Insulation affecting the current carrying capacity

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effect of insulation on the current carrying capacity of conducting wires in electrical circuits. Participants explore the implications of using insulated versus non-insulated wires, particularly in the context of experimental design for a project on electricity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the insulation affects the current carrying capacity of a wire, specifically if more current would flow without insulation.
  • Another participant suggests that insulation increases the wire's temperature and resistance, which could affect current flow, particularly in high power installations.
  • A different participant mentions the use of uninsulated conductors in large transformers, implying that this design allows for higher current flow while being contained within insulated boxes.
  • One participant advises understanding the basics of electricity, including voltage, current, and resistance, before conducting experiments.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of insulation in current flow, with some suggesting it increases resistance and others proposing that uninsulated conductors can carry more current in specific applications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the overall impact of insulation on current carrying capacity.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the assumptions regarding the types of current (DC vs. AC) and the specific conditions under which insulation affects current flow. There is also a lack of detailed experimental design proposals, leaving the methodology open to interpretation.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students or individuals looking to understand the relationship between insulation and current flow in electrical circuits, as well as those planning experiments related to electricity.

bk2001050
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
HI... i wanted to do an extensive project on electricity and i thought of something. When i take a normal conduucting wire with a plastic insulation on it, and connect it in a circuit, does the insulation affect the current carrying capacity of the wire? i mean to say in one case if i apply a potential to it and suppose with the help of an ammeter find that let's say 10 amps of current is flowing through it...and in another case if i take the same conducting wire but this time without the insulation coating, will more current flow? like does the insulating material affect the current conducting capacity of the wire? i know we might get a shock if there was no insulation...but is this phenomenon possible? will more current flow? and if it will then how can i design an elaborate practical experiment...i mean for my project i need to take experimental readings and collect the numeric data...so how do i design the circuit?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Assuming that your are talking about DC current, or AC of low enough frequency that we don't have to worry about skin effects or waveguide modes.
The insulator does have an effect in that it increases the temperature of the wire and so increases it's resistance (which then further increases the temperature). When designing high power electrical installations you have to take into account the insulation and ductwork's cooling effects to specify how big the wires must be.
 
The research experiment...

thanx a lot for clearing my doubt but is there any other reason, maybe any othe minute reason...thats why i have heard that in huge transformers there are fuse lage boxes or something like that in which conductors are kept without insulation so that electricity can flow in large amounts...and the whole thing is covered by an insulated box so that nothin touches the interiors...is it true? thanks a lot...but now i need to design an elaborate experiment to prove this by observing and taking numerical data...how do i do this? how will the circuit diagram be? please reply soon...
 
Do you understand the basics of electricity? It would be best if you understood a bit more about voltage, current and resistance before you spend much time crafting experiments. Do you have a technical library near you? If so, please check out the book, "The Art of Electronics" by Horowitz and Hill. I think you will get a lot of value out of it, and the first chapter or two will explain enough of the basics that you will be ready to spend some quality time experimenting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521370957/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Undergrad Will insulation on electric power lines affect the flow of power?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Question about the current through a strong insulator
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Can the Last Maxwell's Equation Explain Polarization of a Wire's Insulator?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad How does the current carrying capacity depends on thickness
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Current's Effect on Electrical Arcs
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Undergrad Is the current related to a path or to potential difference?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Undergrad Can current flow in an open circuit?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Does a Railgun's Current Violate Conservation of Momentum?
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
6K
Undergrad Two ways of constructing electromagnetism, which is correct?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate Taking current from an insulator?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K