Cables & wires
Single core cables
Single core cables are popular for connecting electrical components. They are generally installed in protected positions, for example inside machines and apparatus or on lights. In building technology, single core cables are installed in tubes or cable ducts on or under plaster. Wiring with single core cables is standard in control cabinets. They make it possible to handle individual contacts with ease and to connect them in terminal blocks.
Colloquially, single corewires are often referred to as bell wire, jumper wire or flex. In the technical jargon, however, solid wire and stranded wire are two different things.
Difference between solid wire and stranded wire
Whereas solid wire refers to a single solid conductor, stranded wire consists of a number of fine wires. Stranded wires as single core cables can be bent flexibly, with little force and allow significantly more bending cycles than single core cables that consist of just one thick, rigid wire. Such highly flexible single core cables are used when the connection wire must be easy to move – for example for the connection of microphones, USB connectors and power supply units.
Single core cables in a rigid version lend themselves to permanent installation or wiring in a control cabinet, for example. The sheath is generally made of PVC for both types of wire.
Large selection of single core cables with different properties
Among the most versatile and most used single core cables are H05V-K and H07V-K cables. Both are fine-wired conductors with PVC insulation. They are approved up to 300/500 V (05) and 450/750 V (07) respectively. Due to their high degree of flexibility, they allow tight bending radii and many bending cycles. This type of single core cable is flexible in its use for many different tasks.
Other versatile single core cables are the halogen-free H05Z-K and H07Z-K cables. They are used where measures against the development of smoke and toxic and corrosive gases are necessary. This makes them suitable for places with a high volume of people, such as underground railways, hospitals, schools, offices and theatres. The all-rounders are available in the standard diameters as 1.5 mm2 single core cables, 2.5 mm2 and 10 mm2 single core cables.
Overview of the single core cables
| Type | What are the distinctive characteristics of this single core cable? |
| H05V-K | PVC 300 / 500 V Wide range of colours |
| H07V-K | PVC 450 / 700 V Wide range of colours |
| H05Z-K 90°C | PVC 300 / 500 V Halogen-free |
| H07Z-K 90°C | PVC 450 / 700 V Halogen-free |
| Multi Standard SC 2.1 | UL / CSA 600 V With approval |
| Ölflex FD 90 | PVC sheathed cable With approval |
| Silicone single core cable | SIF silicone Up to 180°C |
| H01N2-D welding leads | PVC sheathed cable Rubber cable |
| H07RN-F rubber single core cables | 450 / 750 V 100 / 100 V |
| NSSHÖU-O heavy rubber single core cables | 0.6 / 1 kV Yellow |
| NSGAFÖU rubber single core cables | 1.8 / 3 kV Black |
Specialised single core cables – perfect for your tasks
The well-known cable manufacturers also produce an extensive range of single core cables. For example, Lapp offers single core cables in the form of standard cables, short-circuit proof single core cables and halogen-free and EMC-optimised versions. For a high dynamic load in energy chains, Lapp also offers single core cables. Including the oil-resistant stranded wire Ölflex FD 90. It proves itself in places where the use of multi-core cables is problematic. Ölflex FD 90 is designed for 5 million bending cycles with travel distances of up to 10 m.
Another speciality from Lapp is the Multi-Standard SC 2.1. As the name implies, it meets many international standards in Europe and is categorised as a harmonised H07V-K cable. For the USA and Canada, it has corresponding UL and CSA listings. As a result, exporting manufacturers can use the same connection and control cable to provide evidence that the requirements are satisfied in Europe and North America.