What is Type W Cable?

Type W cable is a heavy-duty, ultra-flexible 2000V portable power cable engineered for temporary power distribution and mobile equipment in severe industrial environments. Designed to withstand continuous physical abuse, dragging, extreme cold, and aggressive chemical exposure, Type W is the industry baseline where permanent conduit or fixed tray cables are impractical.

Unlike standard building wire or light-duty service cords (such as SOOW), Type W cable utilizes high-strand flexible conductors and extra-heavy-duty thermoset CPE jacket compounds. It is built to operate under severe mechanical strain and complies strictly with UL 1650, UL 44, NEC Article 400, and MSHA flame-resistance standards.

Anatomy and Construction of Type W Cable

• Conductor: Extra-flexible stranded bare copper (single-conductor) or tinned copper (multi-conductor). This fine stranding delivers maximum flexibility, resisting metal fatigue and cracking under continuous reeling, twisting, and physical payout.

• Separator: High-quality tape separator applied over the conductor to ensure clean stripping and ease of termination.

• Insulation: Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR). This high-dielectric thermoset insulation provides exceptional thermal overload capacity, corona resistance, and mechanical toughness, rated for 90°C wet or dry operating conditions.

• Reinforcement / Core Assembly: Single-faced rubber-filled binder tape or heavy-duty rubber fillers cabled together to lock the internal assembly, preventing jacket separation under high drag tension.

• Jacket: Heavy-duty Black Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) thermosetting compound. Pressure-extruded over the core, this outer jacket is virtually impervious to sunlight, ozone, moisture, oil, severe impact, and mechanical abrasion.

Type W Cable Technical Specifications Quick-Reference

When engineering teams and site managers select temporary power feeders, they rely on specific electrical and physical performance baselines. Below is a summary of standard Type W engineering characteristics:

Key Industry Standards: UL 1650, UL 44, & NEC Compliance

Specifying heavy portable power requires understanding the safety frameworks governing flexible trailing cables and dual-rated conductors:

• UL 1650 (Portable Power Cables): Governs flexible trailing cable assemblies, testing them for dynamic stress, cold-bend impact (-40°C), flame propagation (FT1/FT5), and severe oil/sunlight resistance under NEC Article 400.

• UL 44 & RHH/RHW-2 Dual Rating: Single-conductor Type W cables are dual-certified under UL 44 as Type RHH/RHW-2 (600V). While standard multi-conductor flexible cords are restricted strictly to temporary use under NEC Article 400, single-conductor Type W's UL 44 RHH/RHW-2 listing allows it to be installed in permanent cable trays, conduit, and building raceways where heavy-duty thermoset conductors are required.

• MSHA Approval: Certified flame-resistant under MSHA P-7K-268101, making it compliant for rugged underground mining, aggregate, and open-pit trailing applications.

Primary Applications

Due to its high flexibility, 2000V rating, and extreme abrasion resistance, Type W cable is deployed across major high-demand industrial sectors:

• Temporary Commercial & Event Power: Main service feeds connecting portable diesel generators, load banks, and temporary distribution panels for concerts, construction sites, and emergency disaster relief.

• Mining & Aggregate Operations: Powering mobile conveyors, open-pit pumps, rock crushers, and shovels where bare grounding conductors are not required.

• Heavy Construction Jobsites: Supplying high-amperage power to mobile cranes, large arc welders, batch plants, and temporary site substations.

• Shipyards & Marine Docks: Shore-to-ship power distribution, dry dock maintenance feeds, and heavy marine welding equipment.

• Industrial Manufacturing & Steel Mills: Motor leads, overhead crane power tracks, and high-vibration equipment feeds where rigid conduit is prone to physical damage.

Single-Conductor vs. Multi-Conductor Type W

Type W cable is manufactured in both single-conductor and multi-conductor configurations:

• Single-Conductor Type W (8 AWG to 500 MCM): Popularly used as heavy generator leads, battery banks, and temporary utility bypasses. Dual-rated RHH/RHW-2, allowing for approved use in cable trays. Often color-coded or sleeved for quick phase identification (Black, White, Red, Blue, Green).

• Multi-Conductor Type W (2C, 3C, 4C, 5C, 6C): Combines power phase conductors inside a heavy-duty round CPE jacket. Ideal for 3-phase portable equipment feeds. (Note: Unlike Type G-GC cables, Type W does not include a dedicated ground-check wire, making it preferred for applications where continuous ground-relay monitoring is not required).

How Wire America Can Help

Wire America supplies single-conductor and multi-conductor Type W cables in sizes ranging from 8 AWG up to 500 MCM and can quickly ship the material directly to your job-site.  

• Custom Cut-to-Length: We custom cut these high-performance cables by the foot, ensuring you buy only what your job requires.

• Bulk Master Reels: Available in master spool quantities for major industrial buildouts.

👉 BROWSE OUR TYPE W CABLE COLLECTION HERE

Not sure which cable is right for your project? Our team is here to help!

Call us today at (833) 268-8644 or email sales@wireamerica.com.

At Wire America, we believe in genuine conversation. You'll always talk with real people who understand that every project requires careful product selection. We distribute several different types of Industrial Cable such as Type W Cable, VFD Cables, DLO (Diesel Locomotive) Cable, and Heavy-Duty Control Tray Cables. We're here to ensure you feel educated, confident, and great about your final purchase. Feel free to give us a call to discuss your project! You can reach us at: 833-268-8644 or email sales@wireamerica.com

⚠️ Important Disclaimer: Safety and Compliance

Wire America provides this information as a guide only. Electrical installations must strictly adhere to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and all state, local, and jurisdictional requirements, which vary widely. Always consult a licensed electrician, electrical engineer, or the local inspecting authority before purchasing material or starting any electrical project. Wire America assumes no liability for the installation, use, or interpretation of these guides.