N2XS(FL)2Y cable is a single-core copper medium-voltage power cable with XLPE insulation, a copper wire screen, longitudinal water blocking and a laminated radial moisture barrier beneath its PE sheath.
Its two moisture-control features perform different jobs: swellable components restrict water travel along the screened core, while the metal/polymer laminate reduces radial moisture ingress. The construction suits fixed distribution circuits where both functions form part of the specified cable design.
CONSTRUCTION
- Conductor
- Stranded copper phase conductor
- Insulation
- XLPE with inner and outer semiconductive screens
- Screen region
- Copper wires, copper tape and water-blocking components
- Outer layers
- Aluminium/polymer laminate and black PE sheath; unarmoured
CHARACTERISTICS
- Reference voltage
- 12/20 (24) kV for the data below
- Moisture protection
- Longitudinal blocking plus a radial barrier
- Service
- Fixed distribution, industrial feeders and substation circuits
- Standard context
- HD 620 / DIN VDE 0276-620; IEC 60502-2 project requirements
N2XS(FL)2Y Project Enquiries
Discuss the voltage, conductor/screen combination and specified moisture-barrier design with XWA.
N2XS(FL)2Y Cable Technical Data
Recommended reference data. Values describe the stated 12/20 kV copper single-core construction, not guaranteed XWA dimensions, current ratings or manufacturing availability. Final manufacturing data and the project current-rating calculation govern the specification.
| Size (mm²) | DC resistance 20°C (Ω/km) | Insulation (mm) | Approx. OD (mm) | Approx. mass (kg/km) | Air, trefoil (A) | Ground, trefoil (A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x 95/16 | 0.193 | 5.5 | 33 | 1675 | 361 | 323 |
| 1 x 150/25 | 0.124 | 5.5 | 36 | 2320 | 470 | 409 |
| 1 x 240/25 | 0.075 | 5.5 | 40 | 3303 | 634 | 532 |
| 1 x 300/25 | 0.060 | 5.5 | 43 | 3978 | 724 | 599 |
| 1 x 400/35 | 0.047 | 5.5 | 45 | 4925 | 829 | 671 |
| 1 x 500/35 | 0.037 | 5.5 | 49 | 6006 | 953 | 754 |
The first size is the phase-conductor area; the second is the metallic-screen area. Nominal PE sheath thickness in this reference is 2.5 mm. Diameter and mass are approximate.
Current-rating reference: one circuit in touching trefoil; screens solidly bonded; air 30°C without direct sun; ground 20°C, burial depth 0.7 m; soil thermal resistivity 1.0 K·m/W wet and 2.5 K·m/W dry; no additional heat sources. Reference maximum conductor temperature: 90°C.
Two Barriers, Two Different Moisture Paths
The longitudinal blocking materials act in the screened-core region. If water enters through a local defect, swelling limits its travel along that region. This function does not close the defect, and it does not establish that the spaces between the copper conductor strands are also water blocked.
The laminated metal layer lies beneath the outer PE sheath. It provides a radial moisture barrier around the core, rather than mechanical armour. Its continuity and the way it is bonded into the sheath construction matter to that function. An ordinary PE-sheathed cable does not automatically have this laminated layer.
Barrier preparation at joints and terminations must follow the selected accessory design. A continuous factory cable length and a completed cable system are not the same moisture boundary: the accessories, sealed ends and any repaired sheath sections remain part of the system.
N2XS2Y, N2XS(F)2Y and N2XS(FL)2Y
| Construction | Moisture-control distinction |
|---|---|
| N2XS2Y cable | Copper/XLPE/PE construction; the name does not specify the FL laminated radial barrier. |
| N2XS(F)2Y cable | Adds longitudinal water blocking, without the FL radial laminate. |
| N2XS(FL)2Y cable | Combines longitudinal blocking with a laminated radial moisture barrier beneath PE. |
These differences affect the cable build, accessory preparation and the required moisture-performance evidence. Matching voltage and copper area alone does not make the three designs interchangeable. The exact tape arrangement and barrier specification remain drawing-specific.
Screen Size and Accessory Fit
In 1×240/25, 240 mm² identifies the copper phase conductor and 25 mm² identifies the metallic screen. Increasing the phase size for load current does not by itself prove that the screen meets the earth-fault duty. Screen area, fault duration and bonding belong to a separate part of the circuit design.
Insulation diameter controls the fit of stress-control components; complete cable diameter controls entry seals and other external interfaces. The selected 240/25 reference has an approximate overall diameter of 40 mm and mass of 3.303 kg/m. Those values describe this construction, not all cables sold under the same model name.
Three separate single-core cables form a three-phase circuit. Their physical arrangement and screen bonding influence losses and rating. The table uses solidly bonded screens in touching trefoil; a different layout needs its own calculation. MV screen-bonding arrangements are explained in the supporting technical article.
Fixed Distribution and Installation Limits
The model is used for fixed network connections, industrial feeders and substation circuits where a screened copper cable with both moisture-control features is specified. Underground and duct routes also depend on soil conditions, drainage, mechanical protection and the installation design.
The reference construction has no steel-wire armour. A radial moisture barrier is not a substitute for impact protection, pulling limits or route protection. Its PE sheath must not be assumed to satisfy an indoor flame-retardant or low-smoke requirement merely because it is halogen free. Fire performance needs a separately declared design and evidence.
The applicable test schedule distinguishes conductor resistance, insulation and partial-discharge checks, oversheath integrity and longitudinal water-penetration performance. A standard citation is not a product certificate. The official publication scope concerns fixed distribution cables; it does not establish mining, submarine or shipboard suitability for this model.
N2XS(FL)2Y Questions
Does FL mean the copper conductor is water blocked?
Not by itself. In the reference design, the longitudinal blocking components are in the screen region and the laminate forms the radial barrier. Water blocking inside the conductor requires a separately specified conductor construction.
Can N2XS(FL)2Y replace N2XS(F)2Y without changing the accessories?
The radial barrier adds a layer to the cable build. Accessory compatibility depends on the actual insulation diameter, screen arrangement, sheath dimensions and barrier preparation, not only the nominal conductor area.
Is the aluminium laminate an armour layer?
No. Its role is radial moisture protection beneath the PE sheath. It is not steel-wire armour and should not be treated as equivalent mechanical protection.
Does water blocking make this a submarine cable?
No. Longitudinal blocking and a radial barrier do not establish the pressure, armour, handling and cable-system requirements of submarine service.
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