Thermal rating is the maximum and/or minimum temperature at which a material will perform its function without undue degradation.
Thermal rating is the range of temperature, defined by a maximum and often a minimum, within which a material can perform its intended function without undue degradation. For cable, the thermal rating indicates the temperatures the insulation and other materials can withstand while continuing to provide their electrical and mechanical properties. Operating outside this range risks degrading the material and shortening its service life.
Because a material's properties change with temperature, the thermal rating bounds the conditions in which it can be relied upon. The maximum reflects the heat above which the material degrades, while a minimum may reflect the cold below which it becomes brittle or loses flexibility.
In commercial and industrial systems, thermal ratings guide the selection of cable and materials suited to their operating environment. Recognizing the rating helps in matching cable to both the hot and cold extremes it will face.
Because a material's properties change with temperature, the thermal rating bounds the conditions in which it can be relied upon, with the maximum reflecting the heat above which the material degrades and a minimum reflecting the cold below which it becomes brittle or loses flexibility.
Recognizing the rating helps in matching cable to both the hot and cold extremes it will face, since the thermal rating bounds the temperatures within which a material performs its function without undue degradation in commercial and industrial systems.
At Windy City Wire, the focus on properly rated low-voltage cable connects to thermal ratings that bound safe operation. Supplying cable with materials rated for the temperature range of the application helps ensure dependable performance across the conditions of commercial and industrial systems.