Technical Articles

Cable Jacket Types Explained

Nomenclature Key

What each letter in the cable jacket description means.

S	Service Grade (also means extra hard service when not followed by J, V, or P)
J	Hard Service
V	Vacuum cleaner cord (also light duty cable)
P	Parallel cord (also known as zip cord) – Always light duty
E	Thermoplastic Elastomer (UL/NEC designation ONLY)
O	Oil Resistant*
T	Thermoplastic
W	Outdoor-includes sunlight resistant jacket and wet location rated conductors (formerly "W-A")
H	Heater cable
VW-1	Flame retardant (Vertical specimen Flame Test)
FT2	Flame retardant (Horizontal specimen Flame Test)

* When only one "O" appears in a classification (i.e. SJEOW), only the outer jacket material is oil resistant. If two "O's" are in the classification (i.e. SEOOW), the insulation covering the conductors and the outer jacket insulation are both oil resistant.

Reference Chart

Below is an easy to follow reference chart to help you decide which jacket type is right for you.

Type	Description	AWG Size Range	Number of Conductors	Insulation / Jacket Material	Voltage	Applications
TPT	Tinsel Parallel Thermoplastic	27 Tinsel	2	PVC / No Jacket	250	\\\\
TS	Tinsel Service	27 Tinsel	2	Rubber / Rubber	125	\\\\
TST	Tinsel Service Thermoplastic	27 Tinsel	2	PVC / PVC	125	\\\\
SPT-1	Service Parallel Thermoplastic - 1/64" Insulation	18	2 or 3	PVC / No Jacket	300	Indoor use only: cords for lamps small fans, radios, televisions, etc.
SPT-2	Service Parallel Thermoplastic - 2/64" Insulation	18-16	2 or 3	PVC / No Jacket	300	Indoor use only: cords for lamps small fans, radios, televisions, etc.
SPT-3	Service Parallel Thermoplastic - 3/64" Insulation	18-10	2 or 3	PVC / No Jacket	300	Indoor use only: cords for lamps small fans, radios, televisions, etc.
SPE-1	Service Parallel Elastomer - 1/64" Insulation	18	2 or 3	Elastomer / No Jacket	300	\\\\
SPE-2	Service Parallel Elastomer - 2/64" Insulation	18-16	2 or 3	Elastomer / No Jacket	300	\\\\
SPE-3	Service Parallel Elastomer - 3/64" Insulation	18-10	2 or 3	Elastomer / No Jacket	300	\\\\
SV	Service Vacuum	18	2 or 3	Rubber / Rubber	300	\\\\
SVO	SV with Oil Resistant Jacket	18	2 or 3	Rubber / Rubber	300	\\\\
SVOO	SVO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18	2 or 3	Rubber / Rubber	300	\\\\
SVT	Service Vacuum Thermoplastic	18 or 17	2 or 3	PVC / PVC	300	Indoor use only: Cords for vacuum cleaners, fans and portable lights. Extra flexible.
SVTO	SVT with Oil Resistant Jacket	18 or 17	2 or 3	PVC / PVC	300	Indoor use only: Cords for vacuum cleaners, fans and portable lights. Extra flexible.
SVTOO	SVTO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18 or 17	2 or 3	PVC / PVC	300	Indoor use only: Cords for vacuum cleaners, fans and portable lights. Extra flexible.
SVE	Service Vacuum Elastomer	18 or 17	2 or 3	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	\\\\
SVEO	SVE with Oil Resistant Jacket	18 or 17	2 or 3	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	\\\\
SVEOO	SVEO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18 or 17	2 or 3	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	\\\\
SJ	Service Junior	18-10	2, 3 or 4	Rubber / Rubber	300	\\\\
SJO	SJ with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-10	2, 3 or 4	Rubber / Neoprene	300	\\\\
SJOO	SJO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18-10	2, 3 or 4	PVC / PVC	300	\\\\
SJT	Service Junior Thermoplastic	18-10	2, 3 or 4	PVC / PVC	300	Hard usage indoors.
SJTO	SJT with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-10	2, 3 or 4	PVC / PVC	300	Hard usage indoors.
SJTOO	SJTO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18-10	2, 3 or 4	PVC / PVC	300	Hard usage indoors.
SJTW	SJT with Outdoor Jacket	18-14	2, 3 or 4	PVC / PVC	300	Hard usage outdoors: cords for lawn equipment, etc..
SJE	Service Junior Elastomer	18-10	2, 3, 4 or 5	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	\\\\
SJWO	SJE with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-10	2, 3, 4 or 5	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	\\\\
SJEOW	SJEO with Outdoor Jacket	18-10	2, 3, 4 or 5	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	Hard usage outdoors: cords for lawn equipment, etc..
SJEOO	SJEO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18-10	2, 3, 4 or 5	Elastomer/ Elastomer	300	Hard usage outdoors: cords for lawn equipment, etc..
S	Service	18-2	2 or more	Rubber / Rubber	600	\\\\
SO	Service with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-2	2 or more	Rubber / Neoprene	600	\\\\
SOO	SO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18-2	2 or more	Rubber / Neoprene	600	\\\\
ST	Service Thermoplastic	18-2	2 or more	PVC / PVC	600	Extra hard usage indoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
STW	ST with Outdoor Jacket	18-2	2 or more	PVC / PVC	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
STO	ST with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-2	2 or more	PVC / PVC	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
SE	Service Elastomer	18-2	2 or more	Elastomer/ Elastomer	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
SEO	SE with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-2	2 or more	Elastomer/ Elastomer	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
SEOW	SEO with Outdoor Jacket	18-2	2 or more	Elastomer/ Elastomer	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
SEOO	SEO with Oil Resistant Insulation	18-2	2 or more	Elastomer/ Elastomer	600	Extra hard usage outdoors: Heavy Industrial equipment.
HPN	Heater Parallel Neoprene	118-12	2 or 3	Neoprene / No Jacket	300	\\\\
HSJ	Heater Service Junior	18-12	2, 3 or 4	Neoprene / Rubber	300	\\\\
HSJO	HSJ with Oil Resistant Jacket	18-12	2, 3 or 4	Neoprene / Neoprene	300	\\\\
HS	Heater Service	14-12	2, 3 or 4	Neoprene / Rubber	300	\\\\
HSO	Heater Service with Oil Resistant Jacket	14-12	2, 3 or 4	Neoprene / Neoprene	300	\\\\
SRDT	\\\	10-6	3 or more	Vinyl Plastic	N/A	Range and Dryer Cords