MIL-DTL-27500 (NEMA WC27500) Cable Designation

All MIL-DTL-27500 cables are designated by a combination of digits and letters (not to exceed 16) which indicates the exact construction of each cable. Please note the following example of a MIL-DTL-27500 cable.

Cable Description: M27500A 22 SB 3 T 23
(1)       (2)  (3)    (4)   (5)(6)  (7)


Classification: The cable will be of the following types and will be furnished in the basic wire size, type, number of wires, and shield and jacket styles, as specified.

  • Unjacketed: 2 to 15 color coded wires, spirally laid without an overall outer jacket.
  • Jacketed: 2 to 15 color coded wires, spirally laid with an overall outer jacket.
  • Shielded: A single wire, or 2 to 15 color coded wires spirally laid, with one or two overall shields.
  • Shielded and Jacketed: A single

Specification Number (1): All cables will carry this prefix.

Identification Method (2):
When 85% minimum shield coverage is required:
"-" designates the preferred identification method (white wire with colored stripes) using Table IIIA;
"F" designates the preferred identification method (white wire with colored stripes) using Table IIIB;
"A" designates optional identification method A (solid colored wires) using Table IIIA;
"G" designates optional identification method A (solid colored wires) using Table IIIB;
"B" designates optional identification method B using Table IIIC;
"K" designates optional identification method C;
"L" designates optional identification method D (see mil spec for band marking specification).
When 90% minimum shield coverage is required:
"C" designates the preferred identification method (white wire with colored stripes) using Table IIIA;
"H" designates the preferred identification method (white wire with colored stripes) using Table IIIB;
"D" designates optional identification method A (solid colored wires) using Table IIIA;
"J" designates optional identification method A (solid colored wires) using Table IIIB;
"E" designates optional identification method B using Table IIIC;
"M" designates optional identification method C;
"N" designates optional identification method D (see mil spec for band marking specification).

Conductor Size (3): This position identifies the wire size. Wire size depends upon the basic wire specification
(see 4).

Basic Wire Specification (4): The component wires are identified by a one or two letter code. A listing of the
basic wire specifications can be found in Table I.

Number of Conductors (5): M27500 currently specifies from 1 to 15 conductors for shielded or shielded and
jacketed cables, and from 2 to 15 for unshielded unjacketed or unshielded jacketed cables. Cables with 10
to 15 conductors are limited to 12 AWG and smaller.

Shield (6): The specific shield style and material are designated by a single letter code and are detailed in
Table I A.

Jacket (7): Cable jacketing materials are specified by a two digit code and are detailed in Table I B.

Table 1 - Basic Wire Specifications
A MIL-DTL-5086/11,2
B MIL-DTL-5086/21,2
C MIL-DTL-5086/34
P MIL-DTL-5086/44
AA MIL-DTL-5086/54
AB MIL-DTL-5086/64
AD MIL-DTL-5086/74
H MIL-DTL-8777, MS 25471
F MIL-DTL-8777, MS 27110
EA MIL-DTL-22759/1
E MIL-DTL-22759/2
RA MIL-DTL-22759/3
RB MIL-DTL-22759/4
VA MIL-DTL-22759/5
WA MIL-DTL-22759/6
SA MIL-DTL-22759/7
TA MIL-DTL-22759/8
LE MIL-DTL-22759/9
LH MIL-DTL-22759/10
RC MIL-DTL-22759/11
RE MIL-DTL-22759/12
CA MIL-DTL-22759/13
CB MIL-DTL-22759/14
CC MIL-DTL-22759/15
TE MIL-DTL-22759/16
TF MIL-DTL-22759/17
TG MIL-DTL-22759/18
TH MIL-DTL-22759/19
TK MIL-DTL-22759/20
TL MIL-DTL-22759/21
TM MIL-DTL-22759/22
TN MIL-DTL-22759/23
JB MIL-DTL-22759/28
JC MIL-DTL-22759/29
JD MIL-DTL-22759/30
JE MIL-DTL-22759/31
SB MIL-DTL-22759/32
SC MIL-DTL-22759/33
SD MIL-DTL-22759/34
SE MIL-DTL-22759/35
SM MIL-DTL-22759/41
SN MIL-DTL-22759/42
SP MIL-DTL-22759/43
SR MIL-DTL-22759/44
SS MIL-DTL-22759/45
ST MIL-DTL-22759/46
WB MIL-DTL-22759/803
WC MIL-DTL-22759/813
WE MIL-DTL-22759/823
WF MIL-DTL-22759/833
WG MIL-DTL-22759/843
WH MIL-DTL-22759/853
WJ MIL-DTL-22759/863
WK MIL-DTL-22759/873
WL MIL-DTL-22759/88
WM MIL-DTL-22759/89
WN MIL-DTL-22759/903
WP MIL-DTL-22759/913
WR MIL-DTL-22759/923
JA MIL-DTL-25038/1
JF MIL-DTL-25038/3
MD MIL-DTL-81044/522
ME MIL-DTL-81044/6
MF MIL-DTL-81044/7
MG MIL-DTL-81044/82
MH MIL-DTL-81044/9
MJ MIL-DTL-81044/10
MK MIL-DTL-81044/112
ML MIL-DTL-81044/12
MM MIL-DTL-81044/13
MR MIL-DTL-81381/733
MS MIL-DTL-81381/833
MT MIL-DTL-81381/933
MV MIL-DTL-81381/103
MW MIL-DTL-81381/113
MY MIL-DTL-81381/123
NA MIL-DTL-81381/133
NB MIL-DTL-81381/143
NE MIL-DTL-81381/173
NF MIL-DTL-81381/183
NG MIL-DTL-81381/193
NH MIL-DTL-81381/20
NK MIL-DTL-81381/213
NL MIL-DTL-81381/223
1 Not for use in aerospace applications.2 Inactive for new design.3 Not for Naval Air Systems Command usage.

4 No longer manufactured (no QPL)


Table 1 A - Shield Material
Letter Code Description Maximum temperature
limit for shield material
°C °F
Single
Shield		 Double
Shield
U --- No shield N/A N/A
T V Round, tin-coated copper 150 302
S W Round, silver-coated copper 200 392
N Y Round, nickel-coated copper 260 500
F Z Round, stainless steel 400 752
C R Round, heavy nickel-coated copper 400 752
M K Round, silver-coated high strength copper alloy 200 392
P L Round, nickel-coated high strength copper alloy 260 500
G A Flat, silver-coated copper 200 392
H B Flat, silver-coated high strength copper alloy 200 392
* # Flat, nickel-coated copper 260 500
J D Flat, tin-coated copper 150 302
E X Flat, nickel-coated high strength copper alloy 260 500
I Q Flat, nickel-chromium alloy 400 752


Table 1 B - Jacket Material and Color
Numeric Code Description Temperature Limit for
Jacket Material
°C °F
Single
Jacket		 Double
Jacket
00 00 No jacket N/A N/A
01 511 Extruded white polyvinylchloride (PVC)

90

 194
022 522 Extruded clear polyamide in accordance with ASTM-D-4066 105 221
03 53 White polyamide braid impregnated with clear polyamide finisher over a polyester tape 105 221
04 54 Polyester braid impregnated with high temperature finishers over polyester tape 150 302
05 55 Extruded clear fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) 200 392
06 56 Extruded or taped and heat sealed white polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 260 500
07 57 White polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) treated glass braid impregnated and coated with polytetrafluoroethylene finisher over presintered polytetrafluoroethylene tape 260 500
083 583 Cross-linked white extruded polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)2 150 302
09 59 Extruded white fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) 200 392
103 603 Extruded clear polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)2 125 257
114 614 Tape of natural polyimide combined with clear fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wrapped and heat sealed with (FEP) outer surface 200 392
124 624 Tape of natural polyimide combined with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wrapped and heat
sealed with polyimide outer surface		 200 392
14 64 Extruded white ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) 150 302
15 65 Extruded clear ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) 150 302
16 66 Braid of aromatic polyamide with high temperature finisher over presintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape 200 392
175 675 Extruded white ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) 150 302
185 685 Extruded clear ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) 150 302
20 70 Extruded white perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) 260 500
21 71 Extruded clear perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) 260 500
22 72 Tape of polyimide combined with clear fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wrapped and heat sealed with opaque polyimide outer surface 200 392
23 73 Extruded white cross-linked modified ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (XLETFE) 200 392
24 74 Tape layer of white polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) wrapped over a tape layer of natural polyimide combined with FEP and heat sealed 200 392
1 Polyvinylchloride (PVC) materials shall not be used for aerospace applications.
2 Jacket material 02/52 is not to be used for cables having a diameter of 0.251 in (6.38 mm) or greater.
3 Jacket materials 08, 10, 58, and 60 are not to be used for cables having a diameter of 0.401 in (10.19 mm) or greater.
4 Not for Naval Air Systems Command usage.
5 Inactive for new design.

Table II - Allowable Shield and Jacket Materials for Each Basic Type Wire
Cable Type
Basic Wire
Specification		 Shielded Jacketed Shielded and Jacketed
Shield
Material1		 Jacket
Material		 Shield
Material		 Jacket
Material		 Shield
Material1		 Jacket
Material
MIL-DTL-5086 T 00 Unshielded 01, 02, 03, 10 T 01, 02, 03, 10
MIL-DTL-8777 S 00 Unshielded 4 S 4
MIL-DTL-22759
slash sheets
1-12,20-23, 28-31		 T, S, N 00 Unshielded 04, 05, 06, 07, 09,
14-18, 20, 21		 T, S, N 04, 05, 06, 07, 09,
14-18, 20, 21
MIL-DTL-22759
slash sheets
13-19		 T, S, N 00 Unshielded 04, 05, 09, 14-18,
20, 21		 T, S, N 04, 05, 09, 14-18, 20,
21
MIL-DTL-22759
slash sheets
32-35, 41-46		 T, S, N 00 Unshielded 04, 05, 08, 09, 14-18,
20, 21, 23, 24		 T, S, N 04, 05, 08, 09, 14-18,
20, 21, 23, 24
MIL-DTL-22759
slash sheets
80-92		 T, S, N 00

Unshielded

04, 05, 06, 07, 09,
11, 12, 14-18, 20,
21, 22, 24

T, S, N

04, 05, 06, 07, 09,
11, 12, 14-18, 20,
21, 22, 24
MIL-DTL-25038/1 & /3 F, C 00 Unshielded 06, 07 F, C 06, 07
MIL-DTL-81044 T,S 00 Unshielded 04, 08, 09, 14, 16, 23 T,S 04, 08, 09, 14, 16, 23
MIL-DTL-81381 T, S, N 00 Unshielded 05, 09, 11, 12, 22 T, S, N 05, 09, 11, 12, 22
See Table I A and Table I B for jacket material cross-reference.

1 T = Tin, S = Silver, N = Nickel, F = Stainless steel, C = Heavy coated nickel

Table III C - Color of Insulation for Identification of Wire Sizes in accordance with MIL-STD-686

Wire Size

261

 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 1 1/0 2/0

Insulation
Color
(solid)

 Black Blue Green Red White2 Blue Green Yellow Brown Red Blue Yellow Red White Blue Green
1 26 AWG is inactive for new design.
2 For MIL-DTL-81381 basic wire, the insulation color may be opaque dark yellow or unpigmented polyimide resin color.

Table III A - Circuit Identification Colors for Basic Wires in Cable in accordance with MIL-DTL-22759, MIL-DTL-25038, MIL-DTL-81044, or MIL-DTL-81381

No. of
Wires
in
Cable		 Wire Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 Basic
(white)		                            
2 White1 Blue                          
3 White1 Blue Orange                        
4 White1 Blue Orange Green                      
5 White1 Blue Orange Green Red                    
6 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black                  
7 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2                
8 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet              
9 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray            
10 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3          
114 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3 Blue/Blue        
124 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3 Blue/Blue Orange/Orange      
134 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3 Blue/Blue Orange/Orange Green/Green    
144 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3 Blue/Blue Orange/Orange Green/Green Red/Red  
154 White1 Blue Orange Green Red Black Yellow2 Violet Gray Brown3 Blue/Blue Orange/Orange Green/Green Red/Red Black/Black
1 Except where preferred color on basic wire specification sheet is not white.
2 Where basic wire is MIL-DTL-81381, a brown helical stripe shall be used.
3 Where basic wire is MIL-DTL-81381, a brown and white helical stripes shall be used.
4 For cables having more than 10 conductors, the wires shall be a white base identified by double color tracers as indicated.

Table III B - Circuit Identification Colors for Basic Wires in Cable in accordance with MIL-DTL-50861, MIL-DTL-8777, MIL-DTL-22759, MIL-DTL-25038, MIL-DTL-81044, or MIL-DTL-81381

No. of
Wires
in
Cable		 Identification Colors for Respective Wires in Cable
1 Basic (white)
2 Red, blue
3 Red, blue, yellow
4 Red, blue, yellow, green
5 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic
6 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black
7 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown
8 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange
9 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet
10 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray
11 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray, red/white2
12 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray, red/white2, blue/white2
13 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray, red/white2, blue/white2, yellow/white2
14 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray, red/white2, blue/white2, yellow/white2, green/white2
15 Red, blue, yellow, green, basic, black, brown, orange, violet, gray, red/white2, blue/white2, yellow/white2, green/white2, black/white
1 Inactive for new design for MIL-DTL-5086.
2 Color designation indicates a solid color with stripe, e.g., red/white - solid red insulation with a white stripe.
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