Application & Operating Conditions
SANS 1520-2 Type 66 and Type 66-ECC are heavy-duty 3.8/6.6 kV flexible screened trailing, reeling, and section feeder cables engineered for hazardous-area underground distribution, medium-sized open-cast draglines, electric mining shovels, blast-hole drills, and movable pit substations across Southern African coal, platinum, iron-ore, and copper mines.
Open-Cast Shovels, Draglines & Drills
Tight 6 × OD minimum bending radius (301 mm to 499 mm) and open 16-string nylon reinforcement braid withstand dynamic reeling and pit-floor trailing up to 10.8 kN pulling tension.
Type 66: Three Insulated EPM Pilots
Incorporates three EPM-insulated interstitial pilot cores (10–25 mm²) alongside three composite nylon/tinned-copper phase screens (1.6–4.1 kA 1s earth-fault rating) for multi-channel pilot control.
Type 66-ECC: High-Fault Earth Continuity
Replaces one pilot core with an uninsulated Class 5 tinned copper ECC (16–120 mm²), cutting combined earth path resistance to 0.15–0.7 Ω/km and raising 1s earth-fault withstand to 3.6–17.0 kA.
How to Choose Between Type 66 and Type 66-ECC: Select Type 66 on Impedance-Earthed / Restricted Earth-Fault (NER) 6.6 kV mining networks where fault current is limited below 4.1 kA and all three interstitial pilots are required for control/interlock. Select Type 66-ECC on low-impedance or solidly earthed 6.6 kV section feeders and shovel circuits requiring up to 17.0 kA (1s) earth-fault clearance.
Cable Construction (SANS 1520-2 Type 66 & Type 66-ECC)
Both Type 66 and Type 66-ECC share identical outer diameters at every cross-section (50.1 mm to 83.1 mm), allowing standardized 6.6 kV coupler gland selection across pit fleets.
| Layer / Component | Material & SANS 1520-2 Engineering Specification |
|---|---|
| 1. Power Conductors | Class 5 flexible stranded tinned annealed copper to SANS 1411-1 (25 mm² to 240 mm²; 0.41 mm strands up to 50 mm², 0.51 mm strands from 70 to 240 mm²). |
| 2. Phase Insulation | Medium-voltage 3.8/6.6 kV thermosetting Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) dielectric compound to SANS 1411-3 rated for continuous +90 °C service. |
| 3. Composite Phase Screens | Individual composite braid of 0.31 mm tinned copper wires and nylon textile yarn (28 mm² to 50 mm² metallic screen area) with Red, Yellow, and Blue phase identification tracers. |
| 4. Interstitial Pilot Cores | Insulated with Ethylene Propylene Monomer (EPM) compound (10–25 mm²): three pilot cores in Type 66; two pilot cores in Type 66-ECC. |
| 5. Bare ECC Variant Core | Type 66-ECC only: one interstitial pilot core replaced with an uninsulated Class 5 stranded tinned copper Earth Continuity Conductor (16 mm² to 120 mm²) in continuous contact with the three phase screens. |
| 6. Inner Sheath & Nylon Braid | Extruded Polychloroprene (CR) inner sheath reinforced by an open nylon anti-torsion braid (minimum 16 strings) bonded to the outer jacket. |
| 7. Outer Sheath | Heavy-duty black Polychloroprene (CR) rubber outer sheath — oil resistant, UV and sunlight resistant, abrasion resistant, and flame retardant. |
SANS 1520-2 Type 66 & Type 66-ECC (25–240 mm²): 3 composite-screened 3.8/6.6 kV EPR power cores laid with 3 EPM pilot cores (Type 66) or 2 EPM pilot cores + 1 bare tinned copper ECC earth conductor (Type 66-ECC, illustrated), enclosed in CR inner sheath, 16-string open nylon braid, and black CR outer sheath.
Technical Characteristics
Electrical, thermal, mechanical, and short-circuit withstand parameters per SANS 1520-2 for 3.8/6.6 kV Type 66 and Type 66-ECC cables.
| Parameter | SANS 1520-2 Rated Value |
|---|---|
| Applicable Standards | SANS 1520-2; SANS 1411-1; SANS 1411-3 |
| Rated Voltage (Uo/U) | 3.8 / 6.6 kV AC |
| Operating Temperature Range | -25 °C to +90 °C |
| Minimum Bending Radius | 6 × Overall Cable Diameter (301 mm at 25 mm² to 499 mm at 240 mm²) |
| Ambient Current Rating Basis | 105 A (25 mm²) to 400 A (240 mm²) at 30 °C Ambient |
| Maximum Pulling Tension | 1.1 kN (25 mm²) up to 10.8 kN (240 mm²) |
| 1-Second Symmetrical S/C | 3.1 kA (25 mm²) up to 29 kA (240 mm²) |
| 1-Second Earth-Fault Rating | Screens Only (Type 66): 1.6–4.1 kA | Screens + ECC (Type 66-ECC): 3.6–17.0 kA |
SANS 1520-2 Type 66 & Type 66-ECC Complete Specification Tables (25–240 mm²)
Complete dimensional, ECC earth-conductor, mass (standardized to kg/km), impedance, current rating, and 1-second fault withstand tables for all nine 3.8/6.6 kV cross-sections.
1. SANS 1520-2 Type 66 (Standard 3-Pilot) — Dimensions, Screen Area, Tension & Nominal Weight (9 Sizes)
| Configuration (mm²) | Power Wire Dia. (mm) | Max. Cond. Dia. (mm) | Screen Wire Dia. (mm) | Screen Area (mm²) | Pilot Size (mm²) | Pilot Wire / Max. Dia. (mm) | Max. Tension (kN) | Overall Dia. (mm) | Nominal Weight (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 66 3×25 + 3×10 | 0.41 | 6.8 | 0.31 | 28 | 10 | 0.41 / 4.2 | 1.1 | 50.1 | 3,800 |
| Type 66 3×35 + 3×10 | 0.41 | 8.5 | 0.31 | 29 | 10 | 0.41 / 4.2 | 1.6 | 51.7 | 4,200 |
| Type 66 3×50 + 3×10 | 0.41 | 10.3 | 0.31 | 32 | 10 | 0.41 / 4.2 | 2.3 | 55.3 | 5,100 |
| Type 66 3×70 + 3×16 | 0.51 | 11.9 | 0.31 | 35 | 16 | 0.41 / 5.3 | 3.2 | 59.8 | 6,200 |
| Type 66 3×95 + 3×16 | 0.51 | 13.5 | 0.31 | 39 | 16 | 0.41 / 5.3 | 4.3 | 64.6 | 7,400 |
| Type 66 3×120 + 3×16 | 0.51 | 15.5 | 0.31 | 41 | 16 | 0.41 / 5.3 | 5.4 | 68.8 | 8,700 |
| Type 66 3×150 + 3×25 | 0.51 | 17.3 | 0.31 | 44 | 25 | 0.41 / 6.8 | 6.8 | 73.1 | 10,200 |
| Type 66 3×185 + 3×25 | 0.51 | 20.2 | 0.31 | 47 | 25 | 0.41 / 6.8 | 8.3 | 77.8 | 11,700 |
| Type 66 3×240 + 3×25 | 0.51 | 22.9 | 0.31 | 50 | 25 | 0.41 / 6.8 | 10.8 | 83.1 | 14,100 |
2. SANS 1520-2 Type 66-ECC (2 Pilots + 1 Bare ECC) — ECC Conductor Sizing & Nominal Weight (9 Sizes)
| Configuration (mm²) | Power Size (mm²) | Interstitial Pilots (mm²) | Bare ECC Size (mm²) | ECC Max. Wire Dia. (mm) | Overall Dia. (mm) | Max. Tension (kN) | Nominal Weight (kg/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 66-ECC 3×25 + 2×10 + 16ECC | 25 | 2 × 10 | 16 | 0.41 | 50.1 | 1.1 | 3,900 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×35 + 2×10 + 25ECC | 35 | 2 × 10 | 25 | 0.41 | 51.7 | 1.6 | 4,400 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×50 + 2×10 + 25ECC | 50 | 2 × 10 | 25 | 0.41 | 55.3 | 2.3 | 5,500 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×70 + 2×16 + 35ECC | 70 | 2 × 16 | 35 | 0.41 | 59.8 | 3.2 | 6,400 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×95 + 2×16 + 50ECC | 95 | 2 × 16 | 50 | 0.41 | 64.6 | 4.3 | 7,600 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×120 + 2×16 + 70ECC | 120 | 2 × 16 | 70 | 0.51 | 68.8 | 5.4 | 8,900 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×150 + 2×25 + 95ECC | 150 | 2 × 25 | 95 | 0.51 | 73.1 | 6.8 | 10,500 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×185 + 2×25 + 95ECC | 185 | 2 × 25 | 95 | 0.51 | 77.8 | 8.3 | 11,900 |
| Type 66-ECC 3×240 + 2×25 + 120ECC | 240 | 2 × 25 | 120 | 0.51 | 83.1 | 10.8 | 14,500 |
3. SANS 1520-2 Type 66 & 66-ECC — Electrical Resistance, Impedance, Current & 1s Short-Circuit Ratings
| Power Size (mm²) | DC Res. 20 °C (Ω/km) | DC Res. 90 °C (Ω/km) | Reactance (Ω/km) | Impedance 90 °C (Ω/km) | Min. Screen Res. (Ω/km) | Screen+ECC Res. (Ω/km) | Current @ 30 °C (A) | Sym. S/C 1s (kA) | Earth Fault Screens 1s (kA) | Earth Fault Screens+ECC 1s (kA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mm² | 0.795 | 1.05 | 0.124 | 1.06 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 105 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 3.6 |
| 35 mm² | 0.565 | 0.749 | 0.116 | 0.758 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 130 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 5.0 |
| 50 mm² | 0.393 | 0.521 | 0.109 | 0.532 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 160 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 5.0 |
| 70 mm² | 0.277 | 0.368 | 0.105 | 0.383 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 195 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 7.5 |
| 95 mm² | 0.210 | 0.279 | 0.101 | 0.297 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 230 | 11.6 | 4.1 | 9.0 |
| 120 mm² | 0.164 | 0.218 | 0.096 | 0.238 | 0.6 | 0.23 | 260 | 14.6 | 4.1 | 11.5 |
| 150 mm² | 0.132 | 0.176 | 0.092 | 0.199 | 0.6 | 0.18 | 300 | 18.3 | 4.1 | 14.0 |
| 185 mm² | 0.108 | 0.145 | 0.091 | 0.171 | 0.6 | 0.18 | 340 | 23 | 4.1 | 14.0 |
| 240 mm² | 0.0817 | 0.110 | 0.087 | 0.140 | 0.6 | 0.15 | 400 | 29 | 4.1 | 17.0 |
kg/km (3,800–14,500 kg/km, equivalent to 380–1,450 kg/100m) for consistent drum-torque and transport engineering across all SANS 1520 product pages.SANS 1520-1 & SANS 1520-2 South African Mining Cable Selection Matrix
Compare Type 66 & Type 66-ECC (3.8/6.6 kV) against lower-voltage 1.9/3.3 kV Type 63 and higher-voltage 11 kV (Type 611), 22 kV (Type 622), and 33 kV (Type 633) mining reeling cables.
| SANS 1520 Model | Voltage, Core & Pilot Architecture & Primary Mining Duty |
|---|---|
| SANS 1520-1 Type 41 (640/1100V) | SANS 1520-1 Type 41 (640/1100V): 640/1100 V 4-core (3 composite-screened power cores + 1 unscreened pilot, 2.5–25 mm²) CR-sheathed reeling & trailing cable for drills, pumps, and portable underground tools. |
| SANS 1520-1 Type 61A (640/1100V TPU) | SANS 1520-1 Type 61A (640/1100V TPU): 640/1100 V heavy-duty 6-core (3 composite-screened power cores + 3 interstitial pilots) reeling & trailing cable with abrasion-resistant TPU outer sheath (black or reflective transparent). |
| SANS 1520-1 Type 61B (0.64/1.1kV) | SANS 1520-1 Type 61B (0.64/1.1kV): 0.64/1.1 kV 6-core (35–150 mm²) non-reeling coalface cable with triple-extruded RD 3 EPR, 80% tinned copper braid screens, 3 interstitial pilots, and RS 6 CR sheaths. |
| SANS 1520-2 Type 63 (1.9/3.3kV) | SANS 1520-2 Type 63 (1.9/3.3kV): 1.9/3.3 kV medium-voltage 6-core (25–240 mm², up to 520 A) composite-screened reeling & trailing cable for 3.3 kV continuous miners, shearers, and jumbo drills. |
| SANS 1520-2 Type 66 & 66-ECC (3.8/6.6kV) (This Product) | 3.8/6.6 kV screened reeling & section feeder cable (25–240 mm²) with 3 interstitial pilots (Type 66) or 2 pilots + 1 bare ECC earth conductor up to 17.0 kA 1s (Type 66-ECC). |
| SANS 1520-2 Type 611 & 611-ECC (6.35/11kV) | SANS 1520-2 Type 611 & 611-ECC (6.35/11kV): 6.35/11 kV medium-voltage dragline, shovel, and reeling cable (25–240 mm²) with triple-extruded EPR insulation, strippable semi-con screen, and CR outer sheath. |
| SANS 1520-2 Type 622 & 622-ECC (12.7/22kV) | SANS 1520-2 Type 622 & 622-ECC (12.7/22kV): 12.7/22 kV heavy-duty open-cast dragline, excavator, and mobile pit substation feeder cable (25–150 mm²) in 3-pilot or high-fault ECC topology. |
| SANS 1520-2 Type 633 & 633-ECC (19/33kV) | SANS 1520-2 Type 633 & 633-ECC (19/33kV): 19/33 kV highest-voltage SANS 1520-2 screened reeling & pit feeder cable (25–120 mm²) delivering up to ~14.8 MVA three-phase bench capacity. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Engineering FAQs covering Type 66 vs Type 66-ECC earth-fault sizing, bending radii, and coupler interchangeability.
What does “-ECC” stand for in SANS 1520-2 Type 66-ECC?
ECC stands for Earth Continuity Conductor. In standard Type 66, all three outer interstices contain EPM-insulated pilot cores and earth-fault return relies on the three composite tinned-copper/nylon phase screens (1.6–4.1 kA 1s). In Type 66-ECC, one insulated pilot core is replaced by an uninsulated Class 5 tinned copper conductor (16–120 mm²) laid in direct contact with the three phase screens, elevating 1-second earth-fault withstand to 3.6–17.0 kA.
Do Type 66 and Type 66-ECC use the same 6.6 kV mining plugs and glands?
Yes. At every conductor cross-section from 25 mm² (50.1 mm OD) to 240 mm² (83.1 mm OD), Type 66 and Type 66-ECC maintain identical overall cable diameters, allowing mines to use the same 6.6 kV flameproof or open-cast coupler housings.
Why is the minimum bending radius of Type 66 rated at 6 × OD while Type 611 (11 kV) is 9 × OD?
At 3.8/6.6 kV, the EPR insulation wall thickness permits a tighter 6 × overall diameter bending radius without overstressing the dielectric screen interface. From 6.35/11 kV upward (Type 611, Type 622, Type 633), triple-extruded medium-voltage EPR walls require 9 × OD to prevent semi-conducting screen separation under dynamic flexing.
How is SANS 1520-2 Type 66 different from UK BS 6708 Type 730 (3.8/6.6 kV)?
While both are unarmoured 3.8/6.6 kV screened trailing cables, BS 6708 Type 730 uses a 4-lobe core lay-up around a central earth conductor with one pilot core, whereas South African SANS 1520-2 Type 66 / 66-ECC uses a symmetric 6-core trefoil + 3-interstice geometry reinforced by an open 16-string nylon braid.
Request a Quote for SANS 1520-2 Type 66 or Type 66-ECC (3.8/6.6 kV)
Specify Type 66 (3 pilots) or Type 66-ECC (2 pilots + bare ECC), conductor cross-section (25–240 mm²), and drum cut lengths for direct TEBAOFLEX factory pricing.
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