Cable Types & Ratings

Cable construction and electrical ratings

Choose the right cable type for the application

European and North American cables use different names and conductor sizes. The cable code gives useful information, but it does not give the full rating of a finished power cord.

Quick rule The complete cord is limited by its lowest-rated part: mains plug, IEC plug, connector, cable, conductor size, terminals or approval.

How to read a European cable code

European harmonised cable names follow a simple system. This example shows the main parts of H05VV-F 3G1.0 mm².

H Harmonised cable type

05 300/500 V cable class

V / V PVC insulation / PVC sheath

-F Flexible, fine-stranded conductors

3G1.0 3 cores including earth, each 1.0 mm²

G means that the cable includes a green/yellow protective-earth conductor. X means that it does not.

Common European cable types

These cable types are common in European power cords. All four types below are normally marked 300/500 V. Temperature values can vary with the exact standard, material compound, manufacturer and movement conditions.

Cable type	Construction	Temperature guide	Typical use	Important point
H05VV-FSTANDARD PVC	PVC core insulation and PVC outer sheath	Usually up to 70 °C at the conductor*	Standard indoor IT, office and appliance connections	Not intended for direct contact with hot parts or permanent outdoor use
H05V2V2-FHEAT-RESISTANT PVC	Heat-resistant PVC core insulation and outer sheath	Up to 90 °C at the conductor*	Warm indoor areas and many C15 high-temperature cords	Higher temperature rating than H05RR-F, but not a 120 °C cable
H05RR-FRUBBER	Rubber core insulation and rubber outer sheath	Often -25 to +60 °C in flexible use*	Flexible connections, damp areas and light mechanical stress	Choose it for rubber construction and flexibility, not for a higher heat rating
H05Z1Z1-FLSZH	Low-smoke, halogen-free core insulation and outer sheath	Product-specific; often 60–70 °C service maximum*	Projects that specify low-smoke, halogen-free materials	LSZH does not mean fire-resistant or circuit-integrity cable

The drawings show a basic three-core construction only. They are not to scale, and actual jacket colours can be different.

*These values are a selection guide, not a product certificate. Always check the specification of the exact cable and finished cord.

Cable temperature and connector temperature are different A C15 connector is designed for a C16 inlet with a maximum pin temperature of 120 °C. This does not mean that the cable or the complete cord can operate at 120 °C. For example, H05V2V2-F cable is normally rated up to 90 °C at the conductor.

Conductor size and current

A larger conductor can carry more current, but conductor size alone does not set the rating of a finished cord.

Metric marking	Meaning	Common MK Cable use	What to check
3G0.75 mm²	Three cores including earth; each conductor is 0.75 mm²	Many standard C14 to C13 cords	Exact cord rating, length, connectors and approval
3G1.0 mm²	Three cores including earth; each conductor is 1.0 mm²	C14 to C13, C14 to C15 and selected locking cords	A 1.0 mm² cable does not automatically change a 10 A connector limit
3G1.5 mm²	Three cores including earth; each conductor is 1.5 mm²	Many 16 A C20 to C19 cords	The complete cord must still be rated and approved for 16 A

North American cords use different cable names and AWG sizes. The next section explains the main differences.

North American cable types and AWG

North American flexible cords use UL and CSA cable names. SJT is common in data-centre, IT and industrial power cords.

S Service cord family

J Junior service, 300 V class

T Thermoplastic insulation and jacket

O Oil-resistant outer jacket, when present

W Weather-resistant, when present

Example: SJTOW 3 x 14 AWG is a three-conductor, 14 AWG, 300 V flexible cord with thermoplastic materials, an oil-resistant outer jacket and a weather-resistant rating. Always check the full cable print and approval.

Cable type	Basic meaning	Typical use	Important point
SJT	300 V junior-service cord with thermoplastic insulation and jacket	Indoor IT, data-centre, appliance and industrial cordsets	Standard SJT does not add an outdoor or oil-resistant rating
SJTW	SJT construction with a weather-resistant rating	Indoor or outdoor cords where the exact product is approved for the environment	Check the wet-location, temperature and sunlight markings
SJTOW	SJT with an oil-resistant outer jacket and weather resistance	More demanding industrial and outdoor applications	The exact oil and environmental rating must be confirmed
SVT	Lighter thermoplastic flexible cord, normally 300 V	Smaller appliances, office equipment and many 18 AWG cordsets	SVT is not the same mechanical-use class as SJT

AWG and mm² are different systems

AWG numbers work in reverse: a lower AWG number means a larger conductor. The mm² values below show nominal copper area only. They are not direct product equivalents.

AWG size	Nominal area	Example SJT cable ampacity*	Common finished-cord limit
18 AWG	About 0.823 mm²	10 A	Often 10 A, depending on both ends and approval
16 AWG	About 1.31 mm²	13 A	Often up to 13 A with suitable components
14 AWG	About 2.08 mm²	18 A	Commonly 15 A when the plug or connector is the limit
12 AWG	About 3.31 mm²	25 A	Commonly 20 A when the plug or connector is the limit

*These are common ampacity examples for listed three-conductor North American flexible cable. They are not automatic cordset ratings. Temperature, length, plug, IEC connector and the approval of the finished cord can reduce the allowed current.

SJT compared with harmonised cable

SJT and H05VV-F can look similar and can be used for similar products. They are not direct equivalents.

Point	North American system	European harmonised system
Common types	SJT, SJTW, SJTOW, SVT	H05VV-F, H05V2V2-F, H05RR-F, H05Z1Z1-F
Main cable standards	UL 62 and CSA C22.2 No. 49	EN 50525 and related national approvals
Size marking	AWG; lower number means larger wire	mm²; larger number means larger conductor area
Voltage class	SJT and SVT are normally 300 V cable types	H05 types are normally marked 300/500 V
Finished-cord approval	UL/cUL or CSA approval for the exact cord	Required plug, cable and cordset approvals for the destination country
Can one replace the other?	Only when the finished cord has the required North American approval	Only when the finished cord has the required European or national approval

Why current ratings can be different

The same IEC connector shape can have a different finished-cord rating under a different approval system. These examples show common MK Cable configurations.

Cord example	Cable	Typical finished-cord rating	Main reason for the limit
C14 to C13	H05VV-F 3G0.75 or 3G1.0 mm²	Up to 10 A / 250 V	Harmonised cordset and IEC connector rating
C14 to C13	18/3 SJT	Commonly 10 A / 250 V	18 AWG conductors or another cord component
C14 to C13	14/3 SJT	Up to 15 A / 250 V with the correct UL/cUL approval	Approved plug and connector rating
NEMA 5-15 to C13	18/3 SJT or SVT	Commonly 10 A / 125 V	18 AWG conductors or connector rating
NEMA 5-15 to C19	14/3 SJT	Up to 15 A / 125 V	NEMA 5-15 plug
C20 to C19	H05VV-F 3G1.5 mm²	Up to 16 A / 250 V	Harmonised IEC connector rating
C20 to C21	12/3 SJT	Up to 20 A / 250 V with the correct UL/cUL approval	Approved C20/C21 components

These are practical examples, not a universal rating table. Always use the current and voltage printed on the exact finished cord and shown in its approval documents.

More amperes do not always mean more power Power depends on both current and voltage. At the normal supply voltage, 10 A at 230 V is about 2.3 kW, while 15 A at 120 V is about 1.8 kW. The equipment, branch circuit and complete cord must all support the load.

Choose by application

Standard indoor use PVC

H05VV-F

A common choice for standard indoor power connections where there is no special heat, rubber or LSZH requirement.

Common: Servers, switches, monitors and office equipment

Check: Current, length, conductor size and connectors

View C14 to C13 cords

Higher temperature Heat-resistant PVC

H05V2V2-F

Use when the equipment and working conditions require a higher cable temperature rating than standard PVC or H05RR-F.

Common: C14 to C15 cords for equipment with a C16 inlet

Check: Complete cord temperature and equipment requirement

View C14 to C15 cords

Rubber construction Flexible use

H05RR-F

Use when the specification asks for rubber or when flexibility, damp conditions and light mechanical stress are important.

Common: Custom cords and selected appliance connections

Check: Mechanical load, outdoor limits and exact temperature range

Ask for a rubber cord

Low smoke Halogen-free

H05Z1Z1-F

Use when the project specification requires low-smoke, halogen-free materials for the power cord.

Common: Data centres, public buildings and specified installations

Check: Required fire tests, approvals and exact product documents

View C14 to C13 options

North American approval SJT / AWG

SJT and SVT

Use a North American cable type when the project needs UL/cUL or CSA-approved cord construction and AWG conductor sizes.

Common: NEMA cords, IEC jumper cords, data centres and IT equipment

Check: AWG size, current, voltage, cable suffixes and full cord approval

View NEMA power cords

Five checks before ordering

Connection

Check both ends

Identify the power-source outlet and the inlet on the equipment.

Open the IEC connector guide

Electrical load

Check current and voltage

Use the rating of the exact finished cord, not only the cable or connector value.

Environment

Check heat and materials

Confirm temperature, indoor or outdoor use, moisture and mechanical stress.

Cable size

Check size and length

Longer cords and higher loads may need a larger conductor. Check the exact specification.

Documentation

Check approvals

Confirm the approval and product documents required for the destination country.

Cable questions

Is H05V2V2-F more heat-resistant than H05RR-F?

Yes. H05V2V2-F is a heat-resistant PVC cable normally rated up to 90 °C at the conductor. H05RR-F rubber cable is commonly specified up to 60 °C in flexible use. Always check the exact product file.

Does a C15 connector make the complete cord suitable for 120 °C?

No. The 120 °C value is the maximum IEC pin temperature for the C15/C16 interface. The cable, terminals and complete cord can have a lower temperature limit.

Does 3G1.5 mm² always mean 16 A?

No. The plug, connector, cable length, terminals and approval must also support 16 A. The lowest-rated part sets the rating of the complete cord.

Is LSZH cable fire-resistant?

Not automatically. LSZH describes low-smoke and halogen-free material behaviour. It does not mean that the cable keeps working during a fire. Check the exact fire-performance requirement.

Can H05VV-F be used outdoors?

Standard H05VV-F is mainly for indoor use and is not intended for permanent outdoor installation. Use outdoors only when the exact product specification allows it.

What does 3G1.0 mm² mean?

It means three conductors, including a green/yellow protective-earth conductor. Each conductor has a cross-section of 1.0 mm².

What does SJT mean?

SJT is a North American 300 V flexible-cord type. S identifies the service-cord family, J means junior service and T means thermoplastic insulation and jacket.

Is 18 AWG the same as 0.75 mm²?

No. 18 AWG has a nominal copper area of about 0.823 mm², but AWG and metric cables follow different construction and approval systems. Similar area does not make the products interchangeable.

Why can one C14 to C13 cord be 10 A and another 15 A?

The cable size and approval system can be different. A harmonised H05 cord is commonly rated up to 10 A, while an approved 14 AWG SJT cord can be rated up to 15 A. Use only the rating of the exact finished cord.

Can SJT replace H05VV-F?

Not automatically. The two cables use different standards, size systems and approvals. The complete cord must be approved for the destination country and application.

Need help choosing the cable type?

Send us the plug and connector, current, voltage, temperature, environment, length, colour, quantity and destination country.

Ask MK Cable