8/2 w/ Ground VNTC Tray Cable Type TC-ER (THHN PVC 600V)

8 AWG 2-Conductor VNTC (Vinyl Nylon Tray Cable) with Ground (Black Numbered Conductors) is a heavy-duty, high-capacity branch circuit and power distribution cable engineered for commercial wireways, open cable trays, and structural conduits. Featuring two 8 AWG insulated phase conductors and one dedicated 10 AWG bare copper grounding wire twisted into a balanced, round core, this Type TC (Tray Cable) variation utilizes high-performance THHN/THWN-2 inner conductor insulation wrapped in a rugged, flame-retardant, and sunlight-resistant Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) outer jacket.

Instead of utilizing traditional solid colors (like Black and White or Black and Red), this specific variation features uniform black insulation with high-visibility white numbers (1 and 2) printed continuously along each respective conductor. This construction is optimized for single-phase industrial power loops, high-draw equipment branches, and dedicated machinery circuits where matching alphanumeric terminal strips are used inside control enclosures.

AMPACITY RATINGS (NEC 310.16)

• 60°C Terminal Rating: 40 AMPS This is the baseline engineering safety rating. Use this value for final circuit sizing under normal operating conditions when connecting to legacy equipment terminals or standard breaker lugs restricted to 60°C constraints.

• 75°C Terminal Rating: 50 AMPS This is the standard engineering design rating. Use this value for most standard modern industrial machinery terminations, motor starters, and distribution panels, as most standard modern equipment lugs are rated for 75°C constraints.

• 90°C Terminal Rating: 55 AMPS This is the maximum capacity rating. Use this value strictly as the baseline calculation factor when adjusting or derating for high ambient operating temperatures, or when bundling multiple tray cables together in packed industrial raceways.

Key Features

• Alphanumeric Circuit Identification: Features uniform black conductor insulation stamped with highly legible white numbers (1 and 2). This layout dramatically reduces installation labor, prevents phase-tracing confusion, and simplifies field wiring on complex terminal blocks.

• Integrated Equipment Grounding Conductor: Includes a built-in, dedicated bare copper grounding wire (sized to 10 AWG per NEC Table 250.122). This eliminates the need to route an external grounding line, saving installation labor and ensuring reliable fault-current protection.

• Industrial Round Profile Construction: Insulated conductors and the bare ground are twisted together with synthetic fillers inside the jacket, maximizing physical roundness and structural symmetry. This ensures uniform physical strength, balanced weight distribution, and smooth feeding through multi-bend conduit runs.

• Dual THHN / THWN-2 Conductor Insulation: Inner copper phase conductors are wrapped in high-dielectric PVC and topped with a rugged clear nylon skin. This dual-layer architecture ensures superior resistance to oil, gasoline, moisture, and insulation scraping during difficult installations.

• Direct Burial & Sunlight Resistant: Protected by an extruded, flame-retardant outer PVC jacket that forms an impermeable barrier against harsh ambient conditions, making it safe for open air tray runs, direct burial trenching, or wet environments.

• Highly Conductive Stranded Bare Copper: Manufactured with high-purity, soft-annealed stranded bare copper conductors to deliver optimal electrical conductivity, minimal line resistance, and sufficient physical flexibility for long pulled runs.

• Rigorous Industrial Flame Ratings: Engineered to prevent the migration of fire across open structural paths, fully certified to pass the demanding IEEE 1202 / UL 1685 vertical tray flame tests.

Common Applications

• Industrial Control Panel Feeders: Wiring main power feeds directly to localized control enclosures, PLC racks, and terminal distribution blocks featuring matching alphanumeric numbering tracks.

• Single-Phase Machinery Power Supplies: Delivering continuous power directly to 208V/240V heavy industrial equipment, heavy pumps, ventilation blowers, and processing machinery.

• Industrial Heating & Welding Loops: Supplying dedicated high-amp feeds to automated welding stations and heavy-duty industrial immersion heaters.

• Utility Branch Power Distribution: Pulling sub-feed infrastructure connections through structural conduits, commercial utility tunnels, underground duct banks, or open-air wire mesh trays.

• Hazardous Environment Deployment: Approved under strict National Electrical Code provisions for installation within Class I, Division 2 hazardous industrial locations.

Circuit Identification: Alphanumeric Numbering Method

• Conductor 1: Black Insulation printed with White Number "1" (Line 1 / Hot Phase)

• Conductor 2: Black Insulation printed with White Number "2" (Line 2 / Hot Phase or Neutral)

• Ground Wire: Bare, uninsulated copper

• Note: Surface tracking information is continuously printed on the black outer PVC jacket for compliance auditing.

Technical Specifications

• Conductor Size (Phases): 8 AWG

• Number of Insulated Phase Conductors: 2

• Ground Conductor Size: 10 AWG (Bare Copper)

• Cable Geometry: Round (Twisted Core)

• Conductor Type: Stranded Bare Copper

• Insulation Material: PVC with Nylon Skin (THHN/THWN-2)

• Shielding: None (Unshielded)

• Jacket Material: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - Black

• Voltage Rating: 600 Volts RMS

• Maximum Temperature Rating: 90°C Dry / 90°C Wet Continuous Operating

• Flame Test Ratings: IEEE 1202, UL 1685 Vertical Tray Flame Test, FT4

• Compliance Standards: UL 1277 (Type TC), NEC Article 336, Type THHN/THWN-2 Conductors, RoHS Compliant

Technical Note: When engineering layouts with 8 AWG multi-conductor tray cable, the bare equipment grounding wire is not counted as a current-carrying conductor under normal operating conditions. Therefore, because there are only two active phase lines inside the jacket, you do not need to apply an ampacity derating penalty for conductor bundling per NEC Article 310.15(C)(1). You can safely utilize the standard 50-Amp threshold (at 75°C) or apply standard correction factors strictly based on ambient room temperature adjustments if the cable passes through high-heat industrial manufacturing pathways.

CABLE TYPE: 8 AWG / 2-Conductor Stranded Round THHN/PVC Type TC Tray Cable with Bare Ground (Black Numbered 1-2)

DISCLAIMER: The technical information provided is for general reference only. Large-scale industrial power distribution paths, tray layouts, and machinery connections must strictly adhere to the National Electrical Code (NEC), local building structures, and relevant industrial safety parameters. Always cross-reference the official product submittal data sheet from the chosen manufacturer prior to finalizing physical system designs or cutting structural cable lengths.

General Shipping Information

In-stock orders placed before 3pm EST typically ship within 1-2 business days. Our business days are Monday through Friday; we do not process orders on Saturday, Sunday, or major US Holidays.

You will receive an e-mail with a tracking number within 1-2 business days from the time its shipped. You will also be able to view your order status and tracking numbers in your account order history.

Expedited Shipping

Expedited shipments are delivered Monday-Friday except on US Holidays. The order must be placed before 12pm CST to ship same day ( Mon-Fri Only).

Returns

You have 30 days from the day you receive the item to contact us for a return. Returns are subject to a 30% Restocking Fee.

Please contact us at help@wireamerica.com to request a return authorization. Have your order number or name the order was placed with ready and we will email you an RMA (return) number and instructions for return. Currently, we do not offer exchanges. A new order must be placed if you need a different item. If you provide the new order number at the time of your return request, the restocking fee may be lowered.

Orders on any items with a material value of $50 or less are non-returnable.