Difference Between HV and LV

Cables
by Viral Nagda
In this article, we will learn the difference between HV and LV cables.

Electrical cables come in seven different categories of voltages. They

are – rated, nominal, extra-low, low, medium, high and extra-
high.

Cables work on voltage levels. They are selected depending upon

the voltage that will be passed through wires. In this post, we will
see some basic differences between two widely used cables – HV
(High Voltage) and LV (Low Voltage).

Both these cables use copper and aluminium as conductor alloys.

HV Cables
HV cables are used for a very high voltage transmission; typically
used in power plants and transformers. It will vary between 33kV to
220kV. They mostly work on power grids.

The reason for using such types of cables is that they increase
efficiency in a very good way. As they are very high voltages, the
insulation too must be very strong in such high tension wires.

They have a very high layer of insulation protection for a reliable

transmission mode. Due to a high level of electrical engineering
used in the transmission of the voltage of such large levels, a very
big scale of industrial automation technologies like DCS, SCADA,
and other centralized modes of control are used so that the
transmission happens properly through these cables and there is no
risk to human life or nearby surrounding.
LV Cables
LV cables are used for domestic and small-scale industrial purposes.
It will vary between 70V to 600V. A large scale of automation
technologies and factories employing it use these cables as they are
enough to satisfy the working of machines.

It can be said that if high voltage cables are used for power
purposes, then low voltage cables are used for control purposes. In
any case, no human can touch these live wires, or else it may cause
death.
Voltage from power plants is stepped down through transformers
and substations; which then give us a normal reliable voltage for
our domestic and industrial purposes.

To pass all these voltage levels efficiently, cables play a very

important role and each cable has its own electrical properties
which must be understood properly before selecting it