Ampacity test of 28 AWG ribbon cables
This report contains the results of testing ribbon cables in order to determine the amount of current they can carry. In some experiments ribbon cables are used to power circuit boards and carry several amperes of current. These tests were required to establish safe operating current limits for electrical safety reviews. The basic principle behind these tests was to increase the amount of current passed through the ribbon cables until the insulation melted and the cable clearly became a fire hazard. As the current through the cable was increased the copper temperature was determined from the increased conductor resistance. The tests were done on two different types of ribbon cables. One was the flat 26 conductor 28AWG and the other was the twist and flat 26 conductor 28AWG ribbon cable, both of which are commonly used in the experiments. The flat cable was tested for current carrying capacity through three conductors and through a single conductor. The twist and flat cable was tested for current carrying capacity through a single conductor. It was found that the maximum single conductor ampacity for both cables is approximately 3A and the three conductor ampacity for the flat cable is about 10A. 4 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab., Batavia, IL (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03000
- OSTI ID:
- 6970997
- Report Number(s):
- FNAL-TM-1657; ON: DE90012019
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
426000* -- Engineering-- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits-- (1990-)
CABLES
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CABLES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EQUIPMENT
FIRE HAZARDS
HAZARDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SAFETY
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TESTING