AWG | 19 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
Pairs | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
12 | 12 | 12 | ||
18 | 18 | 18 | ||
25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | |
50 | 50 | 50 | ||
75 | 75 | 75 | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | ||
150 | 150 | 150 | ||
200 | 200 | 200 | ||
300 | 300 | 300 | ||
400 | 400 | 400 | ||
600 | 600 | 600 | ||
900 | 900 | 900 | ||
1000 | 1000 | 1000 | ||
1200 | 1200 | |||
1500 | 1500 | |||
1800 | 1800 | |||
2100 | ||||
2400 | ||||
2700 |
NOTE: Cables larger in pair sizes than those shown in this table must meet all requirements of this section.
AWG | Direct Current Voltages (kilovolts) |
19 | 4.5 |
22 | 3.6 |
24 | 3.0 |
26 | 2.4 |
Group No. | Color of Bindings | Group Pair Count |
1 | White-Blue | 1-25 |
2 | White-Orange | 26-50 |
3 | White-Green | 51-75 |
4 | White-Brown | 76-100 |
5 | White-Slate | 101-125 |
6 | Red-Blue | 126-150 |
7 | Red-Orange | 151-175 |
8 | Red-Green | 176-200 |
9 | Red-Brown | 201-225 |
10 | Red-Slate | 226-250 |
11 | Black-Blue | 251-275 |
12 | Black-Orange | 276-300 |
13 | Black-Green | 301-325 |
14 | Black-Brown | 326-350 |
15 | Black-Slate | 351-375 |
16 | Yellow-Blue | 376-400 |
17 | Yellow-Orange | 401-425 |
18 | Yellow-Green | 426-450 |
19 | Yellow-Brown | 451-475 |
20 | Yellow-Slate | 476-500 |
21 | Violet-Blue | 501-525 |
22 | Violet-Orange | 526-550 |
23 | Violet-Green | 551-575 |
24 | Violet-Brown | 576-600 |
Super-Unit Binder Colors
Pair Numbers | Binder Color |
1-600 | White |
601-1200 | Red |
1201-1800 | Black |
1801-2400 | Yellow |
2401-3000 | Violet |
3001-3600 | Blue |
3601-4200 | Orange |
4201-4800 | Green |
4801-5400 | Brown |
5401-6000 | Slate |
Screened Cable Pair Counts
Carrier Pair Count | Service Pairs | Total Pair Count |
24 | 4 | 28 |
50 | 4 | 54 |
100 | 6 | 106 |
150 | 8 | 158 |
200 | 10 | 210 |
300 | 14 | 314 |
400 | 18 | 418 |
Color Code For Service Pairs
Service Pair No. | Color | |
Tip | Ring | |
1 | White | Red |
2 | " | Black |
3 | " | Yellow |
4 | " | Violet |
5 | Red | Black |
6 | " | Yellow |
7 | " | Violet |
8 | Black | Yellow |
9 | " | Violet |
Standard Cable | Gopher Resistant Cable |
8-mil Coated Aluminum1 | 10-mil Copper |
5-mil Copper | 6-mil Copper-Clad Stainless Steel 5 mil Copper-Clad Stainless Steel 5 mil Copper-Clad Alloy Steel 7-mil Alloy 194 6-mil Alloy 194 8-mil Coated Aluminum1 and 6-mil Coated Steel1 |
1 Dimensions of uncoated metal.
AWG | Maximum Average Attenuation decibel/kilometer (dB/km) (decibel/mile) |
19 | 14.9 (24.0) |
22 | 21.6 (34.8) |
24 | 27.2 (43.8) |
Nominal Pair Count | Maximum Number of Pairs With Allowable Electrical Variation |
6-100 | 1 |
101-300 | 2 |
301-400 | 3 |
401-600 | 4 |
601 and above | 6 |
AWG | ohms/kilometer | (ohms/1000 feet) |
19 | 29.9 | (9.1) |
22 | 60.0 | (18.3) |
24 | 94.5 | (28.8) |
26 | 151.6 | (46.2) |
NOTE: RUS recognizes that in large pair count cable (600 pair and above) a cross, short, or open circuit condition occasionally may develop in a pair which does not affect the performance of the other cable pairs. In these circumstances rejection of the entire cable may be economically unsound or repairs may be impractical. In such circumstances the manufacturer may desire to negotiate with the customer for acceptance of the cable. No more than 0.5 percent of the pairs may be involved.
Chairman, Technical Standards Committee "A" (Telephone), Telecommunications Standard Division, Rural Utilities Service, Washington, DC 20250-1500.
Cable Designation
BFCE
Cable Construction
Pair Count
Conductor Gauge
E = Expanded Insulation
A = Coated Aluminum Shield
C = Copper Shield
Y = Gopher Resistant Shield
X = Armored, Separate Shield
H = T1 Screened Cable
H1C = T1C Screened Cable
P = Preconnectorized
Example: BFCEXH100-22
Buried Filled Cable, Expanded Insulation, Armored (w/separate shield), T1 Screened Cable, 100 pair, 22 AWG.
(The information and recordkeeping requirements of this section have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the control number 0572-0059)
Appendix A to § 1755.890 -Qualification Test Methods
Environmental Conditioning______________
FREQUENCY 1 KILOHERTZ
Pair Number | Capacitance | |
nF/km (nanofarad/mile) | ||
Initial | Final | |
1 | ____________ | ____________ |
3 | ____________ | ____________ |
5 | ____________ | ____________ |
7 | ____________ | ____________ |
9 | ____________ | ____________ |
11 | ____________ | ____________ |
13 | ____________ | ____________ |
15 | ____________ | ____________ |
17 | ____________ | ____________ |
19 | ____________ | ____________ |
21 | ____________ | ____________ |
23 | ____________ | ____________ |
25 | ____________ | ____________ |
Average x | ____________ | ____________ |
Overall Percent Difference in Average x ______________
Environmental Conditioning______________
FREQUENCY 150 KILOHERTZ
Pair Number | Capacitance | Attenuation | ||
nF/km (nanofarad/mile) | dB/km (decibel/mile) | |||
Initial | Final | Initial | Final | |
1 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
3 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
5 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
7 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
9 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
11 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
13 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
15 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
17 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
19 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
21 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
23 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
25 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Average x | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Overall Percent Difference in Average x Capacitance:____________ Conductance:____________
Environmental Conditioning______________
FREQUENCY 772 KILOHERTZ
Pair Number | Capacitance | Attenuation | ||
nF/km (nanofarad/mile) | dB/km (decibel/mile) | |||
Initial | Final | Initial | Final | |
1 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
3 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
5 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
7 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
9 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
11 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
13 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
15 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
17 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
19 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
21 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
23 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
25 | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Average x | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Overall Percent Difference in Average x Capacitance:____________ Conductance:____________
Environmental Conditioning______________
WATER IMMERSION TEST ( 1 KILOHERTZ)
Pair Number | Capacitance | ||
nF/km (nanofarad/mile) | |||
Initial | 24 Hours | Final | |
1 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
3 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
5 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
7 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
9 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
11 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
13 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
15 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
17 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
19 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
21 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
23 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
25 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Average x | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Overall Percent Difference in Average x ______________
Water Penetration Test
Option A | Option B | |||
End Leakage grams | Weight Gain grams | End Leakage grams | Penetration mm (in.) | |
Control | ||||
Heat Age | ||||
Humidity Exposure | ||||
Temperature Cycling |
Insulation Compression
Failures | |
Control | ________________ |
Heat Age | ________________ |
Humidity Exposure | ________________ |
Temperature Cycling | ________________ |
Jacket Slip Strength @ 50 °C
Load in newtons (pound-force) | |
Control | ________________ |
Heat Age | ________________ |
Humidity Exposure | ________________ |
Temperature Cycling | ________________ |
Filler Exudation (grams)
Heat Age | ________________ |
Humidity Exposure | ________________ |
Temperature Cycling | ________________ |
Surge Test (kilovolts)
Conductor to Conductor | ________________ |
Shield to Conductors | ________________ |
7 C.F.R. §1755.890