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Cable Current Carrying Capacity

JD

A very basic question

Current carrying capacity of a cable. My understanding is that if I have a cable rated to 6amps this cable will always only ever be able to take 6amps.

I have been suggested that this rating is only true at 230v and that if I was to drop the voltage the current capacity of the cable may increase. My understanding is this is not related, and even at 12v the cable would still only be rated to 6amps?

Thank you for your help!

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    JD said:
    Current carrying capacity of a cable. My understanding is that if I have a cable rated to 6amps this cable will always only ever be able to take 6amps.

    I'd put it slightly differently. The rating depends upon the installation method (including the ambient temperature), but your "6 A cable" rated for that method will carry 6A (or less) indefinitely without overheating. It may safely take more than 6A briefly so perhaps 8A for 20 min. It does not suddenly go "phut" at 6.001 A.

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  • 0
    JD said:
    Current carrying capacity of a cable. My understanding is that if I have a cable rated to 6amps this cable will always only ever be able to take 6amps.

    I'd put it slightly differently. The rating depends upon the installation method (including the ambient temperature), but your "6 A cable" rated for that method will carry 6A (or less) indefinitely without overheating. It may safely take more than 6A briefly so perhaps 8A for 20 min. It does not suddenly go "phut" at 6.001 A.

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