I've got some quite high current requirements for a cable run - what would be the suggested type of cable. Has to be 4-core to support 10A at 12v.
Well, I was originally proposing to do that, but the electrician suggested that might make it harder for maintenance.
He's thinking of running 1.5mm cable - which I understand from a quick Google has a resistance of about 0.25ohms over 10m. This would equate to a voltage drop of 2.5v - which is not insignificant.
The calculations may be the same but unlike with mains where you can work on standard assumptions in an ELV DC system you really need to find out how much volt drop is acceptable before you start.Use the same calculations of voltage drop as for mains cables It doesn't matter if the voltage is 230 or 12 the voltage drop is set by current and resistance of the conductor.
When you say "should" - is that a building regs thing, or sensible advice?
I've deliberately gone for a worst-case with my 2.5v, but even so, I'm beginning to think that I may have to find another location for my DMX controllers & PSUs.
You'll probably also find that the drivers are constant current drivers, so the normal voltage drop calculations become less relevant other than just as a guide.
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