Automotive Cable
Automotive Cable
(OP)
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.





RE: Automotive Cable
RE: Automotive Cable
RE: Automotive Cable
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.