Control Cables Rated 2kV

Marine use seems to be the popular choice for 2kV cable.

The insulation/outer jacket would hold up better than standard 600V wire in a salty/wet enviroment. At least that would be my guess.

At 110 / 115V 600/1000V grade cable is more than adequate. The cable at the point of breakout in a terminal chamber could be under water. The problem in a damp atmosphere is the length of insulation between the point of conductor termination and the nearest earthed point or other conductor termination. The length of the insulated path not the dielectric strength of the cable determines the leakage current.

Just had another though on the reasons for 2KV cable, check the regulationss for "Electrical Installations in an Explosive Atmosphere" relevant to your company.

I am manufacturing Solid State Relays and the control circuit has to survive a test where 2KV pulses are applied for 2 minutes at normal and reversed polarity. This will destroy normal resistors and 2kV rated pulse/surge resistors have to be used.

On board ships the power supplies are not as well controlled as shore side and we have also been told to design for occasional 1,500V surges on the power side of the relay and 2kV surges on the control lines.

On shore you also have the problem of surges caused by lightening, etc which can destroy a control circuit and it's associated wiring, which may pass through a zone 0 or Zone 1 area with potentially explosive atmosphere.

If the spec. says to use 2kV rated cable I would do as it says and sleep better.