Automotive Cable

[timmer656]

Does anyone know of any manufacturers that make multiconductor cable for auto/truck applications? I need a 2 pair cable. All the industrial cable I look at is rated at 300V, which seems very excessive. I would think that there must be cable that's rated maybe 50V just for cars/trucks.

 

[paulharland]

I think you will find that the rating is the maximum voltage the cable will carry just before it fails.

 

[patdaly]

Paul is right, the voltage value is related to the voltage the wire is rated to carry before the insulation breaks down. So long as you do not exceed the rating, you will be fine.

 

[Comcokid]

The voltage rating is the maximum the cable will handle over the typical lifetime given age, exposure, temperature, etc. and maintain a good margin of safety. The voltage rating is directly related to the insulation material and insulation thickness.

For automotive the insulation characteristics are determined by cost and the thickness need for abrasion resistance (from sharp edges and vehicle vibration). The insulation also needs to maintain some flexibility at cold temperatures. The voltages present in a vehicle never even come close to what the insulation may actually withstand from a voltage standpoint, therefore many times wire for the vehicle markets may not have a voltage rating.

It's not uncommon to find vehicle wire made to a automotive company's spec listed as 16 gauge, when the amount of stranded copper is really equivalent to 18 gauge (by industrial standards) and the insulation thickness is more typical of 16 gauge.