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Cable current rating advice

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi all, I would like to verify something with respect to current carrying capacity of cable. Specifically vehicle single core DC circuits.


Looking at 16mm wire not worrying about voltage drop. manufacturers are ratting this at 110A and on a forum I subscribe to people have been advised 125A is ok.


The cable is rated at 70 deg as shown on the suppliers site linked below.

16mm supplier


Am I wright that this comes under 

Table 4D1A


Single-core 70°C Thermoplastic Insulated Cables, Non-Armoured, with or without Sheath


Reference Method C (clipped direct) This will be between battery to battery not in any conduit or insulation


So is rated as 87A


I would be interested in your advice as it has been several years since I used these tables
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  • 0
    In this particular case, the proposed 16mm cable is PROBABLY fine, but "probably" makes me a little nervous and I would be inclined to upsize to 25mm and sleep soundly.

    There are so many unknows in vehicle electrics, that I consider "one size up" to be sensible.

    The EXACT current may be unknown, is the given figure an absolute maximum ? or is it a nominal figure that might be exceeded by say 10% ?

    Ambient temperature is even more unknown than with a building, future use in the tropics with electric air conditioning ?

    Other heat sources near the cables ? engine coolant system, central heating equipment ?


    Just go up a size, the expense is trivial for a short length in a presumably valuable vehicle.
Reply
  • 0
    In this particular case, the proposed 16mm cable is PROBABLY fine, but "probably" makes me a little nervous and I would be inclined to upsize to 25mm and sleep soundly.

    There are so many unknows in vehicle electrics, that I consider "one size up" to be sensible.

    The EXACT current may be unknown, is the given figure an absolute maximum ? or is it a nominal figure that might be exceeded by say 10% ?

    Ambient temperature is even more unknown than with a building, future use in the tropics with electric air conditioning ?

    Other heat sources near the cables ? engine coolant system, central heating equipment ?


    Just go up a size, the expense is trivial for a short length in a presumably valuable vehicle.
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