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Product

IEC 60584-3 Type KCB (VX) compensating cableIEC 60584-3 Type KCB (VX)Cu (+) / CuNi (−) Non-Magnetic0…+100 °C Junction Range

KCB Thermocouple Compensating CableCu / CuNi (VX) compensating cable for Type K thermocouples (0…+100 °C junctions)

Economical, non-magnetic Type KCB (formerly British VX) thermocouple compensating cable built to IEC 60584-3 with Copper (+ Cu) and Copper-Nickel (− CuNi) conductors calibrated to match the Type K (NiCr-NiAl) EMF slope over 0 °C to +100 °C.

Low-EMC design
EMC screen
Flame-retardant
Oil-resistant
Order designation
KCB-PVC-PiMF 4×2×1.5
Outer Ø ≈
14.3 mm
Total weight ≈
286 kg/km
Min. bend R (fixed)
107 mm
Configuration
4×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)
All sizes (15)
Request a quoteDatasheetWhatsApp
Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum
Compensates for
Type K (NiCr-Ni)
IEC 60584-3 KCB (legacy VX)
Alloy pair
Cu (+) / CuNi
Pure Copper (+) / CuNi 55/45 (−)
Junction range
0 °C to +100 °C
cold-junction transition range
EMF tolerance
Class 2: ±2.5 °C
±100 µV (measured at 900 °C)
Loop resistance
≈ 0.51 Ω/m/pair
at 1.0 mm² (0.018 + 0.49 Ω/m)
IEC colour code
+ Green / − Wh
Green outer jacket (or Ex-i Blue)

Typical values for this cable type, based on IEC 60584-3 / BS 4937-30 / BS EN 50288-7 — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is KCB right for your machine?

The most widely specified compensating cable for multi-pair Type K thermocouple marshalling trunks between field junction boxes (where ambient temperature stays within 0…+100 °C) and central DCS/PLC control rooms.

Fixed installation

Suitable

Supplied in PVC, XLPE/LSZH and SWA armoured multi-pair trunks (up to 24 pairs) for trays, racks and risers.

TBM gantry & advancing tunnel reel

Suitable

SWA armoured execution (KCB-XLPE-SWA) protects underground refinery, power-station and chemical plant trunk runs.

Offshore platform & shipboard deck trays

Suitable

Non-ferrous Cu/CuNi conductors will never rust in humid coastal or offshore atmospheres.

Energy chain / drag chain

Not suitable

Static installation cable; not designed for continuous flexing in drag chains.

PUR Drag-Chain Control Cable
Typical machinesOil Refineries, LNG & Petrochemical ComplexesCombined-Cycle & Biomass Power StationsChemical & Pharmaceutical Process PlantsWater, Waste-to-Energy & Incineration PlantsIndustrial Boiler & HVAC Marshalling Trunks

Construction

Layer by layer

Shown: KCB-PVC-PiMF 8×2×1.0 mm² (IEC 60584-3) with 7-wire stranded Cu (+) and CuNi (−) compensating conductors, Green (+) / White (−) numbered insulation, individual & collective Al/PET screens and Green RAL 6018 outer sheath.

12345
Schematic, not to scale — generated from the layer data
#LayerMaterial & reference
1Matched Type KCB (VX) compensating conductorsPositive (+): High-conductivity Copper (Cu) · Negative (−): Copper-Nickel (CuNi ~55/45), 7-wire stranded, both non-magneticMatches Type K ~40.6 µV/°C slope over 0…+100 °C while cutting loop resistance in half vs KX
2Colour-coded core insulationFlame-retardant PVC or XLPE (IEC 60584-3: + Green / − White, numbered pairs for multi-pair)Low dielectric loss and clear pair identification
3Individual & collective Al/PET screensAluminium/PET laminated tape + 0.5 mm² tinned copper drain wire (OS or PiMF+OS)100 % electrostatic shielding against plant VFD noise
4Optional SWA armourUnarmoured (Type 1) or Galvanised Steel Wire Armour (SWA, Type 2) over beddingCrush and rodent protection for underground and pipe-rack trunks
5Outer jacket (Green RAL 6018 or Blue RAL 5015 Ex-i)Flame-retardant PVC or Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen (LSZH)IEC 60332-1-2 / IEC 60332-3-24 Cat C flame retardant

KCB — IEC 60584-3 (Green/White)

Positive (+) Green, Negative (−) White, Outer Jacket Green (RAL 6018)

KCB Ex-i (Blue Outer Sheath)

Green (+) / White (−) cores with RAL 5015 Blue outer sheath for ATEX Ex-i loops

KCB-XLPE-SWA (Armoured Trunk)

XLPE insulated, SWA armoured, PVC or LSZH sheathed for underground multi-pair runs

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on IEC 60584-3 / BS 4937-30 / BS EN 50288-7. Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

Compensated thermocouple type
Type K (NiCr-NiAl) per IEC 60584-1 (legacy British code VX)
Positive conductor (+)
High-conductivity Copper (Cu, non-magnetic, ~1.72 µΩ·cm)
Negative conductor (−)
Calibrated Copper-Nickel (CuNi ~55/45, non-magnetic, ~49 µΩ·cm)
Tolerance Class 2 (IEC 60584-3)
±2.5 °C (±100 µV) over 0 °C to +100 °C junction range
Loop resistance @ 20 °C
≈ 1.02 Ω/m (0.5 mm²) · 0.51 Ω/m (1.0 mm²) · 0.34 Ω/m (1.5 mm²)

Thermal

Permissible junction temperature range
0 °C to +100 °C (use KCA or KX if head exceeds +100 °C)
Cable operating temperature
−25…+100 °C (PVC) · −40…+90 °C (XLPE/LSZH)

Mechanical

Conductor stranding
0.5 mm² (7/0.30) · 1.0 mm² (7/0.43) · 1.5 mm² (7/0.53)
Min. bending radius
7.5 × OD (unarmoured) · 10 × OD (SWA armoured)

Resistance

Flame retardance
IEC 60332-1-2 & IEC 60332-3-24 Cat C
Corrosion resistance
100 % non-ferrous Cu/CuNi conductors (no rusting in marine/offshore air)

Reference standards

Thermocouple cable standard
IEC 60584-3 & BS 4937-30 (legacy VX)
Cable construction standard
BS EN 50288-7 & BS 5308 Part 1 / Part 2

Identification

IEC 60584-3 colour code
(+) Green · (−) White · Outer sheath: Green (or Blue Ex-i)
Legacy BS 1843 / BS 4937 VX
(+) White · (−) Blue · Outer sheath: Red (available on request)
Customs tariff (HS)
8544.49

Sizes

15 standard KCB (VX) Type K compensating cable sizes

1 to 24 pairs in 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm² with PVC/PVC or XLPE/LSZH/SWA armoured construction.

Dimensions, construction & weights
Order designationConfigurationInsulation / SheathJunction rangeOuter Ø ≈
mm		Weight ≈
kg/km		Min. bend R
fixed mm		Enquiry
KCB PVC / PVC Screened Process & Marshalling Trunks (0…+100 °C)
KCB-PVC-OS 1×2×0.51×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (OS)0…+100 °C5.64442
KCB-PVC-PiMF 2×2×0.52×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C8.68464
KCB-PVC-PiMF 4×2×0.54×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C10.814281
KCB-PVC-PiMF 8×2×0.58×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C14.1246106
KCB-PVC-PiMF 12×2×0.512×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C16.9348127
KCB-PVC-PiMF 24×2×0.524×2×0.5 mm² (7/0.30)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C23.2642174
KCB-PVC-OS 1×2×1.01×2×1.0 mm² (7/0.43)PVC / PVC (OS)0…+100 °C6.76850
KCB-PVC-PiMF 4×2×1.04×2×1.0 mm² (7/0.43)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C12.821296
KCB-PVC-PiMF 8×2×1.08×2×1.0 mm² (7/0.43)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C16.9378127
KCB-PVC-OS 1×2×1.51×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)PVC / PVC (OS)0…+100 °C7.59256
KCB-PVC-PiMF 4×2×1.54×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C14.3286107
KCB-PVC-PiMF 8×2×1.58×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)PVC / PVC (PiMF+OS)0…+100 °C19.2515144
KCB XLPE / LSZH / SWA Armoured Direct-Burial Trunks (0…+90 °C)
KCB-XLPE-SWA 1×2×1.51×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)XLPE / SWA / LSZH0…+90 °C12.1298121
KCB-XLPE-SWA 4×2×1.54×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)XLPE / SWA / LSZH0…+90 °C19.8745198
KCB-XLPE-SWA 8×2×1.58×2×1.5 mm² (7/0.53)XLPE / SWA / LSZH0…+90 °C25.41,210254
  • Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
  • KCB is calibrated strictly for transition junctions between 0 °C and +100 °C.

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
Thermoelectric EMF calibration test (IEC 60584-3 Class 2)EMF deviation within ±2.5 °C (±100 µV) at +100 °C reference temperatureEvery alloy batch
1500 V / 2000 V AC dielectric & continuity test1 min AC withstand test without breakdownEvery manufactured drum

Inspection certificate

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

Product approvals

IEC 60584-3 Class 2 (KCB) CertifiedBS EN 50288-7 & BS 5308 CompliantCE, RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU) & REACH

Company certificates

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

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

TEBAOFLEX KCB (VX) TYPE K COMPENSATING <size> IEC 60584-3 CLASS 2 CE
Delivery form
Non-returnable fumigated wooden drums
Standard lengths
500 m · 1000 m standard drums (cut lengths on request)
MOQ
500 m (stock sizes) · 1000 m (custom)
Lead time
2–4 weeks ex-works
Incoterms
EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP

Technical documents

Downloads

PDFKCB Thermocouple Compensating Cable – technical datasheet15 sizes · construction, technical data, approvalsXLSXKCB spec data (Excel)All 15 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.

Is KCB the same as the legacy British code VX?
Yes. Under the former British Standard BS 1843 / BS 4937, Copper / Copper-Nickel compensating cable for Type K thermocouples was designated 'VX'. Under IEC 60584-3, it is designated 'KCB' (+ Green / − White). Both use the same Cu (+) / CuNi (−) alloy pair calibrated over 0 °C to +100 °C.
What happens if a junction box wired with KCB exceeds +100 °C?
Above +100 °C, the Seebeck curve of Cu/CuNi diverges rapidly from that of NiCr/NiAl (Type K), introducing errors well beyond ±2.5 °C. If the thermocouple connection head or marshalling box can exceed +100 °C, specify KCA (rated to +200 °C) or true KX extension cable.
Why is KCB so popular for offshore platforms and coastal refineries?
Unlike KCA (which uses an Iron positive leg) or KX (which uses costly Nickel-Chromium / Nickel-Aluminium), KCB uses non-ferrous Copper and Copper-Nickel conductors that are supple to terminate, corrosion-resistant in salt air, and economical in 12-pair or 24-pair armoured trunks.
How should the screen and drain wire of KCB be earthed in instrumentation and Ex-i loops?
To prevent circulating 50/60 Hz ground-loop currents from coupling into millivolt or 4–20 mA signals, the Al/PET screen and tinned copper drain wire of KCB should be bonded to the clean instrumentation earth bar at one end only (typically in the control/marshalling cabinet) and insulated against chassis contact at the field transmitter or junction box, in accordance with IEC 60079-14 and EN 50288-7.

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KCB Thermocouple Compensating Cable

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