Steele Wire Armoured (SWA)

A robust cable frequently used for exterior wiring, where it may be buried directly into the soil, or suspended from a catenary wire. It consists of a number of individually insulated conductors covered next with a flexible bedding, then by a spiral screen of galvanised steel wires, and finally by a tough outer sheath. The insulating materials used typically being PVC or XLPE thermosetting plastic (the latter having a higher temperature rating, hence allowing the cable to carry a larger maximum current for a given conductor size). PVC Sheathed version if to BS 6346, XLPE-sheathed version is to BS 5467, and the low smoke version is to BS 6724.

  • For outdoor & garden use.
  • Available in 2, 3, 4, & 5 core versions.
  • Must be terminated using the correct glands.
  • May use the steel wire armour for the circuit earth / CPC in place of, or in addition to a core.

Cable Sizes & current carrying capacity (stranded copper conductors) BS 5467 XLPE Insulation

Conductor area (mm²)

Current carrying capacity (A)
for cables “clipped direct”

Overall diameter (mm)

2 core
70°C PVC

3 or 4 core
70°C PVC

2 core
90°C XLPE

3 or 4 core
90°C XLPE

2 core

3 core

4 core

1.5

21

18

27

23

12.1

12.8

13.3

2.5

28

25

36

31

13.6

14.1

15.0

4

38

33

49

42

14.7

15.3

16.4

6

49

42

62

53

15.9

16.6

18.7

10

67

58

85

73

18.0

19.5

21.1

16

89

77

110

94

20.4

21.6

23.4

 

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