MIL-W-16878 Cable Designation

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

Standard Wire & Cable Company can supply you with the right sizes, types, and quantities of product you need to keep you on schedule and your management happy. We have been doing this for companies since 1947.

If you need a non-stock item, don't worry. We will have it made for you. Custom cable and custom heat shrink shapes are another of our specialties. We provide design, engineering, and manufacturing solutions to meet your exact requirements.

ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D CERTIFIED Manufacturing and Distribution of Wire, Cable, and Industry - Related Products