16 and 18 AWG not approved by UL

[MotorGenerator]

I’m trying to buy some 16 and 18 switchboard wire that is UL, CSA approved. The wire I want is FR-XLPE and I’ve found it but not UL approved. Manufacture says UL doesn’t recognize 16 and 18 AWG. Is that true?

 

[davidbeach]

What on earth would you be trying to do with that dinky wire anyway? 14 on low voltage control circuits is plenty small enough.

 

[MotorGenerator]

14 AWG for a 60 milliamp relay is over kill. 250 times the ampacity required.

 

[dpc]

http://www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/wiremtw.pdf

This shows MTW down to #18 AWG and certainly implies it is all UL approved, but that is not totally clear.

The concern with size is not so much the current-carrying capability, but the physical strength of the wiring and terminations.



David Castor

http://www.cvoes.com

 

[jraef]

It's probably that specific insulation / wire style that doesn't come UL listed in that size. XLPE is usually used as tray cable, and you could not legally use anything smaller than 14ga in a tray, so why make it?

You might want to try SIS if you are looking for something better than MTW because you want flame resistant wire. It's UL listed down to 18ga.


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