PVC vs PILC Cables

THE article by K V Subrahmanyam in the issue of January 20, 1968 ("PILC or PVC?") and the Business Note "Missing Links in Cables" in the issue of February 24, 1968 support the current view of the Government that a stage has been reached for a complete changeover to PVC cables upto 11 kv, In arguing the case, consideration has been given to the use of PVC cables in industrial and mining applications (there is very little doubt that in these situations, PVC cables compare favourably in performance to PILC); but it would be unfair if the conclusions drawn from such limited considerations were to be applied not for a selective or phased, but for an immediate and total, changeover in the underground cable networks of electric supply utilities where PVC cables are yet to prove their suitability. Some of the inherent fundamental properties of PVC tend to limit its usefulness, especially when the cables are to be used in public utility networks. A few of these limitations are discussed below.