Do Electricians Avoid Using High Resistance Wires for Household Wiring?

[Nuha99]

Do electricians avoid using moderate resistance wire?



3. I believe, 'Moderate resistance' in this problem means High Resistance. Am I correct in that assumption?

If that is the case, then high resistance of the wire will result in more heating.
If the wires become hot, the consequences of that are I believe


(1) fire hazard

(2) lower current: Since, resistance increase with temperature, from Ohm's law, current should drop. Does this mean, the the current across the load is lower than expected. What is the consequence of this for an average person who uses for example an electric toaster or T.V.? I just want to understand this. Thanks.

 

[Redbelly98]

You pretty much have the right idea. Lower current through or lower voltage across the device (the two usually go hand-in-hand).

Just to give you some numbers to play with, suppose a toaster (or heater or hair dryer) requires 10 Amps, and the house wiring has say 10 ohms of resistance.

 

[baba89]

I would like to clarify that electricians do not avoid using high resistance wires for household wiring. In fact, they choose the appropriate wire size and material based on the specific electrical needs of a household. The term "high resistance" in this context refers to wires with a higher gauge number, which have a higher resistance compared to wires with a lower gauge number. This does not necessarily mean that these wires are dangerous or should be avoided.

Wires with higher resistance are commonly used in household wiring for specific purposes such as lighting, where lower currents are required. In cases where higher currents are needed, electricians will use wires with lower resistance to avoid overheating and potential fire hazards.

To address your concerns, it is important to note that the current in a circuit is determined by the voltage and the resistance. When using wires with higher resistance, the voltage will drop slightly, resulting in a lower current. This drop in voltage is not significant enough to affect the performance of household appliances such as toasters or TVs. However, electricians take into consideration the specific electrical needs of a household and ensure that the appropriate wire size and material are used to avoid any potential hazards.

In conclusion, electricians do not avoid using high resistance wires for household wiring. They carefully select the appropriate wire size and material to ensure the safety and efficiency of the electrical system in a household.