ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Derating needed?

I found this photo on a website promoting an electrical engineering company. Do you think this installation of theirs needs derating?

C-H,
They're Data cables aren't they?.

Eh, could be. Didn't think of that...

C-H,
Sorry to pour cold water on your idea, mate.
But the question does beg asking, even if those cables are carrying relatively low currents, do they heat up to some extent?.
Given that they are so tightly bundled and all cables exhibit electrical resistance along thier length.
And it looks like those particular cables are running for a fair stretch!.
There's nothing like a neatly bundled and tied cable installation, though.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 04-22-2003).]

Well, either my idea or the wiring needed cold water poured on it.

[This message has been edited by C-H (edited 04-22-2003).]

That definitely looks like bundled data/TelCo cables.

As for heat dissipation, if we take a typical telephone cable the conductors might have a resistance somewhere in the region of 28 ohms per 1000 ft.

At a loop current of 100mA (which is toward the high side anyway), I^2*R comes to 0.28W over 1000 ft., or 0.56W allowing for the both sides of the loop.

That's 560 microwatts per foot for each operating circuit. Put away the fork -- You're not going to toast marshmallows on those cables!