P
Peter Percival
Guest
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a table
somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
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P
Peter Percival
Guest
Peter Percival wrote:
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a table
somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
B
Bob Engelhardt
Guest
On 8/10/2019 6:51 AM, Peter Percival wrote:
I'm a bit confused: that table has ampacity at 3 different temperatures
(60, 75, & 90C) - does that mean that at the current given, the wire
will heat to that temperature? If so, an insulation rating of 20C &
ambient 30C (50C insulation rating) isn't consistent with the wire being
60, 75, or 90 is it? As I said: confused.
Peter Percival wrote:
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a
table somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
I'm a bit confused: that table has ampacity at 3 different temperatures
(60, 75, & 90C) - does that mean that at the current given, the wire
will heat to that temperature? If so, an insulation rating of 20C &
ambient 30C (50C insulation rating) isn't consistent with the wire being
60, 75, or 90 is it? As I said: confused.
R
Ralph Mowery
Guest
In article <qim7j8$ljs$1@news.albasani.net>, peterxpercival@hotmail.com
says...
The current a wire can carry is really confusing. In open air a # 18
wire will melt with about 82 amps going through it. You may be able to
put 70 amps through it, but it would probably burn your hand and melt
most any insulation on it.
One deciding factor is how much voltage drop do you want to allow in the
wire. If you have a long run of wire, you surely would not want to run
# 18 wire as the voltage drop would be very great.
Another factor is if it is being used in a transformer where the heat
build up is a deciding factor.
If running several or more wires in a piece of conduit, the wire needs
to be derated.
says...
Peter Percival wrote:
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a table
somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
The current a wire can carry is really confusing. In open air a # 18
wire will melt with about 82 amps going through it. You may be able to
put 70 amps through it, but it would probably burn your hand and melt
most any insulation on it.
One deciding factor is how much voltage drop do you want to allow in the
wire. If you have a long run of wire, you surely would not want to run
# 18 wire as the voltage drop would be very great.
Another factor is if it is being used in a transformer where the heat
build up is a deciding factor.
If running several or more wires in a piece of conduit, the wire needs
to be derated.
R
Rheilly Phoull
Guest
On 10/08/2019 9:27 pm, Bob Engelhardt wrote:
As heat increases so does the resistance and then of course the power
dissipated rises, then the heat increases and so on. The derating is
used for cables enclosed or in hot ambients etc.
On 8/10/2019 6:51 AM, Peter Percival wrote:
Peter Percival wrote:
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a
table somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
I'm a bit confused: that table has ampacity at 3 different temperatures
(60, 75, & 90C) - does that mean that at the current given, the wire
will heat to that temperature? If so, an insulation rating of 20C &
ambient 30C (50C insulation rating) isn't consistent with the wire being
60, 75, or 90 is it? As I said: confused.
As heat increases so does the resistance and then of course the power
dissipated rises, then the heat increases and so on. The derating is
used for cables enclosed or in hot ambients etc.
E
ehsjr
Guest
On 8/10/2019 9:27 AM, Bob Engelhardt wrote:
Those numbers refer to the rating of the insulation on the
conductor. The higher the temperature rating of the insulation
the more current the conductor can carry safely.
No. It means that at the current specified in the table,
the insulation will not break down.
> If so, an insulation rating of 20C
No such thing as an insulation rating as low as 20C for
the wires in that table. 20C is roughly room temperature.
Ed
On 8/10/2019 6:51 AM, Peter Percival wrote:
Peter Percival wrote:
What current can 18AWG wire carry? And, more usefully, is there a
table somewhere giving this info for all the usual gauges?
To answer my own question -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
10A, apparently.
I'm a bit confused: that table has ampacity at 3 different temperatures
(60, 75, & 90C)
Those numbers refer to the rating of the insulation on the
conductor. The higher the temperature rating of the insulation
the more current the conductor can carry safely.
- does that mean that at the current given, the wire
will heat to that temperature?
No. It means that at the current specified in the table,
the insulation will not break down.
> If so, an insulation rating of 20C
No such thing as an insulation rating as low as 20C for
the wires in that table. 20C is roughly room temperature.
Ed
C
Cursitor Doom
Guest
On Sat, 10 Aug 2019 10:51:45 -0400, Ralph Mowery wrote:
Yep, conductor length is often omitted, but still very important. You can
get some crazy big currents to pass largely unhindered through very thin,
short conductors. Fuses are a good example, come to think of it.
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protocols constitutes acceptance of this condition.
One deciding factor is how much voltage drop do you want to allow in the
wire. If you have a long run of wire, you surely would not want to run
# 18 wire as the voltage drop would be very great.
Yep, conductor length is often omitted, but still very important. You can
get some crazy big currents to pass largely unhindered through very thin,
short conductors. Fuses are a good example, come to think of it.
--
This message may be freely reproduced without limit or charge only via
the Usenet protocol. Reproduction in whole or part through other
protocols, whether for profit or not, is conditional upon a charge of
GBP10.00 per reproduction. Publication in this manner via non-Usenet
protocols constitutes acceptance of this condition.
B
Bob Engelhardt
Guest
On 8/11/2019 2:31 AM, ehsjr wrote:
OK ... what you say makes perfect sense - it's the table that does not
make sense. The column is titled: "Ampacity at 20°C insulation material
temperature rating,..." and a floating note assumes ambient of 30C.
Then there are 3 columns titled 60C, 75C, & 90C.
There must have been cutting and pasting to make the table, creating
contradiction.
Thanks,
Bob
On 8/10/2019 9:27 AM, Bob Engelhardt wrote:
On 8/10/2019 6:51 AM, Peter Percival wrote:
....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#Tables_of_AWG_wire_sizes
I'm a bit confused: that table has ampacity at 3 different
temperatures (60, 75, & 90C)
Those numbers refer to the rating of the insulation on the
conductor. The higher the temperature rating of the insulation
the more current the conductor can carry safely.
- does that mean that at the current given, the wire will heat to that
temperature?
No. It means that at the current specified in the table,
the insulation will not break down.
If so, an insulation rating of 20C
No such thing as an insulation rating as low as 20C for
the wires in that table. 20C is roughly room temperature.
Ed
OK ... what you say makes perfect sense - it's the table that does not
make sense. The column is titled: "Ampacity at 20°C insulation material
temperature rating,..." and a floating note assumes ambient of 30C.
Then there are 3 columns titled 60C, 75C, & 90C.
There must have been cutting and pasting to make the table, creating
contradiction.
Thanks,
Bob