Cable Glossary

DLO stands for Diesel Locomotive because its most common application is in diesel locomotives. However, it also used in many other single conductor high voltage situations not exceeding 2000 volts. DLO cable has many approvals commonly required in portable cord applications such as UL, CSA, MSHA, RoHS and RHH/RHW. All of the sizes of DLO come with the same approvals stamped on the outer jacket for viewing.

DLO 8 AWG has 37 strands of tinned copper with each strand being a 24 AWG wire. All of the copper strands are wound together to act as a single 8 AWG wire in a more flexible version. A solid strand of 8 AWG would be much less flexible than a stranded version. It rated for 55 AMPS when used in conduit or raceway but it rated for 80 AMPS if it being used in ree air?applications which are above ground.
Diesel locomotive cable has 2 sets of insulation for added protection and also to rate it for 2000 volts. The first insulation layer is premium grade EP rubber and the second layer is CPE rubber insulation. The rubber also helps the amount of flexibility it has because it bends much easier than standard PVC jackets that almost feel like plastic.

A few more applications that use DLO electrical wire are telecom power supply, oil and gas drilling rigs, mining and earth moving equipment, shipyards and motor leads. All of these applications require higher voltage and added flexibility which is why DLO cable was designed the way it was. It also manufactured to resist temperatures up to 90C, impact and abrasion, oils, acids, alkalies, heat and flame. It fully accepted as a flame resistant cable because it was tested and approved as such through MHSA which is the Mining, Safety and Health Administration.

Many suppliers of diesel locomotive cable will cut to the exact length you need for a particular application. The reason is to provide different types of electrical wire without any waste for the customer. Buying a roll of 500 feet will usually leave the installer or contractor with some scrap or waste. It will also make it more difficult to quote a job when you have to buy more wire than you need compared to having a total cost of the wire without any waste.

Speak to your wire and cable supplier to make sure DLO cable is the type of electrical wire that you need. You may be able to find a suitable cable for much cheaper because this is a very powerful industrial grade cable. （reprint）