NSGAFOEU Cable for Railway Vehicles and Switchgear
NSGAFOEU is a 1.8/3 kV flexible single-core rubber cable intended for protected fixed installation and selected movable connections in track-bound vehicles, buses, pipes, enclosed ducts, switchboards and distribution equipment. A Class 5 tinned-copper conductor supports installation around constrained vehicle and cabinet routes, while EPR insulation and a 5GM3 chlorinated-rubber outer sheath form a compact cable for power connections.
One important use is low-voltage switchgear wiring that must be installed to achieve inherent short-circuit and earth-fault protection. The 3 kV cable rating provides an insulation basis for this arrangement, but the result depends on the complete installation: conductor spacing, mechanical protection, terminal design, protective devices and compliance with the project rules remain essential.
Technical Specifications
| Product Type | Flexible rubber-insulated single-core power cable |
| Model | NSGAFOEU / NSGAFÖU |
| Rated Voltage | 1.8/3 kV for the dimension table shown |
| Higher-Voltage Version | 3.6/6 kV construction referenced; specification and dimensions to be confirmed separately |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Nominal Cross-Section Range | 1.5-400 mm² in the supplied data |
| Conductor | Class 5 flexible stranded tinned copper |
| Conductor Standard | DIN VDE 0295 / IEC 60228 |
| Insulation | EPR compound type 3GI3 or 3GJ3 |
| Inner Conductor Layer | Semiconducting layer for the 3.6/6 kV version |
| Outer Sheath | Chlorinated rubber compound type 5GM3 |
| Stated Sheath Performance | Oil-resistant and flame-retardant |
| Primary Installation | Protected fixed routes and selected movable-part connections |
| Standard | DIN VDE 0250 Part 602 |
Cable Construction
- Conductor: Flexible stranded tinned-copper wires, Class 5 according to DIN VDE 0295 / IEC 60228.
- Inner conductor layer: A semiconducting layer is included in the 3.6/6 kV construction. This layer is not identified as part of the 1.8/3 kV build in the supplied diagram.
- Insulation: EPR rubber compound type 3GI3 or 3GJ3.
- Outer sheath: Chlorinated rubber compound type 5GM3, stated as oil-resistant and flame-retardant.
What Short-Circuit and Earth-Fault-Proof Installation Means
A 1.8/3 kV NSGAFOEU cable may be selected for a low-voltage circuit where a suitably designed single-core installation must remain inherently protected against phase-to-phase short circuit and conductor-to-earth fault. The higher insulation level and separate single-core routing help the designer create this arrangement.
This wording does not mean that faults are impossible or that protective devices can be omitted. The cables must be routed and restrained so that insulation damage on one conductor cannot readily involve another conductor or an earthed part. Terminations, conductor spacing, mechanical protection, fault current, disconnection time and the governing installation standard all need project-level verification.
AC Single-Core Installation Considerations
- Keep circuit conductors together: Arrange all phases of an AC circuit in the specified trefoil or flat formation so their magnetic fields remain balanced and loop impedance is controlled.
- Avoid individual ferromagnetic entries: Do not pass each AC single-core phase separately through a closed steel gland plate or steel conduit without an approved non-magnetic arrangement. Alternating magnetic flux can cause eddy-current heating.
- Use equal phase lengths: Parallel or phase conductors should follow equivalent routes and have consistent lengths and terminations to limit current imbalance.
- Support dynamic connections correctly: A cable suitable for connecting movable parts is not automatically a continuous-reeling, drag-chain or torsion cable. Define the movement radius, frequency and restraint system before use.
- Check grouping and enclosure heat: Enclosed ducts, bundled single cores and crowded switchboards reduce heat dissipation. Apply the current-rating and derating rules for the actual installation.
Standards and Product-Family Options
| Model | Construction Reference | Key Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| NSGAFOEU | DIN VDE 0250 Part 602 | 5GM3 chlorinated-rubber outer sheath; focus product on this page |
| NSHXAFOE | DIN VDE 0250 Part 606 | HM3 halogen-free outer compound with low-smoke performance stated in the supplied data |
| NSGAFCMOEU | Related screened construction | Tinned-copper wire screen; confirm complete standard and build separately |
| NSHXAFCMOE | Related halogen-free screened construction | Tinned-copper wire screen with halogen-free sheath system; confirm separately |
These model distinctions should be preserved in the quotation, order confirmation, production marking and test documentation. A halogen-free compound or metallic screen changes the cable designation and should not be added as a generic NSGAFOEU attribute.
NSGAFOEU 1.8/3kV Dimensions and Weight
The following figures are transcribed from the supplied 1.8/3 kV table. Minimum and maximum diameters help with conduit fill, gland selection, termination space, support cleats and routing clearance. Confirm final production dimensions for the selected cross-section before freezing equipment interfaces.
| Core x Nominal Cross-Section | Minimum Overall Diameter | Maximum Overall Diameter | Nominal Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x 1.5 mm² | 5.7 mm | 7.0 mm | 50 kg/km |
| 1 x 2.5 mm² | 6.0 mm | 7.5 mm | 60 kg/km |
| 1 x 4 mm² | 6.8 mm | 9.0 mm | 80 kg/km |
| 1 x 6 mm² | 7.3 mm | 9.5 mm | 100 kg/km |
| 1 x 10 mm² | 8.7 mm | 11.0 mm | 160 kg/km |
| 1 x 16 mm² | 10.0 mm | 13.0 mm | 230 kg/km |
| 1 x 25 mm² | 12.4 mm | 15.0 mm | 340 kg/km |
| 1 x 35 mm² | 13.4 mm | 16.5 mm | 430 kg/km |
| 1 x 50 mm² | 14.9 mm | 18.0 mm | 580 kg/km |
| 1 x 70 mm² | 16.6 mm | 20.5 mm | 780 kg/km |
| 1 x 95 mm² | 19.3 mm | 24.0 mm | 1030 kg/km |
| 1 x 120 mm² | 20.8 mm | 26.0 mm | 1270 kg/km |
| 1 x 150 mm² | 23.0 mm | 28.0 mm | 1570 kg/km |
| 1 x 185 mm² | 25.2 mm | 31.0 mm | 1900 kg/km |
| 1 x 240 mm² | 28.1 mm | 34.5 mm | 2500 kg/km |
| 1 x 300 mm² | 30.8 mm | 38.0 mm | 3000 kg/km |
| 1 x 400 mm² | Source conflict: 40.0 mm minimum and 34.6 mm maximum; confirm before upload | 4000 kg/km | |
Data check required: the 1 x 400 mm² row in the supplied image lists a 40.0 mm minimum diameter and a 34.6 mm maximum diameter. Because a minimum cannot exceed the maximum, this row should remain unpublished as a purchasable variation until the original datasheet or factory specification confirms both values.
Applications
- Power wiring in railway and other track-bound vehicles
- Electrical connections in buses and trolley buses
- Internal connections in switchboards and distribution equipment
- Low-voltage circuits designed for inherently short-circuit and earth-fault-proof routing
- Protected installation in pipes, conduits and closed cable ducts
- Equipment and movable-part connections with a defined bending duty
FAQ
What is NSGAFOEU cable used for?
NSGAFOEU is a flexible single-core rubber cable used in railway vehicles, buses, protected ducts, switchboards and distribution equipment. The focus construction on this page is rated 1.8/3 kV.
Can NSGAFOEU be used in a low-voltage switchboard?
Yes, a 3 kV-rated NSGAFOEU cable can form part of an inherently short-circuit and earth-fault-proof low-voltage installation when routing, protection, separation and terminations meet the applicable design requirements.
Is NSGAFOEU a halogen-free cable?
No. The supplied NSGAFOEU construction uses a 5GM3 chlorinated-rubber outer sheath. The related NSHXAFOE model uses a halogen-free HM3 compound and should be specified separately.
Does NSGAFOEU include a metallic screen?
Not in the construction shown. A tinned-copper wire screen is associated with the NSGAFCMOEU model, which should be ordered under its complete designation.
What is different about the 3.6/6 kV version?
The supplied data identifies a semiconducting inner conductor layer for the 3.6/6 kV construction. Its full dimensions, tests and termination requirements must be confirmed separately from the 1.8/3 kV table.
Can this cable be used in a drag chain or on a reel?
Connection to movable parts does not automatically qualify it for continuous drag-chain, torsional or reeling duty. The movement radius, cycle rate and cable-management method must be reviewed first.
How should single-core AC cables pass through a steel enclosure?
All phase conductors should use an approved arrangement that avoids individual closed ferromagnetic paths around each cable. Otherwise alternating magnetic flux may cause unwanted heating.
What is the diameter of 1 x 400 mm² NSGAFOEU?
The supplied row is internally inconsistent, showing 40.0 mm as the minimum and 34.6 mm as the maximum. Both values must be confirmed before the size is offered or used for hardware selection.