telephone and intercom cables.
- Fire: Fire cables cover fire alarm cables and fire-resistant cables that carry suffixes such as FE180 and PH120 in their names.
- Data: Ethernet LAN cables from CAT5e to CAT8 for copper network lines, and single-mode fiber optic cables for optical lines.
- Machine and field communication: Industrial and communication cables bring together Profibus, Profinet, RS-485, EIB-BUS, load cell, thermocouple compensation and servo motor cables.
- Ready-made cables: Connection cables with plugs and battery jumper cables are in other cables, and HDMI cables are in the video and audio cables group.
What to look at when choosing a cable, in order
- Rated voltage. Building installation cables are in the 300/500 V or 450/750 V class, and underground power cables in the 0.6/1 kV class; the cable's class must meet the system voltage.
- Conductor. In fixed installations a solid or stranded rigid conductor is used; inside panels and in moving connections a fine-stranded flexible conductor is used. An aluminum conductor requires a larger cross-section than copper for the same current.
- Cross-section and number of cores. The current a cross-section can carry varies with the installation method, the ambient temperature and the number of circuits running side by side; on long lines the voltage drop often determines the cross-section. For a pre-check you can use the cable current carrying capacity calculation and voltage drop calculation tools; the exact value belongs to the project calculation. All of the steps are in the how to select a cable guide.
- Insulation and sheath. PVC is a general-purpose material. XLPE insulation allows a higher conductor temperature: in HES datasheets the maximum operating temperature is 70 °C for PVC-insulated NYY and 90 °C for XLPE-insulated N2XH. Halogen-free compounds give off little smoke and little corrosive gas in a fire. Types with PUR sheaths are chosen against oil and abrasion, and types with silicone insulation for high temperature.
- Shielding. Shielded types are used against electrical noise on motor outputs with frequency converters and on measurement and communication lines; in the code, C indicates a copper shield and (St) a foil shield.
- Installation environment. Underground, outdoors, a damp space, a cable tray or a moving machine: the place of use for each type is stated in the manufacturer's datasheet.
How to read the type code and cross-section notation
In product names, the harmonized code, the German standard code and their Turkish equivalents can appear side by side.
- Harmonized code (H07V-U, H05VV-F): H stands for harmonized type, 05 for 300/500 V and 07 for 450/750 V. The following letters are the insulation and sheath material (V: PVC). The letter after the dash is the conductor: U solid, R stranded, K fine-stranded for fixed installation, F fine-stranded for flexible cables.
- German standard code (NYY, NAYY, N2XH): N stands for the standard type, A for an aluminum conductor, Y for PVC, and 2X for cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation; N2XH and NHXMH are halogen-free types. A trailing -J means a construction with a green-yellow core, and -O one without a green-yellow core.
- Codes used in Turkey: YVV in product names corresponds to NYY, YAVV to NAYY, and NVV to NYM.
- Cross-section notation: 3x2.5 mm² means three cores of 2.5 mm² each. In the notation 3G2.5, one of the cores is a green-yellow protective conductor. 3x50+25 mm² describes a cable with three 50 mm² cores and a fourth core of 25 mm². 4x2x23 AWG on data cables means four pairs and 23 AWG conductors; for the equivalent, see the AWG - mm² conversion tool.
Halogen-free cable and fire-resistant cable are not the same
The term halogen-free (halogen free, LSZH, HFFR) describes that the cable gives off little smoke and little corrosive gas while burning. Fire resistance, on the other hand, means the cable keeps the circuit working for a specified time under flame, and is indicated in product names with suffixes such as FE180, PH120 and E30. Expressions such as B2ca-s1a,d1,a1 indicate a third property, the reaction to fire class: after the main class, s is the smoke, d the flaming droplets while burning, and a the acidity additional class. Which one is required in fire detection, emergency lighting and evacuation systems is determined by the project and the fire regulation. The details are in the article is halogen-free cable fire-resistant.
Brands in this category
In power cables, products from Nexans, HES, Prysmian, Koç, Öznur and Ünal predominate; in control, signal, fire and data cables, products from Reçber, Birtaş and Mekas predominate. Ready-made connection cables with plugs are listed under the Bylion brand.
Order notes
- Most cables are sold by the meter; ready-made cables whose length is stated in the product name (for example a 15 m encoder cable, a 20 m connection cable with plug) are sold by the piece.
- Each cross-section, core count and color of the same cable type is a separate product.
- Some of the products are listed as made to order; for these the lead time is confirmed before the order is placed.
- For ready-made cables, the product name carries the manufacturer stock code (such as 7203250015, GEK-15-GU-KLY); you can reach the product by typing the code into the search box.
Cable Main Groups and Application Comparison Table
| Cable Group | Representative Cable Types | Voltage and Construction | Typical Application | Category Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Voltage Power Cables | NYA, NYAF, NYM, TTR, NYY, N2XH | 300/500 V – 0.6/1 kV · Cu / Al | Building wiring, panel feeders, underground and industrial power distribution | Low-Voltage Cables |
| Low-Current, Control & Signal Cables | YSLY (JZ/OZ), LIYCY, LIHCH, Cat6, J-Y(St)Y | 300/500 V · Shielded / unshielded multi-core | Industrial automation, PLC signaling, machine control and data networks | Low-Current Cables |
| Fire-Resistant & Halogen-Free Cables | NHXMH, N2XH, JE-H(St)H FE180/PH120 | LSZH (Low smoke zero halogen) · FE180 | Hospitals, malls, tunnels, fire alarm and emergency life-safety circuits | Fire Cables |
| Special, Solar & Silicone Cables | H1Z2Z2-K (Solar), H05SS-F (Silicone), Flat Crane | UV, ozone and +180 °C heat resistant | Solar PV plants, industrial ovens/furnaces and overhead crane festoons | Special Cables |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the cable outer diameter and weight per meter?
Outer diameter and weight are not a single fixed value; they are approximate values that vary slightly by manufacturer and are given per cross-section in the manufacturer's datasheet. For example, the HES datasheet gives an outer diameter of about 10.5 mm and a weight of 180 kg/km for 3x2.5 mm² NYM. For gland, conduit and cable trunking dimensions and for reel weight calculations, the datasheet of the brand purchased is the basis.
What is the difference between NYA, NYAF, NYM, NYY and TTR?
NYA and NYAF are unsheathed single-core cables with a rigid and a fine-stranded conductor respectively; they are used inside conduit, trunking or panels. NYM (antigron) is a sheathed multicore cable for fixed installation inside buildings. NYY is a power cable in the 0.6/1 kV class, laid underground and in cable trunking. TTR (H05VV-F) is a sheathed flexible cable with a fine-stranded conductor and is used for portable device connections.
When is a shielded cable needed?
When the signal must be protected from external noise, or when the cable must be prevented from spreading noise to its surroundings. Typical examples are the power cable between a frequency converter and a motor, analog measurement signals, encoders and communication lines. Among control cables, YSLY is unshielded and YSLCY is shielded; among signal cables, LIYY is unshielded and LIYCY is shielded. How the shield is grounded is determined by the device manufacturer's instructions.
In what order is the cable cross-section determined?
First the load current of the circuit is calculated. Then it is checked that the current the cable can carry with that installation method, at the ambient temperature and together with the neighboring circuits meets the load current. The third step is the voltage drop according to line length; on long lines this mostly determines the cross-section. Finally, short-circuit withstand strength and compatibility with the protective device are verified. The exact cross-section is given by the project calculation.
What changes if a cable with aluminum conductors is chosen instead of copper?
The conductivity of aluminum is lower than that of copper; in HES datasheets the DC resistance of a 16 mm² conductor at 20 °C is given as 1.15 Ω/km for copper and 1.91 Ω/km for aluminum. For this reason a larger cross-section is needed for the same current, though the cable still stays lighter. Cable lugs suitable for aluminum, or bimetallic ones, are used in the connections. The aluminum-conductor NAYY and NA2XH types are under low voltage cables.