compression lugs with thick stranded wire
- Thread starter John Frum
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I used thick stranded 6 gauge wire with a ferrule and it's working OK. The ferrule isn't likely to be the cold weld that a lug compressed with a hydraulic crimper can do.
I did do some 8 gauge thick strand wire into compression lugs, but I can't say for sure if it's a cold weld or not. I'm not cutting it apart.
I did do some 8 gauge thick strand wire into compression lugs, but I can't say for sure if it's a cold weld or not. I'm not cutting it apart.
John Frum
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Someone I'm helping might want to do compression lugs with THHN or XHHW.
THHN and XHHW are typically less expensive than fine stranded heavy gauge wire.
Plus its commonly available at big box stores.
Also the lack of flexibility and tendency to hold shape when bent can be an advantage in certain circumstances.
I used mechanical lugs in my setup but I try to be more conservative with the advice I give others.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Pointless to start this circus again... Forget I bothered to point anything and go about your day.
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John Frum
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I'm skeptical of your claim.
Why is fine stranded wire better for DC current handling?
Who is saying that "Coarse is NOT recommended for DC"?
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Throwing gasoline on the fire here...
My welder does both AC and DC. It uses the same fine stranded leads for both. It's my understanding that the leads are fine stranded simply for flexibility.
My welder does both AC and DC. It uses the same fine stranded leads for both. It's my understanding that the leads are fine stranded simply for flexibility.
John Frum
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Yes and solid metal busbars seem to work fine for DC.
This may be veering off topic but I looked at two bus bar ampacity tables, one for DC and the other for AC (pretty sure it's AC since it referenced 60 Hz). For the same size bus bar, the AC ampacity rating is much higher. I'm posting this mainly because I don't understand the difference.
AC ampacity table
DC ampacity table
www.copper.org
EDIT: They're the same. I was reading it wrong.
AC ampacity table
Copper Ampacity - Eldre is now Mersen | Bus Bars
Conductor Size Calculating conductor size is very important to the electrical and mechanical properties of a bus bar. Electrical current-carrying requirements determine the minimum cross-sectional area of the conductors. Mechanical considerations include rigidity, mounting holes, connections and...
www.busbar.com
DC ampacity table
Electrical: Bus Bar - Table 1: Ampacities
Ampacities in the table below are for bus bars having an emissivity of 0.4.
www.copper.org
EDIT: They're the same. I was reading it wrong.
Last edited:
John Frum
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I'm confused the charts are the same.This may be veering off topic but I looked at two bus bar ampacity tables, one for DC and the other for AC (pretty sure it's AC since it referenced 60 Hz). For the same size bus bar, the AC ampacity rating is much higher. I'm posting this mainly because I don't understand the difference.
AC ampacity table
Copper Ampacity - Eldre is now Mersen | Bus Bars
Conductor Size Calculating conductor size is very important to the electrical and mechanical properties of a bus bar. Electrical current-carrying requirements determine the minimum cross-sectional area of the conductors. Mechanical considerations include rigidity, mounting holes, connections and...www.busbar.com
DC ampacity table
Electrical: Bus Bar - Table 1: Ampacities
Ampacities in the table below are for bus bars having an emissivity of 0.4.
Que?
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Not the same. Different websites, different tables.
John Frum
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But same ampacity for same temperature rise for same dimensions.
Dang it, I was looking at the wrong sections of the tables on the AC side. Grrr.
Nevermind.
Mike 134
Solar Enthusiast
Electricians use compression connections for everything between #6 AWG up to 600MCM cables. Either 19 or 29 strands depending on diameter. Lasts for well over 50 years. Have no idea why a guy on a forum would think not to.
Looks almost identical to me.This may be veering off topic but I looked at two bus bar ampacity tables, one for DC and the other for AC (pretty sure it's AC since it referenced 60 Hz). For the same size bus bar, the AC ampacity rating is much higher. I'm posting this mainly because I don't understand the difference.
AC ampacity table
Copper Ampacity - Eldre is now Mersen | Bus Bars
Conductor Size Calculating conductor size is very important to the electrical and mechanical properties of a bus bar. Electrical current-carrying requirements determine the minimum cross-sectional area of the conductors. Mechanical considerations include rigidity, mounting holes, connections and...www.busbar.com
DC ampacity table
Electrical: Bus Bar - Table 1: Ampacities
Ampacities in the table below are for bus bars having an emissivity of 0.4.
Used 30C rise for each
Example 1/4 x 1 AC = 400A
1/4 x 1 DC = 409A
Electrical: Busbar - DC Copper Busbar Ampacities
The following tables have been provided by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), T1 Committee, and represent ampacities for busbar sizes and arrangements typically found in the telecommunications industry.
www.copper.org
Copper Ampacity - Eldre is now Mersen | Bus Bars
Conductor Size Calculating conductor size is very important to the electrical and mechanical properties of a bus bar. Electrical current-carrying requirements determine the minimum cross-sectional area of the conductors. Mechanical considerations include rigidity, mounting holes, connections and...
www.busbar.com
