John100156
Well-Known Member
Stating the obvious: In the UK all cables used in electrical (~power) construction are sized in millimeters squared, it simply relates to the cross sectional area of the conductor, which is the critical factor, the area of a circle is given in mm2 its not just given for rectangles! It is a real dimension and in my opinion superior to AWG!
Volt drop in any DC circuit is of course due to cable resistance, hence your advice to go one up is good, it will give a better voltage at the end.
Volt drop = Resistance of length of cable in ohms multiplied by current.
If you run cables through hot spaces, bury them in insulation or for that matter group them with other circuits (more critical in construction), you are correct it does derate them. So as you suggest, calculate cable size and go up one size seems to me to be eminently sensible.
Volt drop in any DC circuit is of course due to cable resistance, hence your advice to go one up is good, it will give a better voltage at the end.
Volt drop = Resistance of length of cable in ohms multiplied by current.
If you run cables through hot spaces, bury them in insulation or for that matter group them with other circuits (more critical in construction), you are correct it does derate them. So as you suggest, calculate cable size and go up one size seems to me to be eminently sensible.
