![]() ![]() If it is not capable then it is likely to result in the cable becoming hot and potentially catching fire. The following are some points you should consider when selecting cable for a particular application:Įach component or appliance connected to a circuit will have a current draw associated with its operation and it is important that the cable supplying power to these is capable of carrying the normally expected current, plus a margin of safety. This is the resistance of the conductor expressed in Ohms per metre ( W/m) and is important when determining voltage drop (see below)Īdditional specifications may include a working temperature range and resistance to certain chemicals such as acids, fuels, oils etc. This is the diameter including the insulation and usually expressed in mm. So 28/0.30 means that there are 28 strands, each with a diameter of 0.30mmĮxpressed in Amperes (Amps or A) and is the maximum continuous or 'working' current that the cable can safely carry. This can often lead to confusion so just remember that the main specification for a cable will be its conductor's cross-sectional area and cable will never be referred to by its diameter alone.Įxpressed as the number of conductors of a given diameter. You will sometimes see cable described as 1mm or 2mm cable without the ² sign but it is important to note that this does not mean the diameter of the cable. The same applies when crimping the conductor to a terminal - make sure all strands are contained within the crimp or the current carrying capacity will be reduced.Ĭables are generally specified using the following properties: PropertyĮxpressed in mm² and describes the tota l cross sectional area of the copper conductor. ![]() This will reduce the total cross-sectional area of the conductor at that point and consequently also reduce the current carrying capacity of the cable. Tip : Be careful when stripping the insulation from a stranded cable that you don't accidentally remove any of the copper strands. The difference in cross sections is shown in the diagram below: This type of cable is (unsurprisingly) known as 'stranded' cable and provides much more flexibility, which means improved resistance to work hardening making it better suited to use in vehicles. ![]() This problem is overcome by manufacturing the core from many small diameter strands of copper wire to make up the desired cross-sectional area, rather than using a single wire. This work hardening causes the metal to become more brittle which could, over a long period of time, cause a stiff, solid conductor to crack and fail. The reason for this is that copper, although quite ductile, is susceptible to 'work hardening' when subject to vibration and mechanical shock, such as is experienced when installed in a vehicle. LED equivalents to metal halide lighting offer similar energy savings as over sodium lighting – around 50%.You will have noticed that cable used in vehicle electrical systems is very flexible in contrast to the cable you would find in the the walls of your home, which is fairly stiff. Either way, LED lighting is around 50% more efficient than both HPS and LPS lighting. LPS are more efficient than HPS but emit a very dim, yellow light. Sodium lights can be high pressure sodium (HPS) or low pressure sodium (LPS). LED tube lights use between 40 and 50% less energy than fluorescent tube lights, which is of course comparable to CFLs that utilise the same technology. LED equivalents to fluorescent tube lights LED light bulbs take energy efficiency to another level, using around 40% less energy than CFL equivalents. Halogen Light Bulb WattageĬFL (compact fluorescent lamp) light bulbs were the first real energy-efficient alternative to incandescent and halogen bulbs, using much less energy and lasting for much longer. Halogen light bulbs are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, but still require much more energy to generate light than LEDs, which use around 85% less energy than halogen bulbs. ![]() Incandescent light bulbs are the least energy-efficient light source, with LED light bulbs using just 10% of the energy to produce the same amount of light as their incandescent equivalents. LED equivalents to traditional incandescent light bulbs That being said, you can use the comparison charts below as a starting point to finding out the LED equivalents for the light source you are shopping for. When comparing different light bulbs and lamps, it is better to compare the lumens that each bulb produces, in order to gain a true like-for-like comparison. LED equivalent wattages to traditional light sources can only be approximate, as they will vary depending on the colour temperature and quality of the bulbs being compared. ![]()
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