[Antennas] Amp Rating

2002年6月25日 18:49:19 -0500

Not really, Tim!
In reading the various responses I was afraid that was what you might
conclude.
The current rating of a piece of wire depends upon the wire material -
copper, aluminum, etc. - its insulation, its installation (open air, wiring
tunnel,??) and the temperature rise that is tolerable. Not to mention the
voltage drop that the circuit requirements can handle.
So, the fusing current is absolutely the highest value of current under any
condition that you would expect to use: at that current, the wire
vaporizes! Not a very useful rating unless you are using the wire as a
fuse.
So, as a practical matter #20 wire can probably handle "a amp or so"
provided that it is located where it can get rid of its heat and that the
insulation is rated for the temperature involved.
A couple of data points to remember is that #10 wire is commonly used in
30-amp circuits and #12 wire in 20-amp circuits, while #14 wire would be
used for 15-amp circuits. Most wiring codes work around those values.
Bet you thought there was an easy answer to your question, didn't you? <:}
73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas 
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe 
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
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Tim Billingsley wrote:
>> Thanks to everyone for all the answers.
> Seems that somewhere in the neighborhood of 58+ amps covers it.