EN 4681-002:2024

Aerospace series - Cables, electric, general purpose, with conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium - Part 002: General

This document specifies the list of product standards and common characteristics of electrical cables for general purpose with conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium, intended for installation in aircraft electrical systems.

Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen, zur allgemeinen Verwendung, mit Leitern aus Aluminium oder kupferbeschichtetem Aluminium - Teil 002: Allgemeines

Dieses Dokument legt die Liste der Produktnormen sowie die allgemeinen Eigenschaften von elektrischen Leitungen mit Leitern aus Aluminium oder kupferbeschichtetem Aluminium zur allgemeinen Verwendung in elektrischen Bordnetzen von Luftfahrzeugen fest.

Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques, d’usage général, avec conducteurs en aluminium ou en aluminium chemisé cuivre - Partie 002 : Généralités

Le présent document spécifie la liste des normes de produits et les caractéristiques communes des câbles électriques d’usage général avec des conducteurs en aluminium ou en aluminium chemisé cuivre destinés à l’installation dans les systèmes électriques à bord des aéronefs.

Aeronavtika - Kabli, električni, za splošne namene, z vodniki iz aluminija ali pobakrenega aluminija - 002. del: Splošno

Ta dokument določa seznam standardov za proizvode in skupne značilnosti električnih kablov za splošne namene z vodniki iz aluminija ali pobakrenega aluminija, namenjenih za namestitev v električne sisteme letal.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Dec-2024
• ICS: 49.060 - Aerospace electric equipment and systems
• Technical Committee: ASD-STAN - Aerospace
• Drafting Committee: ASD-STAN/D 2/S 2 - Cables & Stripping Tools
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 18-Dec-2024
• Completion Date: 18-Dec-2024
• Ref Project: SIST EN 4681-002:2025 - Aerospace series - Cables, electric, general purpose, with conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium - Part 002: General

Relations

• Replaces: EN 4681-002:2012 - Aerospace series - Cables, electric, general purpose, with conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium - Part 002: General
• Effective Date: 26-Oct-2022

Overview

EN 4681-002:2024 is a European aerospace standard specifying the general requirements for electrical cables with conductors made of aluminium or copper-clad aluminium. These cables are designed for general-purpose installation in aircraft electrical systems. Published by CEN and prepared by ASD-STAN, the standard ensures uniformity and high-performance characteristics of aerospace electrical cables, updating practices from the previous 2012 edition. It addresses material specifications, construction methods, identification, and marking protocols to support the safety and reliability required in aerospace applications.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  EN 4681-002:2024 covers general characteristics and product standards for electrical cables used in aircraft systems. It targets cables with aluminium or copper-clad aluminium conductors intended for general-purpose electrical wiring.

• Materials and Construction
  Conductors must be aluminium or nickel-plated copper-clad aluminium conforming to EN 3719 or EN 4651. The standard defines the number of cores (1 to 5) and specifies construction details such as lay lengths and prohibitions on splicing cores.
  Colour coding is prescribed for single-core light grey cables to differentiate them from copper cables, while multicore cables follow specific colour sequences (red, blue, yellow, green, white) with light grey jackets when applicable.

• Identification and Marking
  Identification of these aerospace cables follows ISO 2574 alongside specifications unique to EN 4681-002. Manufacturers must mark cables clearly with colour codes, cross-designations, and unique manufacturer markings for easy identification. Special dark spot markings on multicore cables aid further manufacturing operations and differentiation from copper cables.

• Technical Specifications
  Detailed technical requirements and performance criteria are referenced to EN 4681-001:2024, ensuring compatibility and compliance within the complete EN 4681 series.

Applications

• Aircraft Electrical Systems
  These cables are essential for general-purpose electrical connections in various aircraft environments, delivering reliable electrical performance in high-stakes aerospace conditions.

• Aerospace Manufacturing and Maintenance
  The standard facilitates selection, manufacturing, and quality control of wiring harnesses and electrical components to meet strict aerospace electrical specifications.

• Component Standardization
  Enables aerospace integrators and suppliers across Europe and global markets to use standardized aluminium-conductor cables, contributing to interoperability and safety.

Related Standards

• EN 4681-001
  Specifies technical specifications for aerospace aluminium and copper-clad aluminium cables-complementary for detailed performance requirements.

• EN 4681-003 to EN 4681-006
  Define product standards for specific cable families and assembly types, including UV laser printable and low-pressure atmosphere variants for particular aerospace applications.

• EN 3719 / EN 4651
  Product standards for aluminium and copper-clad aluminium conductors, foundational for the conductor materials used.

• EN 3475-100
  General test methods for aerospace electrical cables providing the framework for cable performance verification.

• ISO 2574
  Covers identification marking for aircraft electrical cables, harmonizing global marking practices.

Summary

EN 4681-002:2024 serves as a critical framework for aerospace electrical cables with aluminium or copper-clad aluminium conductors, ensuring high standards in construction, materials, colour coding, and marking. It supports aircraft electrical system reliability and safety, while enabling manufacturers and operators to comply with unified European aerospace requirements. By adhering to EN 4681-002, stakeholders benefit from enhanced traceability, consistent quality, and operational readiness in aerospace cable applications.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2025
Aeronavtika - Kabli, električni, za splošne namene, z vodniki iz aluminija ali
pobakrenega aluminija - 002. del: Splošno
Aerospace series - Cables, electric, general purpose, with conductors in aluminium or
copper-clad aluminium - Part 002: General
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen, zur allgemeinen Verwendung, mit Leitern
aus Aluminium oder kupferbeschichtetem Aluminium - Teil 002: Allgemeines
Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques, d’usage général, avec conducteurs en
aluminium ou en aluminium chemisé cuivre - Partie 002 : Généralités
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 4681-002:2024
ICS:
29.060.20 Kabli Cables
49.025.20 Aluminij Aluminium
49.060 Letalska in vesoljska Aerospace electric
električna oprema in sistemi equipment and systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 4681-002
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 49.060 Supersedes EN 4681-002:2012
English Version
Aerospace series - Cables, electric, general purpose, with
conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium - Part
002: General
Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques, d'usage général, Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen, zur
avec conducteurs en aluminium ou en aluminium allgemeinen Verwendung, mit Leitern aus Aluminium
chemisé cuivre - Partie 002 : Généralités oder kupferbeschichtetem Aluminium - Teil 002:
Allgemeines
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 September 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 4681-002:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 4
4 List of product standards . 5
5 Materials and construction . 5
5.1 Materials . 5
5.2 Construction . 5
5.2.1 Number of cores . 5
5.2.2 Colour coding of single core cables . 6
5.2.3 Colour coding of unscreened, multicore cables . 6
6 Identification and marking . 7
6.1 General. 7
6.2 Single core . 8
6.3 Multicore . 8
6.4 Designation . 9
6.5 Manufacturer identification marking. 10
7 Technical specification . 10
Bibliography . 11

European foreword
This document (EN 4681-002:2024) has been prepared by ASD-STAN.
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this document has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text
or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by June 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 4681-002:2012.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows:
— EN 4681-002 (P1), 10/2012 — Update of Figure 1 and Table 6 to standardize copper clad
aluminium wire series requirements based on users specifications.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this document: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the list of product standards and common characteristics of electrical cables
for general purpose with conductors in aluminium or copper-clad aluminium, intended for installation
in aircraft electrical systems.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the re
...