All MIL-W-16878 and MIL-DTL-16878 cables are designated by a six field code that indicates the exact construction of each cable. Please note the following example of a MIL-W-16878/5-DCB-2 or MIL-DTL-16878- DCB-2 cables.
Cable Description: MIL-W-16878/5 – DCB-2
(1) (2) (3)(4)(5)(6)
| Prefix (1): |
|
All MIL-W-16878 cables will carry this prefix. |
| Specification Number (2): |
|
This number code position identifies the type, voltage rating, insulation, nominal wall thickness, conductor coating, and maximum temperature rating of the cable. |
| Conductor Material (3): |
|
This letter code position identifies the material the conductor is made of. |
| Conductor Size (4): |
|
This letter code position identifies the wire size. |
| Conductor Stranding (5): |
|
This letter code position identifies the conductor stranding. |
| Color Code (6): |
|
This number designates the color of the insulation material. |
|
Specification Number
| Military Specification |
Type |
Voltage Rating (RMS) |
Insulation |
Nominal Wall
Thickness
(in) (mm) |
Conductor Coating * |
Temp. Rating Max. (°C) |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /1 |
B |
600 |
PVC |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Tin |
105 |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /2 |
C |
1,000 |
PVC |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Tin |
105 |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /3 |
D |
3,000 |
PVC |
0.03 |
0.762 |
Tin |
105 |
| MIL-W-16878 /4 NEMA HP-3 |
E |
600 |
PTFE |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /5 NEMA HP-3 |
EE |
1,000 |
PTFE |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /6 NEMA HP-3 |
ET |
250 |
PTFE |
0.006 |
0.152 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /11 NEMA HP-4 |
K |
600 |
FEP |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /12 NEMA HP-4 |
KK |
1,000 |
FEP |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /13 NEMA HP-4 |
KT |
250 |
FEP |
0.006 |
0.152 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /17 |
BN |
600 |
PVC / Nylon |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Tin |
105 / 115 |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /18 |
CN |
1000 |
PVC / Nylon |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Tin |
105 / 115 |
| MIL-DTL-16878 /19 |
DN |
3000 |
PVC / Nylon |
0.03 |
0.762 |
Tin |
105 / 115 |
| MIL-W-16878 /20 NEMA HP-3 |
|
250 |
PTFE tape |
0.006 |
0.152 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /21 NEMA HP-3 |
|
600 |
PTFE tape |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /22 NEMA HP-3 |
|
1,000 |
PTFE tape |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Silver |
200 |
| MIL-W-16878 /23 NEMA HP-3 |
ET |
250 |
PTFE |
0.006 |
0.152 |
Nickel |
260 |
| MIL-W-16878 /24 NEMA HP-3 |
|
250 |
PTFE tape |
0.006 |
0.152 |
Nickel |
260 |
| MIL-W-16878 /25 NEMA HP-3 |
E |
600 |
PTFE |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Nickel |
260 |
| MIL-W-16878 /26 NEMA HP-3 |
|
600 |
PTFE tape |
0.01 |
0.254 |
Nickel |
260 |
| MIL-W-16878 /27 NEMA HP-3 |
EE |
1,000 |
PTFE |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Nickel |
260 |
| MIL-W-16878 /28 NEMA HP-3 |
|
1,000 |
PTFE tape |
0.015 |
0.381 |
Nickel |
260 |
* Coatings are those listed in the Military Specification, others available upon request. |
| Conductor Material |
| B |
coated copper |
| C |
coated copper
covered steel |
| D |
coated high
strength
copper alloy |
| E |
coated copper
with overall
metallic coating |
| Conductor Material |
Number
Designation |
Color |
| 0 |
black |
| 1 |
brown |
| 2 |
red |
| 3 |
orange |
| 4 |
yellow |
| 5 |
green |
| 6 |
blue |
| 7 |
violet
(purple) |
| 8 |
gray
(slate) |
| 9 |
white |
|
|
Conductor
Size |
| Letter |
AWG |
| A |
32 |
| B |
30 |
| C |
28 |
| D |
26 |
| E |
24 |
| F |
22 |
| G |
20 |
| H |
18 |
| J |
16 |
| K |
14 |
| L |
12 |
| M |
10 |
| N |
8 |
| P |
6 |
| R |
4 |
| S |
2 |
| T |
1 |
| U |
0 |
| W |
00 |
| Y |
000 |
| Z |
0000 |
|
|
Conductor
Stranding |
| Letter |
Number
of
Strands |
| A |
1 (solid) |
| B |
7 |
| C |
10 |
| D |
16 |
| E |
19 |
| F |
26 |
| G |
37 |
| H |
41 |
| J |
65 |
| K |
105 |
| L |
133 |
| M |
168 |
| N |
259 |
| P |
665 |
| R |
817 |
| S |
1,045 |
| T |
1,330 |
| V |
1,672 |
| W |
2,109 |
|
