"A high-performance control cable engineered for industrial automation panels, signal monitoring loops, and commercial communication infrastructure. Featuring five insulated 18 AWG copper conductors under a heavy-duty PVC outer jacket, this 600V Type TC-ER cable (Direct Burial & Sunlight Resistant) easily routes through crowded containment trays, factory raceways, channels, conduits, and ducts where space is at a premium."
Engineered for Demanding Machinery and Open-Air Exposed Runs
When wiring intricate enclosures, machine stations, or packed trays, physical reliability equals field efficiency. The 18/5 VNTC balances a compact physical footprint with heavy industrial durability. Constructed with stranded copper conductors and heat- and moisture-resistant PVC/Nylon TFN insulation inside a flame-retardant, UV-resistant PVC outer jacket, its compact round core maximizes containment space, handles tight corners effortlessly, and slashes installation labor.
Exposed Run (TC-ER) Certified: Fully code-listed to transit safely outside of protective cable trays or conduits in open-air spans directly to equipment enclosures or joist pull applications when properly supported.
Versatile Routing Approvals: Code-compliant for deployment in open-air trays, supported by messenger wire, pulled through raceways, structural conduits, or laid in deep under-floor ducts.
Direct Burial & Outdoor Rated: Built with a sunlight-resistant PVC outer jacket that permits direct underground trenching and exposed outdoor installation.
Compact Round Core Profile: Five conductors are cabled tightly together with or without fillers to form a round, compact core finished with a protective binder tape for clean, snag-free pulls.
Flexible Stranded Conductors: Stranded bare copper conductors provide tight bend radii for effortless panel wiring while defending signal circuits against fatigue caused by nearby machinery vibration.
Technical Specifications
Conductor Configuration: 5 Conductors (Unshielded)
Conductor Size: 18 AWG (16 Strands)
Conductor Material: Fully annealed bare copper (Class B compressed strand per ASTM B3 & B8)
Conductor Insulation: Heat and moisture resistant PVC with a Nylon jacket (Type TFFN)
Color Code: ICEA Method 1, Table E-2 (1-Black, 2-Red, 3-Blue, 4-Orange, 5-Yellow)
Insulation / Nylon Thickness: 0.015" PVC / 0.004" Nylon
Outer Jacket Material: Sunlight-Resistant Black Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Jacket Thickness: 0.045"
Nominal Overall Diameter: 0.340 inches
Net Weight: 66 lbs / kft
Voltage Rating: 600 Volts
Temp Rating: 90°C
UL Listings & Code Approvals: UL 66, UL 83, UL 1277, UL 1685 Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation & Smoke-Release Test Approved as Type TC or TC-ER, Sunlight Resistant, Direct Burial, ASTM B3, ASTM B8, NEC Article 336, Article 501, Article 725 for Class 1 circuits.
Common Applications
Industrial Automation & Multi-Channel Signaling: Ideal for routing multiple dedicated signal inputs, automated sensor lines, auxiliary control power, and emergency stops back to central programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Open-Air Machinery Drops: Deployed heavily to jump directly from overhead cable trays down to floor-mounted machinery terminal boxes or joist pull locations without rigid pipe.
Commercial Building Automation: Used extensively to wire institutional lighting grids, localized smart thermostats, HVAC dampers, and multi-zone control units.
Hazardous Environment Infrastructure: Approved for safe deployment in Class I, Division 2 locations per NEC Article 501.
Disclaimer: All values are nominal and subject to standard manufacturing tolerances and manufacturer corrections. Always verify local AHJ, NEC, and engineering guidelines prior to installation.