This Defence Standard specifies the requirements for flexible cables and wires used for the interconnection of ground equipment, and for providing ground power supplies to aircraft, vehicles and other equipment used by the MOD.

These cables and wires are suitable for use at voltages up to 500 Vrms (where the conductor size is 2.5mm² or less), or 750 Vrms (where the conductor size is 4mm² or greater), at frequencies up to 400 Hz, and where the combination of ambient temperature and temperature rise due to the current produces a stabilized conductor temperature not exceeding 85°C. Current ratings are shown in Table 5. These cables and wires are suitable for deployment and recovery at temperatures down to -34°C.

Cables and wires listed in Table 6 and 9 and 11 and 12 have an overall elastomeric sheath of heavy duty, heat resistant, oil resistant and flame retardant compound.

There are five types of cables and wires covered, as follows: 

Sheathground electrical power cables and wires (unscreened); 

Table 6 – One to four cores inclusive, 

Table 11 – Two and fours cores only, these items are only permitted for maintenance purposes. 

Metsheath electrical power cables (collectively screened); 

Table 7 – Four & five cores only,

Table 12 – Two cores only, these items are only permitted for maintenance purposes. 

Sheathgroundtrailer electrical power cables (unscreened);

Table 8 - Two & four power cores only with additional monitoring or control cores. 

Metsheathgroundtrailer electrical power cables (collectively screened); 

Table 9 - Two & four power cores only with additional monitoring core.

Field Electrical Power Distribution System (FEPDS) electrical power cables (unscreened);

Table 10 - Single, three and five core with and without pilot cores.

The general use of each cable type by table designation is as follows; 

Tables 6 and 7 list flexible cables and wires for the general interconnection of electrical equipment or provision of ground supplies, 

Tables 8 and 9 deal more specifically with flexible cables for ground supplies to aircraft and other vehicles on airfields, and incorporate monitoring and control cores or a pilot core,

Tables 7 and 9 specify a metal braid between inner and overall sheaths, to provide improved mechanical protection and earth fault impedance, d) Table 10 list flexible cables unscreened, of reduced weight and diameter for field power distribution some of which incorporate pilot conductors, 

Tables 11 and 12 list items to be used for maintenance purposes only.

This Standard does not include a Table listing items which are no longer to be provisioned but attention is drawn to the historical record on the opposite page. 

A cross reference to the cables and wires formerly covered by the EL Specifications which have been superseded by this Standard appears in Annex A.