Status Report on PVC Cables

&
Conductor

Prepared by
Small Industries Service Institute
Ministry of SSI & ARI, Govt. of India
Advisor Choumuhani, Krishnanagar Road, Agartala - 799 001 Tripura
Phone (0381) 232 6570

Contents

Page No.
Topic

Introduction 1
 Product Description 1–2

Objective of the Reports 2

Methodology 2

Status of industry 2–3

Status of Technology 3–9

(Machinery & Equipments)

Quality Control 9 – 10

Problems of Industry & Suggestions 11 – 12

Status of working PVC Cable units 13

1) Introduction:

PVC insulated cables & wires are the ultimate medium for the distribution of electricity. The PVC
cables are used for the power distribution in all types of electric wiring, control cables, telephone cables and
signaling in Railways. The PVC cable has mostly replaced VIR and CTS cable in domestic as well as
industrial wiring due to its long life, moisture resistance, etc.

The individual insulated conductors are covered with PVC coatings providing additional electrical and
mechanical protection. The cables are suitable for use in sub-station, distribution systems, industrial
installation, house wiring and street lighting, etc.

House wire is the simplest of cables and most basic in its construction, manufacture and use. It
consists of only two components, viz. conductor (mostly copper) and insulation (mostly PVC) involving three
operations – wire drawing, stranding, bunching and extrusion. Before the advent and subsequent extensive
use of vinyl compound as insulating materials, vulcanized rubber was most commonly used insulating
material for domestic wire as it was for other types of cables. It served the industry and the users very well for
several decades until replaced by PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride).

2) Product description:
There are varieties of cables being in present usage depending on specific conditions likely to effect.
The manufacturing range covers power and control cables, thermocouple extension and compensating
cables that find application in various industries and projects. The various cable ranges in existence are as
summarized below:
 i) Single and multicore flexible cables
ii) Control and power cables,
iii) Instrumentation, RTD cables,
iv) Thermocouple extension and compensating cables,
v) Computer LAN co-axial and data communication cables,
vi) Security and alarm cables,
vii) Lead wires and high voltage ignition cables,
viii) Rubber cables – VIR / TRS / EPR, PCP / CSP silicon rubber cables,
ix) Welding cables,
x) Material handling equipment cables, lift cables,
xi) Marine and offshore cables,
xii) High temperature cables – FG, Asbestos, Silicon, Teflon Mica and Ceramic Cables,
xiii) FRL and Zero Halogen LSF fire survival cables,

3) Objective of the Report:

The main objective of this report is to highlight the industry of PVC Cable industry in small scale
sector in Tripura and the infrastructural facility available in the state, to estimate the scope of future
development, the requirement of industry, to put forth the problems faced by small scale units and to provide
basic information to the prospective entrepreneurs who desire to set up such industry in Tripura State and
put latest range of product, technological development in the field of cable industry for the existing industries.

4) Methodology:
For preparation of the report assistance was taken from Directorate of Industries, Govt. of Tripura,
District Industries Centre of State for collecting the name and address and latest inclusion of new small scale
units so that the exact details of PVC cable unit may collected. Efforts were also made to collect data from
individual unit but the response was limited. Data collected through DIC and local units through personal visit
and observations were analyzed and used for preparation of this report.

5) Status of Industry:
PVC cable industry is one of the oldest and conventional industry in the country. It is dominated by
the Manufacturer in organized sector like HMT, Nicco Cable, Bharatcab, Polycab, Finolex, Anchor, Havells,
Newcab, Cable Corporation of India, Skytone, Phonix, Plaza, etc. and the same is flooded in the market.
However, the local small scale PVC cable unit has got a pretty good market to cater the demand. The brand
from small scale sectors are also capturing substantial good share of domestic market.
In small scale sector, there are as per record available, five numbers of registered units
manufacturing PVC cables in the state of Tripura. Out of five, one cable unit namely M/s. North Hill Wire and
Cable Industry, Industrial Estate, Mission Tilla, Dharmanagar is situated in North Tripura and remaining four
small scale units are situated in west Tripura. There are two more small scale units i.e. besides five above
manufacturing conductors and stranded wires. All the cable and conductor units have come into existence
within a last decade only. Most of the cable manufacturers are making PVC unarmoured cables of the range
from 1.5 sq.mm to 50 sq. mm in single core to multicore as per the local demand of State Electricity Board.
The present units are not sufficient to meet the demand of Power Department only. So none is trying to
capture the demand of surrounding states in North Eastern Region rather the local demand of PVC cable is
met by Kolkata and Guwahati where the concentration of PVC cable exists in abundance.

The EC grade aluminum wire / copper wire is fed into extruder. As the wire passes through the die in
the PVC extruder, an uniform coating of PVC is obtained all round the wire. This is in passed through a cold
water which helps to cool the wire. The wire is then passed through spark tester continuously for testing the
insulating strength of PVC coating. The name of manufacturer is printed on the cable after its emergence
from the extruder and before cooling. The wire is coiled in the length of 100 metres on the take off system
and then tested as per standard BIS specification.

The PVC cable are manufactured and tested as per IS – 694: 1990.

6) Status of Technology:
In the manufacturing of PVC cable of different ranges and qualities the basic process of
manufacturing adopted by small scale units are almost similar everywhere. Only some units are adopting
good and systematic stepwise process which includes annealing and wire drawing process where as most
others are adopting extrusion process.
 The EC grade aluminum wire / copper wire is fed into extruder. As the wire passes through the die in
the PVC extruder, an uniform coating of PVC is obtained all round the wire. This is in passed through cold
water which helps to cool the wire. The wire is then passed through spark tester continuously for testing the
insulating strength of PVC coating. The name of manufacturer is printed on the cable after its emergence
from the extruder and before cooling. The wire is coiled in the length of 100 metres on the take off system
and then tested as per standard BIS specification. The PVC cable are manufactured and tested as per IS –
694: 1990.

Machinery & Equipments In Use

The plant and machinery required to carry out the manufacturing process of PVC cables are listed
below:

Production Machinery:
i) PVC extruder 65 MM complete with cooling through, take off and take up system.
ii) Wire straightening equipment.
iii) Embossing roll for embossing name of manufacturer, size, voltage, grade, etc.
iv) Coil winding and length measuring machine,
v) Extrusion dies and nozzles, etc.
vi) Annealing pit furnace,

Testing Equipment:
i) Continuous spark tester 0 to 11 KV, 1 KVA,
ii) Kelvin’s double bridge,
iii) Insulation tester 500 V DC
iv) Million Megohm Meter,
v) Tensile testing machine (50 – 100 – 500 kg)
vi) High voltage test set ( 0 – 10 KV AC)
vii) Ageing test apparatus for shrinkage and hot deformation,
viii) Fire resistance test apparatus,
ix) Thermostatically control hot water bath,
x) Traveling microscope,
xi) Micrometer (0 to 25 mm),
xii) Miscellaneous equipment calipers etc.,

House wiring PVC Cable specification is covered by IS – 694 – 1990, BS – 6004 – 1990 (British) and
various international specification which are more or less similar except for some dimensional, voltage grade
and test parameters.

Conductor :
Copper is the most acceptable metal for conductor as it has got good conductivity, higher tensile
strength and higher ductility and it can be drawn into extremely fine sizes. The jointing of copper conductor is
also easy. The conductor material is generally electrolytically refined 99.99% pure copper drawn into fine wire
and annealed as per IS : 8130 – 1984. The selection of conductor is based on three important considerations
– size, stranding and strand construction. There is a recent trend amongst some of the leading manufacturer
of house wire to do away with bunching / stranding and insulate the wire in a group, laid side –by-side
parallel to each other in an effort to eliminate the process of bunching / stranding and got down the
manufacturing cost at the cost of flexibility and advantages that bestows on the conductor.

a) Size: Size is considered with due regard to DC resistance, current carrying capacity and breaking
load requirement.

b) Stranding / Bunching: Stranding is related to flexibility and was developed as a meance is

overcoming the rigidity of solid wires. For any given conductor size, greater the number of strands with
corresponding decrease in the individual strand diameter, the more flexibility and more costly the
conductor. Flexibility of the insulated finished wire , however, is affected not only by the conductor
flexibility, but also by the type and thickness of the insulation.

c) Strand construction: It is influenced by flexibility requirement and generally cover the following two
types stranded and Bunched.
 A stranded conductor is of true concentric configuration composed of a central wire
surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid wire with two director lay revered for successive layers.
Unless otherwise specified the direction of the lay of the other layer is right hand. For House Wire the
stranded conductor is a 7 wire strand composed of layer of 6 wires around the central wire bunch
conductor is composed of any number of wires twisted together in the strand direction without regard to
geometrical arrangement of individual wire.

Bunching of standing imparts following distinctive characteristics to the conductor.

· Greater cohesiveness of individual wire strand,

· Greater flexibility,
· Marginal increase in DC resistance.

d) Greater Cohesiveness:
Bunched / stranded conductors provide easy termination and good contact because of twisted wires
acting as an single conductor. In the case of straight wires without bunching / stranding as soon as the
insulation is stripped off to bare the conductor, wires false up and there is a need to twist them together
before inserting in the terminal hole. It is time consuming and does not ensure uniform twisting and hence
proper electrical contact. An electrician not careful enough may do a bad termination job. Improper / loose
contact can cause sparking and localized heating / temperature rise leading to short circuit. Its importance
can be judged by the simple fact that and more housewiring is now done in concealed conduits. Any short
circuit / cable failure can cause building fire, as witnessed in recent times resulting in loss of human lives
and crores of worth properties.

e) Flexibility:
It means, when the bunch / strand is bent, individual strand will stay in place without getting disturbed
because of the bending radius. So, greater the flexibility, shorter the bending radius. A bunched or stranded
conductor can be handled with greater care during the various operations in the manufacture of cable and
the subsequent installation without any effect on the shape distortion, flaring of individual strand, kink etc. It
is of particular importance while putting the cable through conduct during installation as flexibility tends itself
to easy and faster pulling through conducts and around corners.

As per IS: 8130 the degree of flexibility is defined by class number which determines the conductor
construction. Flexible copper conductor for house wire is either class 2 or 5 and the size most commonly
used are 1.0 to 6.0 mm2

f) DC Resistance:
It is directly related to the stranding factor resulting in an increase in the length of the individual
strand. The increase being generally of the order of 1 to 2% is depending on the lay length of wires. In
bunches, the increase is 0.5% to 1.0% and in the case of strand it is upto 2%. The resulting increase in DC
resistance of the same proportion, however, is negligible compared to other advantages further conductor
resistance as per IS, BS, IEC, ISO, etc. have been standardized considering the stranding factor.

g) Insulation:
PVC is the most accepted plastic material for cable insulation the low / medium voltage grade as it has
got better mechanical, electrical, weather proof, flame retarding and chemical resisting properties.
Polyethylene has better electrical properties than PVC but because of certain shortcoming vig. Flame
supporting characteristic and poor resistance of radiation, it cannot be used. These draw backs are overcome
in some international specifications by using polyethylene as insulation and PVC as outer sheath of
particular significance is flame retarding characteristic of PVC considering the extensive use of electrical
appliances and electronics gadgets in household now a days.

PVC insulation material as per IS – 5831 is type A. the specification laid down by Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) sufficiently guarantees electrical and physical properties for safe insulation. However, PVC is
a very versatile material and its electrical and physical properties can be manipulated a wide range of
compounding ingredients. Thus a particular PVC formulation may pass in all the tests and meet performance
characteristics but its insulation resistance value may not be sufficiently higher to ensure high reliability and
long life. High grade PVC insulation provides safety, reliability and long life to the cable. It is here that role of
reputed manufacturers like Anchore, Incab, NICCO comes to the fore who ensures that the electrical and
physical properties of PVC insulation are much more higher than the minimum values specified by IS:694-
1990 with special emphasis on flame retarding and minimum smoke emission properties.

FRLS (Flame Retardant Low Smoke) cables are insulated with specially designed PVC compound
which has extra ordinary flame retardants and low smoke emission characteristic with higher oxygen contents
of more than 32% against the minimum specified value of 29% in the surrounding environment for the wire to
combust or alternatively the temperature of the surrounding environment must be very high (up to 400
degree centigrade against the minimum FRLS wire would not catch fire even at elevated temperatures under
normal atmospheric oxygen contents.

7) Latest trend:
With more and more high rice building coming up and as a rule concealed wiring in vogue, the
importance of safety against fire hazards caused by cable failure. Short circuit is more than ever before.
Awareness to use FRLS PVC insulated cable has met with success. Even the normal type PVC formulation
has been designed to have better flame retardant (FR) properties the low smoke and less fumes. Halogen
Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) wire is also available which is insulated with non vinyl based compound that
retards fire and does not emit halogen gases when it catches fire. This is the only advantages but at a
prohibitive cost. It is 40 – 50 % costlier than FRLS wire considering the real situation not only cost versus
benefit ration is very high but practically no benefit across. Wiring is done in conduct or casting and capping
manufactured out of ordinary PVC which is neither fire retardants nor non smoking. In fact, being ordinary
low cost PVC compound, in case of electrical fire, it is most prone to catch fire and dense toxic smoke
nullifying the halogen free characteristics of HFFR. Again telephone LAN, coeval and appliances cables
installed in a building are insulated with normal PVC compound. In the event of fire, these too burn and emit
smoke and halogen gases. So, the kind of safeguard one expects by wiring HFFR wire reality is not available.
The only common characteristic of FRLS and HFFR wire that offers protection is flame retardants property
and this is available equally in both types of cables. In the final analysis, no additional benefit in real terms by
using 40 to 50% costlier HFFR wire. In an example given is a better conductor than copper in house wire or
other most commonly used cables because of its prohibitive cost.
Profibus Cables with Integrated Supply Cores:
A Chainflex CF11 profibus cable with integrated supply cores is another special cable for mobile
energy supplies. The advantage of hybrid cable is in addition to the shielded bus elements four more power
supply cables can be integrated. These additional supply cores have a cross section of 1.5 mm2 each “Chain
flex typical” is the special design of the profibus cable.

The profibus elements must be stranded is a very short pitch length then equipped with a pressure
extruded inner-jacket and a two shields and finally stranded again with 4 addition supply cores in a very short
pitch length.

This is important to avoid failures caused by corkscrews and core ruptures. This often happens, when
its design is asymmetrical or where the structure is filled with fillers and foils. For this reason the extremely
abrasion fire TPE outer-jacket is extruded under high pressure into all intermediate spaces of the stranding –
this is another stabilization of chainflex cable.

The PVC and halogen free profibus hybrid cable is DESINA- conforming and releases under most
difficult applications energy chain bending radius of only 125 mm.
This corresponds to 10X D outside diameter at high accelerations and long travels. The CF11.02.02.15.0.40
PBA L.C.D- so the precise product is like other 634 tested of cables ex-works.

8) Quality Control:
The PVC cable for domestic purposes is manufactures and tested as per IS specification No. 694 –
1977 with latest amendments. PVC insulated (Heavy duty) electric cables are tested as per IS 1554 (Part I) –
1988 with latest amendments.

The following are the tests carried out as per respective specification:

Type test: Tests carried out to prove conformity with this standard. These are intended to prove the
general requirements, qualities of a given sample selected from a lot of production.
Routine test: Tests carried out on all the PVC cable to check requirement which are
likely to vary during

Acceptance test: Tests carried out on samples taken from a lot for the purpose of
acceptance of the lot
The following shall constitute type tests:
Sl. No. Tests For requirement Ref. to IS For test method Ref.
to IS:10810(Part No.)
a) Test on conductor
1 Annealing test (for copper IS: 8130 – 1984 1
2 Tensile test (for aluminum) IS: 8130 – 1984 2
3 Wrapping test (for aluminum) IS: 8130 – 1984 3
4 Conductor resistance test IS: 8130 – 1984 5
b) Test for armouring wires/strips Table 5 &IS3975-1979 36 to 42
C) Test for thickness of insulation and 9,12,14Table 2,4,7 6
sheath

d) Physical test for insulation &outer

seath
1) Tensile strength and elongation at IS-5831-1984 7
break
2) Ageing in air oven IS5831-1984 11
3) Shrinkage Test IS5831-1984 12
4) Hot Deformation IS5831-1984 15
5) Loss of mass in air oven IS5831-1984 10
6) Heat Shock Test IS5831-1984 14
7) Thermal Stability IS5831-1984 IS5831-1984
e) Insulation Resistance Test IS5831-1984 43
f) High Voltage Test(water immersion) 16.3 45
g) High Voltage test at room 16.2 45
temp.
h) Flammability Test 16.4 53

9) Problems of Industry & Suggestions:-

a) The non-availability of raw materials locally is major problem of all the small
scale sector PVC cable manufacturing units in the State of Tripura.
b) The PVC cable industry is capital intensive and they have to compete with large scale and
reputed branded manufacturer of Kolkata, Delhi. So finance is a problem in running a unit on day
to day basis. The unit for want of working capital and due to heavy competition on one side from
large houses and another from branded items from surrounding west Bengal are not in position to
organize regular selling network,
c) Tripura Govt. is purchasing 35% of its requirements from outside the state supplier and 65% from
local SSI of the State, in spite of unutilized capacity of local SSI in spite meeting quality
requirements. Hence, it results in sickness of PVC cable unit. This is as per Tripura Incentive
Scheme – 2002.
d) The PVC cable units are to pay 4% CST on procurement of raw material primarily Aluminum from
NALCO, BALCO, and HINDALCO besides transport charges from remote location. Hence, face
problems in competiting the rates quoted by others in the state as well as in other state
competition.
e) For transportation of Aluminum from NALCO (Orisa) to Tripura, the cost comes to Rs. 5.50 / kg.
under transport subsidy. It is because the rates have not been revised since long.
f) There is no recognized / BIS accredited test house to render type testing facilities for PVC cable
units. Hence the SS units have to rush to Kolkata only.
g) The delay in payment by Govt. Departments is the foremost problem of small scale units. There
are cases where payments have not been made to SS units even after one year or more from date
 of supply.
h) Shortage of skilled worker is also problem of local units.

There should be an single agency like Tripura Small Industries Corporation for procurement of basic
raw material i.e. Aluminum / Copper for distribution among SS units as per their production capacity which
will certainly reduce the burden of stocking of raw material by SS units and in turn reduce the overhead
cost thus it will make to units a healthy situation to fight the stiff competition (inter state competition). At
least there should be a policy that state requirements will be filled by local manufacturer so that optimum
capacity may be utilized.

For North Eastern Region a specific testing laboratory should be installed which may cater the
need of small scale units besides training of manpower and maintenance Otherwise for small
components and wear and tear, One has to rush for Kolkata and in turn increasing the overall cost.

STATUS OF PERMANENT SSI REGISTERED PVC CABLE UNITS IN TRIPURA

SSI Investment
Sl. Name and No. of Remarks
registration Product Plant & Working
No. address of unit worker Production
no. & date Machinery Capital
1 M/s.
Arundhuti
Cables, 4 sq.mm-
Industrial PVC 3600Km
Estate, A. D. 00793, insulated 2.5 sq.mm
5.5 20 5000Km
Nagar, dated & 12
lakhs lakhs
Agartala 25-4-90 sheathed
Partners : cable
Shri R. N.
Das, Shri
Kanak Jain
2 M/s. North 19010076, PVC 12 8 lakhs 2 No
Hill Wires dated Insulated lakhs production
Cable 04.9.93 cable then
Industry, declared
Industrial closed by
Estate, State
Mission Tilla, Govt.
Dharmanagar,
North Tripura
Prop. Shri Ajit
Nandi
3 M/s. Tripcon 00851, All - - - -
Dukli dated Alluminium
Industrial 30.6.90 conductor,
Estate, ACSR
Madhuban, Conductor
Ports Kamer
Tripura West.
Partner: Shri
P. P. Goel,
Shri Ajai Goel.
4 Basanti 19030186 ACC / 20 - - -
Cables & dated ACSR
Conductor(P) 15.5.93 conductor
Ltd.,
60/5, Central
Road,
 Agartala
Prop. Shri
Basant K.
Jain,
5 Maharishi 190301180 ACC / 12 - - -
Udyog, dated ACSR
Dhukli 30.4.94 conductor
Industrial
Estate,
Agartala,
Prop. Shri P.
P. Goel
6 M/s. 190301456 ACC / 7 - - -
Abhinandan dated ACSR
Enterprises, 10.7.2000 conductor
Industrial
Estate, A. D.
Nagar,
Agartala