CSA TECK90 & HVTECK Vertical Mine Shaft Cable

Conventional interlocked-armor cables cannot support their own weight in deep vertical mine shafts, boreholes or steep decline raises because the insulated core assembly slips downward inside the smooth inner bedding when suspended from the top. This Three-Conductor Vertical Self-Supporting CSA TECK90 (5 kV) and CSA HVTECK (15 kV) Mine Shaft Cable solves core slippage without the excessive weight and rigidity of traditional double steel-wire armor (SWA).

At the heart of the self-supporting mechanism is a heavy-duty black PVC inner jacket extruded with raised longitudinal ribs. When the Galvanized Steel Interlocked Armor (GSIA) is helically formed over the inner bedding, the steel armor profile bites firmly into the raised ribs—creating a mechanically locked core-to-armor structure. When the cable weight is suspended from the compact Class B bare copper conductors (1/0 AWG to 500 kcmil at 5 kV; 2 AWG to 750 kcmil at 15 kV), the core cannot slip relative to the armor or outer sheath.

The 5 kV CSA TECK90 construction utilizes a 90 mil (2.29 mm) unshielded Tree-Retardant Cross-Linked Polyethylene (TRXLPE, Type RW90) insulation system and a high-visibility orange CSA FT4 / IEEE 1202 overall PVC jacket. The 15 kV CSA HVTECK constructions feature triple-extruded semi-conducting strand shield, 175 mil (100% insulation level) or 220 mil (133% insulation level) TRXLPE dielectric, semi-conducting insulation shield, helically applied gapped copper tape shield and a red CSA FT4 / HL overall PVC jacket rated down to −40 °C cold bend and impact.

Explore the mining and tunneling cable range for related configurations.

Construction

The representative cutaway illustrates the 3-conductor 15 kV CSA HVTECK vertical self-supporting mine shaft cable, highlighting the compact bare copper phase conductors, triple-extruded TRXLPE dielectric, gapped copper tape shields, uninsulated bare copper bonding conductor, longitudinally ribbed black PVC inner jacket, Galvanized Steel Interlocked Armor (GSIA) biting into the ribs and flame-retardant red PVC outer jacket.

Applications

Specify CSA TECK90 (5 kV) and CSA HVTECK (15 kV) vertical self-supporting armored cable for vertical mine shafts, ventilation raises, inclined ramps, hazardous-location risers and high-rise industrial power drops.

• Vertical mine shaft power feeders, borehole drops and steep decline/ramp distribution where the cable weight is supported by the copper conductors without core slippage (self-supporting vertical drops up to 278 m at 5 kV and up to 298 m at 15 kV).
• Exposed and concealed wiring in dry, damp, wet or corrosive underground mine levels and surface processing plants per Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code Part 1, Rules 12-708 and 22-200).
• Ventilated, non-ventilated and ladder-type vertical and horizontal cable trays, direct earth burial and hazardous locations (HL rating when terminated with certified HL glands).
• Lightweight, flexible replacement for traditional double Steel Wire Armored (SWA) shaft cables—simplifying reel handling and using standard TECK90 cabinet terminations.

Specifications

All dimensions and weights are nominal and subject to standard manufacturing tolerances; lower voltages (600 V / 1000 V) and 105 °C TRXLPE insulation are available upon request.

**5 kV TECK90 ampacity is based on Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code Part 1), Table 2 (three conductors in raceway/conduit) and Rule 4-004 at 30 °C ambient.

***Maximum vertical self-supporting lengths (m) are based on a safety factor of 5 and a tensile strength of 37,000 psi for soft-drawn copper conductors when cable weight is supported by the copper conductors.

Standards

CSA Group — C22.2 No. 131 TECK90 & C68.10 HVTECK armored cable standards