What's the difference between "BV" and "BVR" insulated wires? BVR stands for copper-core PVC insulated flexible wire. Similar to BVR power cords are BV, BVV, and BVVB. BV stands for copper-core PVC insulated wire, while BV stands for single-core wire. There are two types of PVC-sheathed copper-core wire: two-core and three-core. Today, we'll focus on BV and BVR insulated wires. BV stands for copper-core PVC insulated wire, while BV stands for single-core wire. There are two types of PVC-sheathed copper-core wire: two-core and three-core.
What's the difference between BV and BVR wires?
1. They are made of the same material, both are copper-core PVC insulated flexible wires. However, BVR is a multi-core flexible wire, while BV is a single-core rigid wire.
2. BV is short for plastic copper wire and is a general-purpose, single-core, rigid conductor, unsheathed power cable. It's more suitable for home use.
3. BVR (PVC insulated, multi-stranded, flexible copper conductor). Because it's softer, it's often used in portable and temporary power distribution facilities, making it easy to install, drag, and move. However, it has a short service life and oxidizes quickly due to its large ratio of total outer diameter area to total cross-sectional area.
4. In terms of cost, BVR has a higher current carrying capacity than BV for the same cross-sectional area and is more suitable for screw crimping connections, making it more expensive.
Which is better, BV or BVR?
1. BVR (PVC insulated, multi-stranded, flexible copper conductor)
Advantages: Because it's softer, it's often used in portable and temporary power distribution facilities, making it easy to install, drag, and move.
Disadvantages: It has a short service life and oxidizes quickly due to its large ratio of total outer diameter area to total cross-sectional area. If subjected to short-circuit current and high temperatures, the surface will oxidize severely, significantly reducing the effective cross-sectional area. This can easily lead to core breakage and localized overheating. For electrical safety, it should be replaced promptly.
2. BV PVC Insulated Single-Core Rigid Wire
Disadvantages: The wire is relatively rigid and difficult to straighten after bending. Repeated bending and straightening can easily damage it, and it requires more work when fitting into small conduits. It is primarily used in fixed or buried installations.
Advantages: It has a long service life. Due to its small outer diameter/cross-sectional area ratio, it is not easily oxidized and is resistant to short-circuit current surges. It is generally used in shielded projects. In some areas with strict requirements, such as the secondary lead wires of current transformers, the regulations explicitly prohibit the use of BV wire.
If you are installing concealed wiring in your home, BV wire should be used for long-term safety.
The above is the difference between BV and BVR wires, which should give you a basic understanding of whether BV or BVR is better for home installations. These two types of insulated wire share the same material, but they differ in other aspects, resulting in different performance. Therefore, the choice of which type should be determined based on the specific application.
