Electrical Wire Insulation

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is the voltage rating on a cable the rated system voltage or does it specify the dielectric strength of each individual conductor's insulation? (i.e., in a multiconductor cable rated for 600V, are each individual conductors insulated for 600V? does a single conductor cable rated for 600V have 600V of insulation or is rated to be used in a 600V sytem?
 
Per NEMA WC7/ICEA S-95-658, Section 1.3.2 it is the rated circuit voltage, phase to phase.
 
I think I have this right, but someone will correct me if I don't. Let's limit the discussion to 600 volt rated conductors.

I believe that for a multi-conductor cable, the insullation that surrounds each individual conductor is rated for 600 volts. The fact that the set of conductors has an overall jacket means nothing, in the context of the voltage rating of the cable. That is, the insulating properties of the jacket are not taken into account, when the voltage rating of the cable is determined.

For a single conductor cable with an outer jacket, the insulation itself is rated for the 600 volts, and the insulating properties of the jacket are irrelevant.

For a single conductor cable that does not have an outer jacket, the insulation itself is, once again, rated for the 600 volts.

Is that what you were asking?
 
charlie b said:
I think I have this right, but someone will correct me if I don't. Let's limit the discussion to 600 volt rated conductors.

I believe that for a multi-conductor cable, the insullation that surrounds each individual conductor is rated for 600 volts. The fact that the set of conductors has an overall jacket means nothing, in the context of the voltage rating of the cable. That is, the insulating properties of the jacket are not taken into account, when the voltage rating of the cable is determined.

For a single conductor cable with an outer jacket, the insulation itself is rated for the 600 volts, and the insulating properties of the jacket are irrelevant.

For a single conductor cable that does not have an outer jacket, the insulation itself is, once again, rated for the 600 volts.

Is that what you were asking?
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I think that the question is if each conductor insulation is rated 600V or is the insulation between two conductors are rated 600V. Since single conductors are labeled w the insulation level, it would imply to me that the insulation level is 600V to ground, or to another potential difference between the enclosed conductor and another conductive element. But that logic would be faulty if Robert is correct with the ICEA definition that the insulation level printed on the individual conductors or on the jacket of a 3/4 wire cable refers to the utilized circuit voltage level of phase-to-phase maximum voltage difference.
 
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