Type MPF and MPF-GC 5kV to 35kV Armoured Mine Shaft Feeder Cable

Vertical mine shafts, deep directional boreholes and inclined main haulage slopes subject medium-voltage feeder cables to high self-weight tensile loads, rock-fall impact and groundwater ingress that unarmoured feeder cables cannot sustain. Type MPF and Type MPF-GC armoured mine power feeder cables (5 kV, 8 kV, 15 kV, 25 kV and 35 kV) combine an ICEA S-75-381 / NEMA WC 58 three-core copper-tape-shielded EPR feeder core assembly with heavy mechanical armour engineered for vertical suspension or direct haulageway installation.

Where the cable is suspended down a vertical borehole or shaft collar, TEBAOFLEX supplies Type MPF and Type MPF-GC with helically served galvanized steel wire armour (SWA) locked between a flame-retardant inner PVC/CPE bedding and an outer MSHA-compliant CPE or halogen-free LSZH sheath so the wire armour supports the entire vertical cable weight. For horizontal drift messenger-wire, cable tray or slope installations, interlocking galvanized steel or aluminium strip armour (STA/AIA) provides high crush resistance with reduced installation bending force.

Type MPF-GC includes a yellow PP/EPR-insulated ground-check pilot core alongside two or three uninsulated interstitial copper grounding conductors for continuous pilot-relay earth continuity monitoring between surface unit substations and underground load centres.

Explore the mining and tunneling cable range for related configurations.

Type MPF and MPF-GC 5kV to 35kV Armoured Mine Shaft Feeder Cable Construction & Layer Breakdown

The representative horizontal sample illustrates the Type MPF-GC 15 kV galvanized steel-wire armoured (SWA) borehole and shaft feeder construction, showing three Class B compact copper power cores with triple-extruded 100%/133% EPR insulation and overlapped copper tape shields, interstitial bare copper grounding conductors, one yellow insulated ground-check core, inner CPE bedding, high-tensile galvanized steel wire armour and black flame-retardant CPE outer jacket.

Type MPF and MPF-GC Armoured Mine Power Feeder Designation Breakdown

• MPF: Mine Power Feeder — three-core medium-voltage armored distribution cable with symmetrical bare copper grounding conductors per ICEA S-75-381
• GC (MPF-GC): Ground-Check — adds one yellow EPR/PP-insulated 8 AWG or 6 AWG pilot conductor for continuous ground-loop continuity monitoring
• 5 kV to 35 kV (100% / 133%): Rated phase-to-phase system voltage class with 90 °C discharge-free EPR insulation thickness for grounded (100%) or ungrounded/faulted (133%) systems
• SWA: Galvanized Steel Wire Armour — helically applied round steel wires providing high axial tensile load capacity for self-supporting vertical borehole and shaft drops
• STA / AIA: Galvanized Steel Tape / Interlocking Armour (STA) or Aluminium Interlocking Armour (AIA) — radial crush and rockfall protection for horizontal mine drifts and galleries

Type MPF and MPF-GC Vertical Borehole, Mine Shaft & Underground Drift Applications

Specify Type MPF and Type MPF-GC armoured feeder cables for permanent and semi-permanent medium-voltage distribution between surface substations and underground mining levels.

• Vertical borehole drop feeders and deep mine shaft power columns from 5 kV to 35 kV suspended from borehole wire-armour termination clamps.
• Inclined slope haulageways, main return airways and underground drift messenger-wire or ladder-tray feeder networks feeding longwall load centres.
• Underground hard-rock crusher stations, main dewatering pump chambers and shaft-bottom substations requiring pilot ground-check monitoring (Type MPF-GC).
• High-impact surface preparation plants, overland conveyor galleries and portal entries where exposed medium-voltage feeders require metallic crush armour.

Type MPF and MPF-GC vs MP-GC, CSA TECK90/HVTECK & SHD-GC Selection Matrix

Select SWA-armoured Type MPF-GC for vertical borehole and shaft suspension where armour wires carry the deadweight of the cable; select STA/AIA for horizontal drift trays or SHD-GC for mobile trailing duty.

Related selection resources

• Mining and tunneling cable engineering solutions
• Armoured and static mining cable engineering guide for fixed distribution routes
• Type MP-GC 15kV Mine Power Feeder Cable
• CSA TECK90 and HVTECK Vertical Mine Shaft Cable
• CSA Type SHD-BGC, SHD-R and SHD-SP Shielded Mining Cable

Type MPF and MPF-GC Armoured Mine Shaft Feeder Cable Engineering FAQ

When should I specify Galvanized Steel Wire Armour (SWA) vs Interlocking Armour (STA/AIA) on Type MPF-GC?

Specify Galvanized Steel Wire Armour (SWA) whenever Type MPF or MPF-GC (5 kV to 35 kV) is suspended vertically down a mine shaft or borehole, because the helically applied round steel wires support the cable’s own tensile weight in shaft clamps without straining the copper conductors. Specify Galvanized Steel Tape / Interlocking Armour (STA) or Aluminium Interlocking Armour (AIA) for horizontal haulage drifts, slope galleries and cable trays where radial rockfall and crush protection are primary.

What is the difference between Type MPF and Type MPF-GC?

Both cables follow ICEA S-75-381 / NEMA WC 58 with three Class B compact copper phase conductors, 90 °C discharge-free EPR insulation, 5-mil helical copper tape shields and symmetrical bare copper grounding conductors. Type MPF-GC adds a yellow EPR/PP-insulated 8 AWG or 6 AWG ground-check pilot conductor in the outer interstice for continuous ground-loop monitoring between substations.

Should I order 100% or 133% EPR insulation level for 5 kV to 35 kV Type MPF-GC?

Select the 100% insulation level when the mine distribution system is resistance- or solidly-grounded and clears single-line-to-ground faults within 1 minute. Select the 133% insulation level for ungrounded, resonant-grounded or high-resistance-grounded mine systems where a ground fault may persist for up to 1 hour before tripping.

What are the MOQ and lead time for Type MPF and MPF-GC 5 kV to 35 kV shaft feeder cables?

TEBAOFLEX manufactures Type MPF and Type MPF-GC armoured mine power feeder cables from a 50 m MOQ with a lead time of 7 to 45 working days on heavy export wooden or steel drums sized to your shaft depth.

Type MPF and MPF-GC Technical Specifications & Size Schedule (5 kV to 35 kV)

Type MPF and MPF-GC Key Electrical, Vertical Suspension & Armour Ratings

• Standard & Models: ICEA S-75-381 / NEMA WC 58 Type MPF and Type MPF-GC armoured mine power feeder cable with IEEE 1202 / FT4 & MSHA ratings
• Voltage & Insulation: 5 kV, 8 kV, 15 kV, 25 kV and 35 kV (100% or 133% level) 90 °C discharge-free EPR with 5-mil helical copper tape shield
• Conductor & Ground Layout: 3 Class B compact copper phase cores (6 AWG to 500 kcmil; 2 AWG to 4/0 AWG tabulated) + 2 or 3 bare grounds + 8/6 AWG GC
• Armour Options: Galvanized steel wire armour (SWA) for vertical shaft/borehole suspension or interlocking steel/aluminium armour (STA/AIA)
• Commercial Terms: MOQ 50 m; manufacturing lead time 7 to 45 working days with shaft clamp sizing support and MV partial-discharge testing

Type MPF-GC 5 kV & 8 kV Galvanized Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) Mine Shaft Feeder Cable Schedule

Type MPF-GC 15 kV, 25 kV & 35 kV Armoured Vertical Borehole & Shaft Feeder Cable Schedule

For vertical borehole or shaft suspension, specify exact vertical drop depth and safety factor (typically 5:1 on galvanized steel wire armour breaking load) so wire diameter and tensile lay length are matched to the borehole clamp.

Available without ground-check conductor (Type MPF) for 3-conductor + symmetrical ground utility-style mine shaft feeders.

ASCII part references for BOM and ERP entry: MPF-GC 5kV 3x2 AWG + 3x6 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x1/0 AWG + 3x4 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x2/0 AWG + 3x3 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x4/0 AWG + 3x1 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x250 kcmil + 3x1 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x350 kcmil + 3x1/0 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 5kV 3x500 kcmil + 3x2/0 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 8kV 3x2/0 AWG + 3x3 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 8kV 3x4/0 AWG + 3x1 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x2 AWG + 3x6 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x1/0 AWG + 3x4 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x2/0 AWG + 3x3 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x4/0 AWG + 3x1 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x350 kcmil + 3x1/0 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 15kV 3x500 kcmil + 3x2/0 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 25kV 3x1/0 AWG + 3x4 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 25kV 3x4/0 AWG + 3x1 + 8 GC SWA, MPF-GC 35kV 3x1/0 AWG + 3x4 + 8 GC SWA.

Type MPF and MPF-GC Applicable Standards & Related Mine Feeder Cables

Certifications and document support

TEBAOFLEX company certificates and quality system documentation

NEMA — WC 58 / ICEA S-75-381 Mine Power Feeder Cable Standard