How Hot Wire And Cable Can Handle The Temperature?

Many engineering projects require installation of cables in environments with high ambient temperatures and conditions. But how high temperature can a wire handle? Choosing the right cable for the right environmental conditions is critical to ensuring that the longevity of the cable is not compromised. Using high temperature wire and cable products outside their specified temperature ranges can result in premature and often costly service failures.

How hot can the wires get?

Research has shown that open-wire temperatures located in attics can be dangerously close to the 194-degree Fahrenheit limit. If these wires are buried in attic insulation, arranged in tight bundles, or run through light fixtures, they can get hotter than if they were outdoors.

Is the wire heating normal?

Although for devices that use a lot of power, such as motors or heaters, it's normal for the wires to get hot. If this power cord becomes hot, it is likely to exceed the limits of its power cord rating. Do not use the device or appliance if the power cord becomes hot. This is a high risk of fire.

What is high temperature resistant wire?

If a wire is rated at 125 degrees Celsius or higher, that's what we call a high temperature wire (high temperature wire). However, high temperature can also refer to temperatures as low as 90 degrees. High temperature wires can be multi-conductor or single-conductor. They usually consist of a conductor (copper, tin-plated, annealed or nickel-plated) and an insulator. High temperature wires can also have an additional protective jacket made of fiberglass or fibers.

The two most important factors in ensuring that high temperature wire is suitable for the application are: ampacity and temperature rating. The temperature rating is interpreted as the maximum continuous temperature that the wire can withstand throughout its lifetime. Ampacity is the maximum current that an insulated conductor can safely handle without exceeding its insulating capacity and jacket temperature limits.