Medium Voltage Cable Terminations.
Heat-shrink, cold-shrink, and pre-molded terminations for shielded cable in the 5kV–35kV class — indoor and outdoor, classified under IEEE 48 for utility, industrial, renewable, data center, and commercial systems.
- Voltage class
- 5–35kV
- Manufacturers
- 5
- IEEE 48 classes
- 3
Manufacturers.
IEEE 48 classes.
IEEE 48 is the primary standard governing terminations on shielded medium-voltage cable. It classifies a termination by the level of protection it provides — stress control, external leakage insulation, and environmental sealing.
-
IEEE 48-2020
The governing standard — test procedures and requirements for AC terminations on shielded cable, laminated insulation 2.5 kV through 765 kV and extruded insulation 2.5 kV through 500 kV.
-
Class 1
Full protection — electrical stress control, complete external leakage insulation, and a seal against the environment. Preferred for unprotected outdoor service; subdivided 1A / 1B / 1C by cable dielectric.
-
Class 2
Stress control plus external leakage insulation between conductor and ground, without the environmental seal of a Class 1 unit.
-
Class 3
Electrical stress control only — no external leakage insulation or environmental seal. Matched to the installation environment.
-
IEEE 386
The companion standard for loadbreak and deadbreak separable insulated connector systems rated 900 A or less, for use on shielded power distribution systems rated 2.5 kV through 35 kV. Separable connectors are classified under IEEE 386 rather than IEEE 48 — covered under Elbow Connectors.
Installation technologies.
Heat-shrink
Non-tracking tubing with a co-extruded stress-control grading layer, recovered onto the prepared cable with a torch or hot-air gun. Forms a strong seal against moisture and contaminants — a long-proven approach for indoor and outdoor service.
Cold-shrink
Pre-expanded elastomeric tubing held open by a removable core. As the core is withdrawn it recovers evenly and void-free onto the cable — no open flame, faster installs, and the preferred choice in hazardous or space-constrained locations.
Pre-molded
Factory-molded rubber components slid onto the prepared cable end, with stress control built into the molding. Consistent, repeatable interfaces for crews that prefer a slip-on component over field-recovered tubing.
FAQ.
What is a medium-voltage cable termination?
A medium-voltage cable termination is the accessory installed on the end of a shielded power cable. It controls the electrical stress that concentrates where the cable's insulation shield is cut back, and provides external insulation between the conductor and ground at the connection point.
Terminations on shielded AC cable are governed by IEEE 48.
What do the IEEE 48 termination classes mean?
IEEE 48 sorts terminations by which of three functions they provide: electrical stress control, external leakage insulation between conductor and ground, and a seal against the environment.
Class 1 provides all three — stress control, full external leakage insulation, and an environmental seal — and is preferred for unprotected outdoor service. It is subdivided 1A, 1B, and 1C by the cable's dielectric. Class 2 provides stress control and external leakage insulation without the seal. Class 3 provides stress control only.
The class is chosen to suit the installation environment.
What is the difference between heat-shrink, cold-shrink, and pre-molded terminations?
Heat-shrink terminations use a torch or hot-air gun to recover non-tracking tubing — with a co-extruded stress-control layer — onto the prepared cable.
Cold-shrink terminations are pre-expanded elastomeric tubes that recover without flame as an inner support core is withdrawn, contracting void-free onto the cable.
Pre-molded terminations are factory-molded rubber components slid onto the prepared cable end, with stress control built into the molding.
How is the right termination selected?
Selection is matched to the cable's voltage class, conductor size range, and insulation type, the required IEEE 48 class, and whether the installation is indoor or outdoor.
The termination must suit both the cable construction and the equipment it lands on — switchgear, transformer, motor, or equipment bushing. Send what you have through Contact and Hawk MV Supply will match it against the project documents.
Which manufacturers does Hawk carry for terminations?
Hawk carries medium-voltage cable termination products from 3M, TE Connectivity, Raychem, Elastimold, and Richards Manufacturing.
Does Hawk publish termination pricing or lead times?
No. Cable terminations are priced per project.
Send the voltage class, cable size, IEEE 48 class, and installation environment through Contact — pricing and availability are confirmed once those are defined.
Sourcing terminations?
Send the voltage class, cable size range, installation technology, IEEE 48 class, and indoor/outdoor service — Hawk MV Supply will fill in the rest.
Medium-voltage cable terminations across the 5kV–35kV class.
Hawk MV Supply sources medium-voltage cable terminations for the full 5kV through 35kV class — heat-shrink, cold-shrink, and pre-molded designs for shielded cable, in both indoor and outdoor service. A termination controls the electrical stress that concentrates where the cable's metallic insulation shield is cut back, and provides external insulation between the energized conductor and ground. Terminations on shielded AC cable are governed by IEEE 48, which sorts them by class: Class 1 provides stress control, full external leakage insulation, and an environmental seal — and is preferred for unprotected outdoor installations — while Class 2 and Class 3 provide progressively less external protection, matched to the installation environment. A termination is specified by voltage class, conductor size range, installation technology, IEEE 48 class, and indoor or outdoor rating; exact values are confirmed per project.
Terminations land at every end point of a shielded medium-voltage cable — at switchgear, transformers, motors, and equipment bushings — across utility, industrial, renewable, data center, and large commercial systems. Hawk carries termination products from 3M, TE Connectivity, Raychem, Elastimold, and Richards Manufacturing. Brand names and logos are the property of their respective owners; specifications shown are typical industry ranges, with product availability and exact values confirmed at quote.