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Product

CAN Bus, SAE J1939, DeviceNet & CC-Link CablesSAE J1939-11 & J1939-15120 Ω · Yellow CAN_H / Green CAN_L-40 to +125 °C Truck & Off-Highway

SAE J1939 J1939 Vehicle CAN CableSAE J1939-11 & J1939-15 120 Ω 20/18 AWG Yellow/Green commercial vehicle & off-highway

SAE J1939 Vehicle CAN Cable is a 120 Ω ± 12 Ω heavy-duty automotive and off-highway CAN bus cable engineered to SAE J1939-11 (shielded 3-conductor: Yellow CAN_H, Green CAN_L, uninsulated stranded drain wire + Al/PET foil) and SAE J1939-15

Low-EMC design
EMC screen
Oil-resistant
Approved
Order designation
SAE J1939-11 Shielded 2×18 AWG + 18 AWG Drain
Outer Ø ≈
7.6 mm
Copper weight
31 kg/km
Total weight ≈
70 kg/km
Min. bend R (fixed)
46 mm
All sizes (5)
Request a quoteDatasheetWhatsApp
Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum
Impedance Z0
120 Ω ± 12 Ω
At 1 MHz per SAE J1939-11 / -15
Conductor size
20 AWG / 18 AWG
19-strand tinned Cu (0.5 / 0.8 mm²)
Core colours
Yellow & Green
Yellow (CAN_H) · Green (CAN_L) + Drain
Temp. range
-40 to +125 °C
SAE J1128 / ISO 6722 engine-bay class
Data rate
250k / 500 kbps
Up to 40 m backbone · 1–3 m stubs
Fluid resistance
Diesel / DEF
AdBlue, hydraulic oil, battery acid

Typical values for this cable type, based on SAE J1939-11 (Shielded 3-Core) / SAE J1939-15 (Unshielded 2-Core) — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is SAE J1939 right for your machine?

Engineered for heavy-duty trucks, buses, construction excavators, mining haul trucks, marine diesel engines, and agricultural powertrains linking ECUs, transmissions, telematics, and Tier 4 / Euro

Fixed installation

Suitable

Routes along heavy truck chassis rails and engine harnesses from -40 °C arctic cold to +125 °C engine bays.

Switchgear & control cabinet wiring

Suitable

Sized to crimp and seal directly into Deutsch DT04/DT06 3-pin Y-splitters and Amphenol AT receptacles.

Immersion & wet locations

Suitable

Withstands high-pressure chassis washdown, road salt, diesel fuel, DEF/AdBlue, and hydraulic fluid.

Energy chain / drag chain

With conditions

PUR articulated-boom variant handles loader arm flexing; for high-speed indoor drag chains use CAN Bus Chain PUR.

CAN bus cable
Typical machinesHeavy-duty commercial trucks & busesExcavators, loaders & mining haulersMarine & stationary diesel gensetsDefense & specialty emergency vehicles

Construction

Layer by layer

One twisted pair of 19-strand tinned copper conductors (20 AWG / 0.52 mm² or 18 AWG / 0.82 mm²) insulated with cross-linked polyolefin

1234
Schematic, not to scale — generated from the layer data
#LayerMaterial & reference
119-strand tinned copper conductors20 AWG (19×32 AWG, 0.52 mm²) or 18 AWG (19×30 AWG, 0.82 mm²) tinned copper per SAE J1128SAE J1939-11 / J1939-15
2XLPE / high-temp polyolefin dielectricCross-linked polyolefin insulation in Yellow (CAN_H) and Green (CAN_L), 120 Ω geometrySAE J1939-11
3CAN_SHLD foil + drain wire (J1939-11)100 % Al/PET tape screen in continuous contact with a full-gauge 20/18 AWG strandedSAE J1939-11
4Heavy-duty automotive jacket-40 to +125 °C cross-linked TPE, TPU (PUR), or XLPO resistant to diesel, DEF, and abrasionSAE J1128 / ISO 6722-1 Class C

SAE J1939-11 Shielded 3-Conductor (20 AWG & 18 AWG)

Yellow CAN_H + Green CAN_L + full-gauge stranded drain wire inside 100 % Al/PET screen (Deutsch DT 3-pin

SAE J1939-15 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP 20 AWG & 18 AWG)

Reduced-weight 120 Ω unshielded Yellow/Green twisted pair with tight lay pitch and jacket for 250/500 kbps.

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on SAE J1939-11 (Shielded 3-Core) / SAE J1939-15 (Unshielded 2-Core). Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

Characteristic impedance Z0
120 Ω ± 12 Ω at 1 MHz
Max. DC conductor resistance @ 20 °C
≤ 36.7 Ω/km (20 AWG) · ≤ 23.2 Ω/km (18 AWG)
Mutual capacitance (core-to-core)
≈ 40 pF/m (core-to-shield ≤ 75 pF/m on
Velocity of propagation (VoP)
≈ 68–72 % (propagation delay ≤ 5.0 ns/m)
Attenuation @ 1 MHz
≤ 1.3 dB/100m (20 AWG) · ≤ 1.0 dB/100m (18
Operating / test voltage
60 V DC automotive (300 V UL option) · 1.5

Thermal

Operating temperature range
-40 °C to +125 °C (ISO 6722 Class C / SAE
Cold bend test
-40 °C for 4 h without cracking

Mechanical

Min. bending radius
6 × D fixed · 10 × D flexing
Twist lay length
25 to 33 twists per metre (30–40 mm pitch

Resistance

Automotive fluid resistance
Diesel, gasoline, engine oil, hydraulic
Flame retardancy
ISO 6722-1 45° flame test · SAE J1128 · UL

Reference standards

Primary specification
SAE J1939-11 (Shielded) · SAE J1939-15
Automotive wire standard
SAE J1128 / ISO 6722-1

Identification

Core colours (mandatory SAE)
Yellow = CAN_H · Green = CAN_L · Bare =
Outer sheath colour
Black (or Yellow / Grey stripe option)

Sizes

5 standard configurations (SAE J1939)

Nominal dimensions, copper weights, impedance and transmission parameters for SAE J1939 per SAE J1939-11 (Shielded 3-Core) / SAE J1939-15 (Unshielded 2-Core).

Dimensions & weights
Order designationConfigurationConductor sizeOuter Ø ≈
mm		Copper
kg/km		Weight ≈
kg/km		Min. bend R
fixed mm		Enquiry
Standard SAE J1939 configurations
SAE J1939-11 Shielded 2×20 AWG + 20 AWG Drain2×20 AWG + Drain (J1939-11)20 AWG (0.52 mm²)6.9215441
SAE J1939-11 Shielded 2×18 AWG + 18 AWG Drain2×18 AWG + Drain (J1939-11)18 AWG (0.82 mm²)7.6317046
SAE J1939-15 Unshielded 1×2×20 AWG Jacketed1×2×20 AWG UTP (J1939-15)20 AWG (0.52 mm²)5.5133633
SAE J1939-15 Unshielded 1×2×18 AWG Jacketed1×2×18 AWG UTP (J1939-15)18 AWG (0.82 mm²)6.1204637
SAE J1939-11 Heavy-Duty Braid + Foil 2×18 AWG2×18 AWG + Foil/Braid (Off-Highway)18 AWG (0.82 mm²)8.1428849
  • Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
  • Outer diameters and weights are nominal factory values subject to ±5 % manufacturing tolerance per SAE J1939-11 (Shielded 3-Core) / SAE J1939-15 (Unshielded 2-Core).

Quality & approvals

Testing & inspection

Routine tests on every production length, sample and type tests per batch — documented on an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate.

  1. ConductorClass 5 stranding
  2. Spark test100 % in-line
  3. Lay-upCores, earth, fillers
  4. SheathingInner, braid / screen, outer
  5. Electrical testsAC voltage, resistance
  6. DimensionsOD, wall thickness
  7. Inspection documents & dispatchDrum & dispatch
Testing & inspectionTest value / referenceFrequency
Routine tests
1 MHz characteristic impedance & capacitanceZ0 = 120 ± 12 Ω; mutual capacitance ≈ 40 pF/m100 % of reels
DC resistance & 1.5 kV spark/dielectric test≤ 36.7 Ω/km (20 AWG) / ≤ 23.2 Ω/km (18 AWG) per core100 % of reels
Sample tests
ISO 6722 -40 °C cold winding & +125 °C thermal aging168 h / 3000 h thermal endurance without crackingPer production batch
Diesel, DEF (AdBlue) & hydraulic oil immersionISO 6722-1 fluid compatibility passType approval

Inspection certificate

Issued with every drum, listing the routine test results for that length.

Product approvals

SAE J1939-11 / J1939-15SAE J1128 / ISO 6722-1UL AWM / RoHS / REACH

Company certificates

ISO 9001ISO 14001ISO 45001VDE marks approvalUL / cULCE · LVD / EMC

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

TEBAOFLEX SAE J1939-11 / J1939-15 VEHICLE
Delivery form
Non-returnable plywood reels or export drums
Standard reel lengths
100 m · 305 m · 500 m · 1000 m
MOQ
100 m (stock variants) · 500 m (custom)
Lead time
2–3 weeks ex-works
Incoterms
EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP

Technical documents

Downloads

PDFSAE J1939 J1939 Vehicle CAN Cable – technical datasheet5 sizes · construction, technical data, approvalsXLSXSAE J1939 spec data (Excel)All 5 sizes with dimensions and data, for your BOM or quotation
Revision
2026-10-20
Updated
2026-10-20

FAQ

Questions engineers ask first

Not covered here? Send your drawing — an engineer replies within 2 business hours.

What is the difference between SAE J1939-11 and SAE J1939-15 vehicle CAN cables?
SAE J1939-11 is a 3-conductor shielded cable containing Yellow (CAN_H), Green (CAN_L), and a full-gauge bare stranded drain wire (CAN_SHLD) wrapped in a 100 % Al/PET tape screen for Deutsch DT 3-pin connectors. SAE J1939-15 is a reduced-physical-layer 2-conductor unshielded twisted pair (UTP) inside a protective jacket.
Why does SAE J1939-11 use a full-gauge 20 AWG or 18 AWG drain wire instead of a fine drain wire?
In heavy trucks and excavators, the CAN_SHLD drain wire is crimped directly into Pin C of sealed Deutsch DT04/DT06 3-way connectors and Y-tees. Making the drain wire the exact same 20 AWG or 18 AWG stranding as CAN_H and CAN_L lets harness builders use identical crimp contacts on all three pins.
Can SAE J1939 cable survive routing inside a +125 °C diesel engine compartment?
Yes. Unlike standard +80 °C PVC industrial CAN cables, our SAE J1939 cable uses cross-linked polyolefin (XLPE) core insulation and a +125 °C TPE/XL-PUR outer jacket tested to ISO 6722-1 Class C against hot engine oil, diesel fuel, and DEF/AdBlue. Each production reel undergoes 100 % characteristic impedance verification, mutual capacitance and DC loop resistance testing, and dielectric spark/withstand inspection before dispatch with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
What are the maximum backbone and drop lengths for a 250 kbps or 500 kbps J1939 network?
Under SAE J1939-11 and J1939-15 (250 kbps) and J1939-14 (500 kbps), the main linear trunk supports up to 40 m between the two 120 Ω terminating resistors, with individual ECU drop stubs kept under 1.0 m (250 kbps) or 0.3–1.0 m (500 kbps). Each production reel undergoes 100 % characteristic impedance verification, mutual capacitance and DC loop resistance testing, and dielectric spark/withstand inspection before dispatch with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.

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SAE J1939 J1939 Vehicle CAN Cable

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