jacket. The lightweight cable is covered by Military
Specification MIL-C-24640.
TYPES AND SIZE DESIGNATIONS
OF CABLES
Shipboard electrical cables are identified according
tot type and size. Type designations consist of letters to
indicate construction and/or use. Size designations
Figure 2-1.--Construction of low-smoke cable (typical).
consist of a number or numbers to indicate the size of
the conductor(s) in circular mil area, number of
conductors, or number of pairs of conductors,
The new design conforms to rigid toxic and smoke (fig.
depending upon the type of cable.
2-1) indexes to effectively reduce the hazards associated
The first part of the cable designation is the type
with the old design. This new family of cables is
letters, such as LS for low smoke. In most cases, the
electrically and dimensionally interchangeable with
number of conductors in a cable identification includes
silicone-glass insulated cables of equivalent sizes. This
up to four conductors; for example, S--single
cable is covered by Military Specification
conductor, D--double conductor, T--three conductor,
MIL-C-24643.
and F--four conductor. For cables with more than four
A family of lightweight cables has been introduced
conductors, the number of conductors is usually
to help eliminate excessive weight from the fleet.
indicated by a number following the type letters. In this
Considering the substantial amount of cable present on
latter case, the letter M is used to indicate multiple
a ship or submarine, a reduction in cable weight will
conductor.
impact on the overall load and improve performance and
increase efficiency. This new family of lightweight
The new LS cable identification is shown in table
2-1. Two examples of common shipboard cable
cables is constructed from cross-linked polyalkene and
designations are as follows:
micapolmide insulation and a cross-linked polyolefin
LSTHOF-42
LSTSGU/A-9
LS
LS -- Low smoke
-- Low smoke
T
-- Three conductors
T -- Three conductors
SG -- Extruded silicone rubber and glass insulation, HO -- Heat and oil-resistant
cross-linked polyolefin jacket
F
-- Flexible: ethylene propylene rubber
insulation, cross-linked polyolefin jacket
42
-- Cross-sectional area in circular mils (column 5)
U
-- Unarmored
A
-- Armored
9
-- Cross-sectional area in circular mils (column 5)
2-2
