UL 3172 Braided Silicone Wire 200°C 600V — Abrasion-Protected AWM · CIF Vietnam
Glass or Aramid Braid over Silicone Rubber for Abrasion-Risk Routing in Exported Equipment
UL Style 3172 is a single-conductor appliance wiring material (AWM) insulated with extruded silicone rubber and covered with one or more glass or aramid fibrous braids conforming to the SF-2 fixture wire specification. Rated for 200°C continuous operation at 600V AC with a horizontal-flame rating, the style covers conductor sizes from 26 AWG to 18 AWG in solid or stranded construction. The braid adds mechanical abrasion protection that bare silicone wire cannot provide — critical at routing clips, conduit entries, and metal-edge contact points inside equipment submitted for UL listing. CableApex supplies UL 3172 wire as a UL Recognized Component — file on record. CIF Ho Chi Minh City, transit 10–14 days.
UL 3172 Specification Summary
- Style Number: UL 3172 (AWM, UL 758)
- Temperature Rating: 200°C continuous
- Voltage Rating: 600V AC
- Flame Rating: Horizontal flame
- Conductor Range: 26 AWG – 18 AWG, solid or stranded
- Insulation: Extruded silicone rubber (SR), 30 mils avg / 27 mils min
- Covering: One or more glass or aramid braid fibrous coverings (SF-2 type)
- UL Status: UL Recognized Component — file on record
- Intended Use: Internal wiring of appliances
Conductor & Dimension Reference
| Gauge (AWG) | Cross-Section (mm²) | Stranding | Ins. Wall (mm) | Nom. OD (mm) | Max. Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 AWG | 0.13 | 7/0.16 | 0.76 | 2.20 | 145.0 |
| 24 AWG | 0.20 | 7/0.20 | 0.76 | 2.40 | 89.4 |
| 22 AWG | 0.33 | 7/0.25 | 0.76 | 2.60 | 57.6 |
| 20 AWG | 0.52 | 10/0.25 | 0.76 | 2.80 | 36.4 |
| 18 AWG | 0.82 | 16/0.25 | 0.76 | 3.10 | 23.2 |
Vietnamese Export OEM Applications
Vietnamese equipment manufacturers assembling products for UL listing and international export encounter a recurring design question: where inside the equipment does bare silicone wire suffice, and where does the routing environment demand braided construction? The answer is driven by the mechanical contact points in the wire path:
- Oven and heating equipment at abrasion-risk routing points: Internal wiring in exported ovens and dryers passes through unlined conduit entries, bears against sheet-metal edges, and is secured with metal cable clips. At each contact point, the braid absorbs abrasion that would otherwise wear through soft silicone over the equipment’s 10–15 year service life. UL inspectors evaluating equipment for listing will flag bare silicone at contact-bearing routing points.
- Thermocouple and sensor leads (26–22 AWG): Fine-gauge temperature sensor wiring routed through tight passages in equipment refractory or insulation panels. The braid prevents the thin silicone wall on 26 AWG wire from being nicked by sharp refractory edges during assembly and maintenance.
- Motor terminal box leads (18–20 AWG): The section of lead wire from motor terminals to the equipment harness passes through the motor conduit entry under lead tension. Repeated installation and removal cycles during maintenance create localised rubbing at the conduit edge that the braid absorbs.
- Heated platen and press equipment (18–22 AWG): Flexible leads at heated platen terminals are flexed each press cycle. The braid resists the combined flex and surface-contact loading at the routing point over hundreds of daily cycles.
- Commercial kitchen equipment for export: Vietnamese manufacturers assembling ovens and food-processing equipment for UL listing specify braided silicone at every metal-contact routing location to satisfy both the 200°C thermal requirement and the mechanical durability expectation for exported commercial-grade equipment.
Selecting Between Braided Silicone Styles — 3172 / 3071 / 3122
Three UL AWM Styles combine silicone rubber insulation with a fibrous braid covering at 200°C. The selection depends on AWG range, voltage requirement, and braid material:
| UL Style | Construction | Temp | Voltage | AWG Range | When to Specify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3172 (this page) | SR 30 mil + glass/aramid braid | 200°C | 600V | 26–18 AWG | Fine-gauge braided silicone; aramid option for higher mechanical strength |
| 3071 | SR 30 mil + glass braid (SF-2) | 200°C | 600V | 18–13 AWG | Coarser-gauge braided silicone for power leads |
| 3122 | SR 15 mil + lacquered braid | 200°C | 300V | 26–16 AWG | Thinner wall + lacquered finish; 300V circuits only |
| 3135 | SR 30 mil, no braid | 200°C | 600V | 26–12 AWG | No abrasion risk; totally enclosed routing only |
Shipping to Vietnam
CableApex supplies UL 3172 CIF Ho Chi Minh City, transit 10–14 days. MOQ 500 metres per AWG; mixed-AWG orders accepted. Specify braid type (glass or aramid) on enquiry. Full UL recognition documentation, RoHS Declaration, and REACH SVHC Declaration accompany every order.
UL Recognition
All UL 3172 wire supplied by CableApex is produced under active UL Follow-Up Service as a UL Recognized Component — file on record. Each production reel carries the UL Recognized Component mark in accordance with UL Subject 758 marking requirements. Full recognition documentation is available on request for purchasing, compliance, or equipment UL listing submission.
Related UL Styles for Comparison
- UL 3071 Silicone + Glass Braid Wire — 200°C / 600V / 18–13 AWG
- UL 3122 Silicone + Lacquered Braid Wire — 200°C / 300V
- UL 3135 Silicone Wire — 200°C / 600V Totally Enclosed (No Braid)
- All AWM Wire Styles
Order Information
Specify AWG (26–18), conductor type, braid type (glass or aramid), colour, and quantity. MOQ 500 m per AWG. Mixed-AWG orders accepted. Sample from 10 m. Quotations returned within 12 hours.
