A termination has to control electrical stress at the end of the cable shield and keep out moisture and pollution for the life of the cable. TE Connectivity's Raychem HVT and HVT-Z are heat shrink terminations for medium voltage shielded cable from 5 to 35 kV. They look similar on a catalog page, but they are built differently. This guide covers what each one is, how they differ, how to size them, and how to read the part number.
The HVT is a termination system with a non-tracking, insulating outer surface designed for long-term electrical stress and surface pollution. TE rates it for severely polluted areas and all installation conditions, including top-feed installation. It is fully qualified per IEEE 48 as a Class I termination.
TE lists these features:
The HVT-Z is a co-extruded, one-piece termination for shielded cable. Its main component is Raychem's established non-tracking tube with a co-extruded stress-control grading layer. That layer uses zinc oxide (ZnO) ceramic semiconductor technology, which TE says gives better discharge and impulse performance. When the termination is shrunk, the coating softens and conforms to irregular surfaces, providing moisture sealing and electrical stress control.
The HVT-Z is also fully qualified per IEEE 48 as a Class I termination. It can be ordered with TE's aluminum ShearBolt terminals, which are range-taking mechanical connectors for #2 compact through 1000 kcmil stranded Class B conductors.
| HVT | HVT-Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Non-tracking insulating termination system | Co-extruded one-piece termination with a ZnO stress-control grading layer |
| Voltage classes | 5/8, 15, 25 and 35 kV | 5/8, 15, 25 and 35 kV |
| Indoor and outdoor kits | -G indoor, -SG outdoor | -G indoor, -SG outdoor |
| Installed length | 15.0 in (5/8 kV), 28.0 in (15 kV), 33.0 in (25 kV), 10.5 in (35 kV) | 11.5 in (5/8 and 15 kV), 19.0 in (25 and 35 kV) |
| ShearBolt terminal kits | Not listed on the spec sheet | Available (-T5, -T8 and -T9 kits) |
| Standard | IEEE 48, Class I | IEEE 48, Class I |
Installed lengths above are as printed on TE's sheets. The HVT has a wider size range at 25 and 35 kV, with a size 5 kit for 2000 to 2500 kcmil cable. If your cable falls in a range that only one of them covers, that decides it.
From TE's HVT specification sheet. Continuous current is equal to the cable ampacity for every class.
| Test | HVT-80 (5-8 kV) | HVT-150 (15 kV) | HVT-250 (25 kV) | HVT-350 (35 kV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC withstand, 1 minute (kV) | 35 | 50 | 65 | 90 |
| DC withstand, 15 minutes (kV) | 65 | 75 | 105 | 140 |
| Partial discharge, minimum kV (3 pC or less) | 9 | 15.6 | 25.8 | 36 |
| Impulse withstand 1.2 x 50 us, outdoor (crest kV) | 95 | 110 | 150 | 200 |
| Impulse withstand 1.2 x 50 us, indoor (crest kV) | 80 | 95 | 125 | 150 |
| Wet withstand, 10 seconds (kV rms) | 30 | 45 | 60 | 80 |
| Dry withstand, 6 hours (kV rms) | 25 | 35 | 55 | 75 |
The HVT-250 series meets the requirements for 25/28 kV systems. Outdoor kits were tested with skirts (rain sheds), and indoor kits have no skirts.
The number follows one pattern on both products. Take the HVT-Z-153-SG as an example.
So the HVT-Z-153-SG is the HVT-Z for 15 kV, size 3 (400 to 1000 kcmil), outdoor version. The HVT-Z-252/352 and 253/353 kits share a size number because the same kit serves 25 and 35 kV cable of the same diameter.
From TE's HVT specification sheet (document 1308239). Each size comes as an indoor -G kit and an outdoor -SG kit. Insulation diameter and jacket OD are in inches, with millimeters in parentheses. Kit numbers that link to a product page are in our online store.
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | 5 kV Conductor | 8 kV Conductor | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-80-G / HVT-80-SG | #4-#1 AWG | #6-#2 AWG | 0.35-0.60 (9-15) | 0.95 (24) |
| HVT-81-G / HVT-81-SG | 1/0 AWG-250 kcmil | #1-4/0 AWG | 0.60-0.95 (15-24) | 1.20 (30) |
| HVT-82-G / HVT-82-SG | 300-500 kcmil | 250-500 kcmil | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-83-G / HVT-83-SG | 600-1750 kcmil | 600-1750 kcmil | 1.10-1.75 (28-44) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-84-G / HVT-84-SG | 1500-2500 kcmil | 2000-2500 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | Conductor Size | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-151-G / HVT-151-SG | #4 AWG-1/0 AWG | 0.60-0.95 (15-24) | 1.20 (30) |
| HVT-152-G / HVT-152-SG | 2/0 AWG-350 kcmil | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-153-G / HVT-153-SG | 400-1000 kcmil | 1.10-1.65 (28-42) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-154-G / HVT-154-SG | 1250-2500 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | Conductor Size | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-252-G / HVT-252-SG | #2 AWG-250 kcmil | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-253-G / HVT-253-SG | 300-750 kcmil | 1.10-1.70 (28-43) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-254-G / HVT-254-SG | 1000-1750 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
| HVT-255-G / HVT-255-SG | 2000-2500 kcmil | 2.05-3.00 (52-76) | 3.45 (88) |
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | Conductor Size | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-352-G / HVT-352-SG | #1 AWG-1/0 AWG | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-353-G / HVT-353-SG | 2/0 AWG-500 kcmil | 1.10-1.85 (28-47) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-354-G / HVT-354-SG | 750-1750 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
| HVT-355-G / HVT-355-SG | 2000-2500 kcmil | 2.05-3.00 (52-76) | 3.45 (88) |
TE's HVT sheet also mentions URD, LC and HVT-M kit versions, with the URD and LC kits rated for 15 to 35 kV only and the HVT-M kits for 5/8 to 25 kV only. Ask us if your cable needs one of them.
From TE's HVT-Z data sheet (document E578). Each size comes as a -G indoor and -SG outdoor kit. The 5/8 kV kits have no skirts for outdoor operation, the 15 kV outdoor kits have 1 skirt, and the 25 and 35 kV outdoor kits have 4 skirts.
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | 5 kV Conductor | 8 kV Conductor | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-Z-80-G / SG | #4-#1 AWG | #6-#2 AWG | 0.35-0.60 (9-15) | 0.95 (24) |
| HVT-Z-81-G / SG | 1/0 AWG-250 kcmil | #1-4/0 AWG | 0.60-0.95 (15-24) | 1.20 (30) |
| HVT-Z-82-G / SG | 300-500 kcmil | 250-500 kcmil | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-83-G / SG | 600-1750 kcmil | 600-1750 kcmil | 1.10-1.75 (28-44) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-Z-84-G / SG | 1500-3500 kcmil | 1500-2500 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
The installed length is 11.5 in (295 mm), and the kit can be cut shorter for use with MCK kits.
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | Conductor Size |
|---|---|
| HVT-Z-151-G / HVT-Z-151-SG | #4 AWG-1/0 AWG |
| HVT-Z-152-G / HVT-Z-152-SG | 2/0 AWG-350 kcmil |
| HVT-Z-153-G / HVT-Z-153-SG | 400-1000 kcmil |
| HVT-Z-154-G / HVT-Z-154-SG | 1250-2500 kcmil |
The installed length is 11.5 in (295 mm), and the sheet lists 175 to 220 mil insulation thickness for the 15 kV class.
| Indoor / Outdoor Kit | 25 kV Conductor | 35 kV Conductor | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVT-Z-252/352-G / SG | #2 AWG-250 kcmil | #1 AWG-1/0 AWG | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-253/353-G / SG | 300-750 kcmil | 2/0 AWG-500 kcmil | 1.10-1.75 (28-44) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-Z-254/354-G / SG | 1000-2000 kcmil | 750-1750 kcmil | 1.60-2.45 (41-62) | 2.75 (70) |
The installed length is 19.0 in (485 mm). The sheet lists 0.260 in insulation thickness for 25 kV and 0.345 in for 35 kV.
These kits ship with an aluminum ShearBolt terminal. Pick the -G (indoor) or -SG (outdoor) kit, then add the terminal code (-T5, -T8 or -T9).
| Kit | Conductor Range | Insulation Diameter | Jacket OD (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 kV (11.5 in installed length, no skirts for outdoor) | |||
| HVT-Z-81-G/SG-T5 | 5 kV: 1/0 AWG-250 kcmil; 8 kV: #1-4/0 AWG | 0.60-0.95 (15-24) | 1.20 (30) |
| HVT-Z-82-G/SG-T5 | 5 kV: 300-350 kcmil; 8 kV: 250-350 kcmil | 0.80-1.07 (20-27) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-83-G/SG-T8 | 350-500 kcmil | 0.85-1.25 (22-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-84-G/SG-T9 | 600-1000 kcmil | 1.10-1.40 (28-36) | 2.10 (53) |
| 15 kV (11.5 in installed length, 1 skirt for outdoor) | |||
| HVT-Z-151-G/SG-T5 | #2 AWG-1/0 AWG | 0.65-0.95 (17-24) | 1.20 (30) |
| HVT-Z-152-G/SG-T5 | 2/0 AWG-350 kcmil | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-153-G/SG-T8 | 400-500 kcmil | 1.10-1.355 (28-34) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-Z-153-G/SG-T9 | 600-1000 kcmil | 1.215-1.65 (32-42) | 2.10 (53) |
| 25/35 kV (19.0 in installed length, 4 skirts for outdoor) | |||
| HVT-Z-252/352-G/SG-T5 | 25 kV: #2 AWG-250 kcmil; 35 kV: #1-1/0 AWG | 0.80-1.25 (20-32) | 1.50 (38) |
| HVT-Z-253/353-G/SG-T5 | 25 kV: 300-350 kcmil; 35 kV: 2/0 AWG-350 kcmil | 1.10-1.50 (28-38) | 2.0 (51) |
| HVT-Z-253/353-G/SG-T8 | 25 kV: 350-750 kcmil; 35 kV: 350-500 kcmil | 1.185-1.70 (30-43) | 2.10 (53) |
| HVT-Z-254/354-G/SG-T9 | 25 kV: 600-1000 kcmil; 35 kV: 600-1000 kcmil | 1.60-1.79 (41-45) | 2.75 (70) |
Send us your cable and we will match the kit.
TE Connectivity's installation video for the Raychem HVT heat shrink termination. Always follow the instruction sheet packed with your kit for the exact steps and heating technique.
The HVT and HVT-Z are heat shrink, so you need a torch to install them. See our Raychem torches and accessories guide. If you would rather not use a torch, TE's cold shrink CST line covers 5 to 35 kV polymeric cable. See our Raychem CST guide.
Both come in 5/8, 15, 25 and 35 kV classes. Continuous current for the HVT is equal to the cable ampacity.
The S marks the outdoor kit. TE's sheet says outdoor kits are tested with skirts (rain sheds), and indoor -G kits have no skirts.
Yes. TE says the HVT can be installed upright or inverted, and it is rated for top-feed installation.
Yes. TE lists standard kits for all plastic cable types, including armored cable, with one installation technique for all of them.
Both are fully qualified per IEEE 48 as Class I terminations.
It is a co-extruded one-piece termination with a zinc oxide stress-control grading layer. It can also be ordered with ShearBolt terminals.
TE describes the HVT material as non-tracking, maintenance free and needing no periodic cleaning.
Standard kits do not. The HVT-Z has -T5, -T8 and -T9 kits that include an aluminum ShearBolt terminal.
Both are heat shrink products, so you need a propane torch with the right hose and regulator for the job. Our Raychem torches and accessories guide compares the three Raychem torch kits and the hoses and regulators that go with them.
Powertech Associates and Utility Power Supply Company represent TE Connectivity across New England and New York State. Send us the voltage, cable type, insulation diameter and conductor size and we will help you pick the kit. Contact Powertech Associates at info@powertech-upsc.com or (860) 678-8772.
Last updated: November 2026.
