What are the primary applications for UL 3266 wire?

According to the official UL standard, UL 3266 wire is designated for the internal wiring of appliances and electronic equipment where a reliable cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation is required.

What are the temperature and voltage ratings of UL 3266?

UL 3266 is rated for a continuous operating temperature of 125°C and a voltage of 300 Vac. Notably, it is also rated for 600 Volts Peak when used for electronic purposes.

What type of insulation is used on UL 3266 wire?

The wire features extruded XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene) insulation with a minimum average thickness of 15 mils, offering superior thermal stability and resistance to abrasion compared to standard PVC.

UL 3266 XLPE Wire

This category covers UL 3266 XLPE wire — a single-conductor construction with extruded crosslinked polyethylene insulation, rated 125°C maximum at 300 Vac under UL Subject 758, Section 3. The conductor range is 32 AWG to 10 AWG in solid or stranded construction, with a 15 mils minimum average insulation wall (13 mils minimum at any point). The UL Style file states the use as internal wiring. Tags may indicate 600 Volts Peak — For Electronic Use Only; this is a tag statement for electronic-use conditions and is not the normal working voltage, which is 300 Vac.

The compact 15 mils wall is the practical characteristic that distinguishes UL 3266 wire from the higher-voltage XLPE styles. It keeps finished outer diameter small across the fine-gauge portion of the range, which matters where several conductors are routed together within a confined internal space. CableApex supplies UL 3266 XLPE wire from factory production. Only products bearing the applicable UL Mark should be represented as covered products, and the marking and documentation supplied with any order are confirmed against the ordered construction.

UL 3266 Wire Specifications

UL Style	3266 — single conductor with extruded insulation
UL Subject / Section	758, Section 3
Temperature rating	125°C maximum
Voltage rating	300 Vac (tags may indicate 600 Volts Peak — For Electronic Use Only)
Conductor range	32 AWG – 10 AWG, solid or stranded
Insulation material	Extruded XLPE (crosslinked polyethylene)
Insulation thickness	15 mils (0.38 mm) min average / 13 mils (0.33 mm) min at any point
Flame rating	Horizontal flame per the UL Style file; VW-1 vertical flame testing available by confirmed construction and agreed order requirement
UL Recognition	UL Recognized Component — file on record
Use per UL Style file	Internal wiring
Marking	Per UL Subject 758 marking requirements; confirmed for the ordered construction
RoHS / REACH	Documentation available on request, where applicable to the order

Available UL 3266 Wire Sizes and Constructions

The UL Style scope covers 32 AWG through 10 AWG. Both solid and stranded conductor constructions fall within that scope. Stranded construction is generally specified where the wire is positioned or formed during assembly; solid is available where the routing path is fixed and the termination method accommodates it. The 15 mils minimum average insulation wall applies uniformly across the full 32–10 AWG range, so finished outer diameter varies with conductor size alone rather than stepping between wall classes — a useful characteristic when specifying several AWG sizes for the same assembly.

Not every size, conductor material, plating, colour or packaging format is continuously stocked. Commercial availability, conductor material and plating, insulation colour, packaging format, wire marking and order documentation must all be confirmed against the quotation and the resulting order before production. Where a specific construction has not previously been produced, confirm feasibility at the enquiry stage rather than assuming availability from the Style scope alone.

For a single-product entry point into this category, see UL 3266 hook-up wire.

Internal Wiring Applications

The UL Style 3266 file defines the use as internal wiring. That is the boundary this category operates within. UL 3266 XLPE wire is not automatically building wire, field wiring, or general external power wiring, and it should not be specified for those purposes on the basis of the Style rating alone.

Final suitability for any given installation is determined by the evaluation of the intended end equipment together with the specific ordered construction — including the conductor size, insulation dimensions, marking, and the conditions under which the wire is routed and terminated within the equipment. Buyers should confirm that the intended use falls within the internal wiring scope and that the equipment-level evaluation accepts the construction being ordered.

Related XLPE AWM Styles

Three other XLPE styles sit alongside UL 3266 within the same insulation family. The table below compares them using their UL-file ratings and stated uses only.

Parameter	UL 3266	UL 3271	UL 3321	UL 3666
Temperature	125°C	125°C	150°C	105°C
Voltage	300 Vac	600 Vac / 750 Vdc	600 Vac / 750 Vdc	600 Vac
Conductor range	32–10 AWG	30 AWG – 2000 kcmil	30 AWG – 4/0 AWG	32 AWG – 1000 kcmil
Use per UL Style file	Internal wiring	Motor leads or internal wiring of appliances	Internal wiring of appliances	Internal wiring where not subjected to mechanical abuse
Semi-conductive layer	No	Optional	No	No