MIL-DTL-16878/38A
TABLE I. Wire configuration and dimensions.
Conductor
Finished wire
diameter
diameter
Conductor
Wire
1/
PIN
Stranding
(nominal)
(inch)
size
(inch)
Min
Max
Material
Coating
M16878/38BHE*
18
19 X 30
Copper
Tin
.049
.090
.110
M16878/38BJE*
16
19 X 29
Copper
Tin
.056
.097
.112
M16878/38BKE*
14
19X 27
Copper
Tin
.069
.122
.127
M16878/38BLE*
12
19 X 25
Copper
Tin
.088
.130
.145
M16878/38BMG*
10
37 X 26
Copper
Tin
.111
.156
.170
Notes:
1/ PIN stands for part or identifying number (see figure 2).
M16878/
38
B
L
E
*
Military designation
Specification sheet
Conductor
Conductor
Conductor
Color
material
size
stranding
code
FIGURE 2. Example of PIN (see MIL-DTL-16878G).
Operating voltage:
Up to 5000 volts
Up to 125 °C
Operating temperature:
Insulation:
Extruded ethylene-propylene diene elastomer (EPDM)
Spark test voltage:
11 kV
Impulse dielectric test voltage:
15 kV, or 10.6 kV using the 3.0 kHz spark test
Dielectric withstanding voltage:
7.5 kV
Insulation resistance:
IR = K log10 D/d
Where: IR = Minimum insulation resistance in megohms
per 1000 feet at 20 °C
K = 1,500
D = Maximum average diameter of finished wire
d = Conductor diameter
Condition 4 hours at -25±1 °C (see table II)
Cold bend:
TABLE II. Cold bend mandrel sizes.
Cold bend mandrel diameter
Wire size
(inches, maximum)
18 through 10
1
Surface resistance:
Not required
Condition at 150 °C
Heat resistance:
Heat aging:
Not required
Insulation tensile strength:
1500 pounds force per square inch (minimum)
2