5 Simple Techniques For 16 AWG High Temperature Wire

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What is High-Temperature Wire?

Cables can be installed in environments with harsh conditions and high ambient temperatures, but selecting the right cables for the correct environmental conditions is essential to make certain the cable's expected life span will not be affected. The use of wire and cable products outside their designed temperature range can result in often expensive and premature failures in service.

Understanding High-Temperature Wire

High-temperature wire 12 awg is often defined as a wire with a temperature rating of 125 ° C or higher, although high-temperature can also known as temperature ratings as low as 90 ° C. High-temperature cables can either be single-conductor or multiconductor. These products commonly consist of a conductor (usually annealed, tinned copper, copper-plated or nickel-coated copper) and insulation. High-temperature wires may also have an additional jacket consisting of a fiberglass braid or K-fiber material.

Two key components to make certain high-temperature wires are suitable for the application are the wire's temperature rating and ampacity. Temperature ratings can be defined as the max continuous temperature that a wire can withstand during its lifetime. If a cable's temperature rating is not suitable for the environment and ambient temperature, the expected lifespan of the cable could be affected.

The ampacity is the maximum current an insulated conductor can safely more info carry without exceeding its insulation and jacket temperature limitations. If the cable is undersized, the heat produced by circuit load may exceed the cable's temperature rating and the cable may be compromised. For additional information, please see Anixter's Wire Wisdom Wire and Cable Ampacity Rating.

High-Temperature Cable Standards

High-temperature wire can be classified as Appliance Wiring Material (AWM) meeting UL 758 Appliance Wiring Materials. Despite the fact that AWM wires are not considered to be "UL Listed" products, they are Recognized Components that can be used in UL Listed products. The wire follows the guidelines that are detailed by UL 758 through a UL style page if a high-temperature wire is to be considered a UL Recognized Component. This style page lists specifications on gauge size range, insulation material, temperature rating and voltage rating. Some UL AWM styles can be dual listed with Canadian standards, for instance UL AWM 3284 and CSA CL1254. For additional information, please see Anixter's Wire Wisdom Identifying and understanding UL AWM Styles.

Apart from high-temperature cables meeting AWM requirements, high-temperature products can also be and meet UL Listed wire to the UL 83A Fluoropolymer Insulated Wire standard. UL 83A provides requirements on the cable's construction and test performance for high-temperature listed products. Performance tests include long term-aging of insulation and insulation resistance testing

Applications of High-Temperature Wire

As mentioned above, high-temperature wire can be found in environments with elevated temperatures and harsh conditions. These applications commonly include motor leads and internal wiring of appliances, like refrigeration equipment, heat pumps, clothes dryers, lighting fixtures, industrial and commercial ovens, room cooler units and electrical ranges. High-temperature wire can also be found in steel mills, glass plants and chemical plants.

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