Cable and connector rating
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Posts: 46,084
Can I use XLR connectors and cables to run DC 13.8V at about 25A and
using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and reliable? I
am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays) and
need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and out,
reliable and safe.
many thanks
Al
using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and reliable? I
am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays) and
need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and out,
reliable and safe.
many thanks
Al
Comments
Its really bad form to use an industry standard connector for something its
not intended for, especially if it involves power. This will eventually
cause someone to plug the cable in where it shouldn't go, potentially hosing
your stuff or someone else's. I can imagine someone assuming your cable is
for low-level audio and plugging it into a mixing board.
Case in point:
A thrifty (read cheapskate) friend decided the electrical extension cords he
already has would make a good, long speaker wire extension for his stereo.
He bought the appropriate connectors and put a female 2-prong outlet on the
stereo and a male 2-prong plug on the speakers. Works good and he is proud
of himself for not having to buy any wire.
Dad is sitting in his chair watching football one Sunday, and suddenly hears
a very brief, loud buzz in the basement. As he gets to the basement door, he
is met by a very wide-eyed 4-year-old with soiled pants. Seems his son had
seen dad plug enough stuff in the wall outlet and figured dad forgot to plug
the speaker.
Original Message
> Can I use XLR connectors and cables to run DC 13.8V at about 25A and
> using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and reliable? I
> am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays) and
> need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and out,
> reliable and safe.
outlets as a standard modification to helicopters. We protect them with 35A
circuitbreakers, and use them for running fire buckets, or radio equipment.
Although the pins are nice and heavy, I wouldn't recommend much over 20A
continuous. (fire buckets draw intermittent current only). I have never seen
one fail in that application, they are a good reliable and inexpensive
connector and have become somewhat of an industry standard here for airborne
auxiliary power outlets.
AWG 16 wire is ok for 25 A if not run in a bundle, and your wire is good
quality, however over reasonable distance, expect to see some copper
losses!!
Regards,
Dwain.
Original Message
From: <brownstamp@y...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 7:08 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cable and connector rating
> Can I use XLR connectors and cables to run DC 13.8V at about 25A and
> using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and reliable? I
> am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays) and
> need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and out,
> reliable and safe.
>
> many thanks
>
> Al
>
>
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>
>
>
>
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Dwain J. Hill"
<dwainsworld@e...> wrote:
> In Australia, many operators use these connectors for auxiliary
power
> outlets as a standard modification to helicopters. We protect them
with 35A
> circuitbreakers, and use them for running fire buckets, or radio
equipment.
> Although the pins are nice and heavy, I wouldn't recommend much
over 20A
> continuous. (fire buckets draw intermittent current only). I have
never seen
> one fail in that application, they are a good reliable and
inexpensive
> connector and have become somewhat of an industry standard here
for airborne
> auxiliary power outlets.
>
> AWG 16 wire is ok for 25 A if not run in a bundle, and your wire
is good
> quality, however over reasonable distance, expect to see some
copper
> losses!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Dwain.
>
>
>
Original Message
> From: <brownstamp@y...>
> To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 7:08 AM
> Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cable and connector rating
>
>
> > Can I use XLR connectors and cables to run DC 13.8V at about 25A
and
> > using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and
reliable? I
> > am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays)
and
> > need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and
out,
> > reliable and safe.
> >
> > many thanks
> >
> > Al
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and
> Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> >
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Rodent <daweasel@s...> wrote:
> "Can" implies ability. "Should" is the operative word.
>
> Its really bad form to use an industry standard connector for
something its
> not intended for, especially if it involves power. This will
eventually
> cause someone to plug the cable in where it shouldn't go,
potentially hosing
> your stuff or someone else's. I can imagine someone assuming your
cable is
> for low-level audio and plugging it into a mixing board.
>
> Case in point:
>
> A thrifty (read cheapskate) friend decided the electrical
extension cords he
> already has would make a good, long speaker wire extension for his
stereo.
> He bought the appropriate connectors and put a female 2-prong
outlet on the
> stereo and a male 2-prong plug on the speakers. Works good and he
is proud
> of himself for not having to buy any wire.
>
> Dad is sitting in his chair watching football one Sunday, and
suddenly hears
> a very brief, loud buzz in the basement. As he gets to the
basement door, he
> is met by a very wide-eyed 4-year-old with soiled pants. Seems his
son had
> seen dad plug enough stuff in the wall outlet and figured dad
forgot to plug
> the speaker.
>
>
Original Message
>
> > Can I use XLR connectors and cables to run DC 13.8V at about 25A
and
> > using AWG 16 for my next BS2 project? Is that safe and
reliable? I
> > am turning large DC motors and lights (using solid state relays)
and
> > need something that is polarity sensitive, easy to plug in and
out,
> > reliable and safe.