Published on:2026-05-24 Click:16
Positive buoyant cable with 1x50mm2 large power conductor, 43.8mm OD. Foamed PUR for heavy-power ROV or subsea equipment tether requiring positive buoyancy and large conductor.
The 1x50mm² positive buoyant cable (43.8 mm OD) is a heavy-power foamed PUR cable designed for applications requiring very high current capacity (~200A at 50mm²) alongside positive buoyancy. The large 43.8 mm outer diameter is partly driven by the thick foamed jacket wall required to give positive buoyancy to a single large conductor. Applications include high-power ROV thrusters (48V DC, large brushless motors), subsea power distribution cables, and buoyant connections to positively buoyant equipment. The foamed polyurethane (PUR) jacket uses a micro-cellular expanded jacket compound with a bulk density lower than seawater (~1.025 g/cm³), giving the cable near-zero or positive net buoyancy. This eliminates tether sag and reduces drag force on the ROV, improving vehicle manoeuvrability and reducing tether management workload during subsea operations.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Power Conductor | 1 x 50 mm² stranded tinned copper |
| Current Rating | ~200A (single conductor, 40°C) |
| Outer Diameter | 43.8 mm |
| Jacket | Foamed micro-cellular PUR |
| Buoyancy | Positive (floating) |
| Voltage Rating | 600V -- 1000V |
| Colour | Yellow / orange |
| Custom | Conductor CSA, OD, buoyancy level, length |
Request datasheet, custom length, or OEM pricing: sales@rovcable.com -- Shanghai Kabel Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
The jacket is manufactured from a micro-cellular expanded (foamed) polyurethane compound. During extrusion, a controlled foaming agent creates millions of tiny closed-cell air pockets within the jacket wall. These air cells reduce the bulk density of the jacket below that of seawater (~1.025 g/cm³), producing positive or neutral net buoyancy. The jacket retains all the abrasion resistance, oil resistance, and flexibility of standard PUR while achieving the buoyancy needed for ROV tether applications.
The OD of 43.8 mm reflects the thick foamed jacket wall required to achieve positive buoyancy for a single 50mm² conductor, which is inherently heavy. The foamed jacket must displace a volume of seawater equal to the mass of the conductor plus jacket. A thicker foam jacket wall (lower density) achieves this with less jacket mass. The result is a large-OD, lightweight, high-current floating cable. If a smaller OD is required, the conductor CSA or foam density must be traded off.
