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Wire that is approved to BS 6231 might not carry the UL and CSA ratings, if, for example, the wire is not suitable for use at the higher 105 °C temperature that is specified for those ratings. In that case, the wire is not tri-rated. According to UL 758, the maximum operating temperature of tri-rated cable is 105 °C. British Standard BS 6231 ...
A wire or cable has a voltage (to neutral) rating and a maximum conductor surface temperature rating. The amount of current a cable or wire can safely carry depends on the installation conditions. The international standard wire sizes are given in the IEC 60228 standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission.
For wire sizes smaller than AWG No. 2 (33.6 mm 2, 0.0521 sq in), this term is also generally regarded as insignificant. R c , a {\textstyle R_{c,a}} is the effective thermal resistance between the conductor and the ambient conditions, which can require significant empirical or theoretical effort to estimate.
In both those instances the white wire should be identified as being hot, usually with black tape inside junction boxes. The neutral wire is identified by gray or white insulated wire, perhaps using stripes or markings. With lamp cord wire the ribbed wire is the neutral, and the smooth wire is the hot. NEC 2008 400.22(f) allows surface marking ...
If heat is produced at a sufficient rate, the conductor temperature rises and the insulation can be damaged or ultimately the conductor itself can sag or melt. The ampacity rating for a conductor is based on the conductor diameter, material used (copper or aluminum), the rated maximum application temperature, and the installation conditions.
Insulation does not suddenly fail if the hot-spot temperature is reached, but useful operating life declines rapidly; a rule of thumb is a halving of life for every 10 °C temperature increase. Older editions of standards listed materials to be used for the various temperature classes.
Nichrome, a non-magnetic 80/20 alloy of nickel and chromium, is the most common resistance wire for heating purposes because it has a high resistivity and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, up to 1,400 °C (2,550 °F).
The use of larger gauge stranded aluminum wire (larger than #8 AWG) is fairly common in much of North America for modern residential construction. Aluminum wire is used in residential applications for lower voltage service feeders from the utility to the building. This is installed with materials and methods as specified by the local electrical ...