Wire Identification 

There are two families of wire types: 

A. United States (US) : The United States (US) wire types are installed on A300/A310/A300-600. Their core diameter has US diameters. For example AKA gauge 24 has 19 strands diameter 0.127 mm (0.01 in.). 

B. Metric (M) Types: The Metric (M) wire types are installed on the other Airbus A/C for weight saving. For example CF gauge 24 has 19 strands diameter 0.12 mm (0.0050 in.).

P/N Identification   

All the wire types (US and Metric) agree with Standards (ABS, ASNE, EN, NSA,...). The wires are identified as follows:

Standard P/N - Wire type code - Wire gauge 

ABSXXXX - XX - XX
EXXXX - XX -  XX
NSAXXXXXX -  XX -  XX    

For EN Part Numbers:

Standard P/N - Code letter for number of cores - Wire gauge code - Insulation color code 

ENXXXX - XXX  X  XXX X

If it is necessary to replace between US and metric types of wires on the aircraft  you can use an interchangeable Metric wire given in ESPM chapter 20-32-21. the standard part number is not printed on the wire. 

Wire type code WTC:

Wire type code is printed on the wires. You can use this code and find the standard part number and other information from the ESPM. WTC tells you the type of insulation, material of conductor, single core or  multicore, temperature range and voltage etc.

WTC including YY is the AWM/AWL code of a wire that is a vendor sub-assembly of an equipment and whose type could be given by the applicable manufacturer documentation of the equipment this should be referred to the CMM.

Manufacturer Identification :

1. Identification by Printing of External Sheaths 

This identification has a series of figures printed horizontally. If the wire external diameter is less than 1.27 mm (0.05 in.), vertical printing is permitted. 

(1) United States (US) wire types:

Example: AKA - FF - L - 20 

The code consists of 4 groups of letters or figures. The groups are separated by a dash or a space. - Group 1: Two or three letters identify the wire type code. For example AKA -
Group 2: Two letters identify the manufacturer and the country. For example FF (FILOTEX/FRANCE).
Group 3: One or two letters indicate the year of manufacture. For example L (1973)
Group 4: Wire gauge. For example 20

(2) Metric (M) wire types:

Metric wire types have different formats depending upon the year of manufacturing. However here we will give an example of following

- FROM 1991:  Example 24 C FR A 91

Group 1: Two letters identify the wire type. For example CF
Group 2: Wire gauge. For example 24
Group 3: One letter indicates the coating code for laser marking. For example C (FEP)
Group 4: Two letters identify the country of manufacture. For example FR (FRANCE)
Group 5: One letter identifies the manufacturer. For example A (FILECA)
Group 6: Two numbers indicate the year of manufacture. For example 91 (1991)

Example of Manufacturer Code Chart

Example of Year Code Chart

2. Identification by Colored Thread 

This identification consists of the manufacturer's identification twisted threads and two threads for the year of manufacture. 

- For single wire, threads are inserted during the manufacturing phase between the core and the insulating sheath or between the external sheath and the insulation sheath. 

- For multi wire, twisted or not, threads are inserted between the external sheath and the conductors. The thread and printing must resist the maximum operating temperature of the wires.

Table: Colored Thread Identification Coding of Manufacturer  

Table: Colored Thread Identification Coding of Year of Manufacture

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