Why Knowing WIRE INSULATION Types Is Crucial
I've noticed many electrical apprentices out there have a difficult time understanding why there are so many different wire types, and think that each wire is actually different somehow. They're only different in insulation, and here's how.
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WIRE INSULATION
Every wire is essentially the same, for the most part. You're either working with aluminum, copper, or copper-clad aluminum as an electrician. But before you pull out your wire strippers, it's important to know that each of these has their own special things you should be aware of - but really what's important to know is the type of insulation around each conductor.
In the NEC (National Electrical Code) there are many different tables, charts, and articles that talk about what conductors you may or may not use for certain environments. Most discuss temperature limitations as a primary factor for selection. Many also have environmental reasons for their design. As an electrician, you're responsible for knowing what conductors you should be selecting based on the environment you're working in.
Insulation can and does melt, often. When a conductor is not sized correctly, that conductor can become hotter than it was intended to be, and over a long enough time this can cause the insulation around that conductor to begin to break down. This over-heating can melt the insulation, creating a short-circuit or ground fault. Most of the time a circuit breaker or fuse will stop any major harm from happening, but not always.
Insulation is often over looked. Many electricians just begin wire stripping and think little about what they're removing from the conductor. IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART!! It's crucial to understand why certain conductors have certain insulation types, and even more important is knowing when to select the correct application for the work you're doing.
#conductor #insulation #wiretypes #electrical
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One thing that may have been interesting to talk about is THHN, MTW and TFFN. Machine/control wire insulation vs building wire.
Is there a video on this? Because I would watch that.
One thing I should have mentioned is that bundling multiple conductors together is not only a heating issue, there can be induced and capacitive currents that can have an effect on each other making it more difficult for current to travel through the conductors. This adds to the overall impedance on the circuit which can also cause extra heating in the conductors. Just some extra info fer ya...
Yesss . Bonding n Grounding vid Justin
Only if bundled 24" or more. You know how it is, always fine print to the NEC :) Awesome video to keep it simple for the up and comers!
@@jaredkilgore7194 That's just what the NEC says you need to worry about, that DOES NOT mean that the effects are not still there for that 24 inches. It's just not as large of a deal over that small of a cross-section of conductors for us to worry about derating the entire conductor. Over larger lengths, the same conditions apply but it is much more difficult to dissipate heat through that much density of material over such a long distance. Trust me, it's still there...just not in a large quantity.
@@ElectricianU Thank you for time replying to my comment. Yes, you are correct. I should have realized you were talking about the inductive reactance in general. I've seen a commercial EMT job once we're the JW ran all the travellers from a large gang of 3 or 4 ways in one 3/4" to a box that didn't include the neutral or hot and that conduit got super hot! Definitely something to keep in mind for sure. IBEW local 80, 20 year sparky here. We've seen plenty of interesting things over the years, no doubt! Keep up the grind, work safe out there. Your videos are awesome brother!
Justin nice video and I am glad you are showing this much of the advice by the NEC in US, 18 amendment in UK and even IEEE standards indicating amapacity for cables in raceways/conduits or buried outside are based on long standing mathematical calculations. However latest research is showing using numerical techniques like computational fluid dynamics that those calculations are actually off to a significant degree - indicating that cables in conduit/ raceways need to be de-rated more if internally and de-rated less if buried underground in trenches with the geometric position of the cables being a critical factor in heat dissipation and amapacity rating. Moreover the situation really depends on the installation itself significant variations have been found due to that as well. So electrical codes are a minimum - electricians need to do a risk-based analysis and look at the installation to choose the right wires for the load and the conditions where the wiring will be in. Probably in few years you will start to see these amapacity tables in conduit and buried underground change as it catches up with the latest research. I found this guide from the copper development association very helpful starting to date a bit now but still very useful- they have other helpful topics as well for the electrician. www.copper.org/applications/electrical/building/pdf/copper-wire-install-standard.pdf Also you have mentioned this issue around heat, insulation breakdown as a safety matter. However more and more in the future power quality issues not just heat and safety issues will impact choice of wiring especially the need for over sizing neutrals - given the increasing amount of residential power generation solar, EV charging, mix of dc and AC devices leading to increase in surges, transients and harmonics. Which can degrade wiring through heat and increased inductance and capacitive effects - but even if does not it can still reduce the efficiency in which the wiring can carry that load and operates devices and equipment.
Broo you're killing it with this knowledge
ikr, i love free knowledge uwu
3 months into my apprenticeship (at 26 😅) and I appreciate all of your content. Trying not to get ahead of myself but understanding why I have to do things the way Im told helps me wrap my head around it all.. without having to ask why this or why that on site lol.
I’m just a HVAC commercial tech that loves watching your vids. You share a lot of your knowledge and I’m glad to be learning the electrical side of my work and more.
Hey Dustin, your videos were a huge inspiration to me getting into the trade. Was already somewhat interested, but your passion for it really sold me on how cool it can be. Just hit the three month mark on my apprenticeship, and even though it can be a bit overwhelming, I'm loving it. These videos are great and really help introduce/deepen different topics for me.
@John Doe Just the amount of information to learn and keep track of. Some days everything feels easy or manageable, and other days feels like hitting your head against a wall and like you know nothing. All part of learning anything
@@lthomp28 Everyone goes through that first year, it feels awesome once you get to the point where you click with your crew and they start noticing your progress. I definitely blasted my brain with info overload often when I started but majority of the important stuff ya end up really learning is with hands on experience over time.
Last day in the cnc shop is 11/7/2020 and I start my apprenticeship begins 11/9/2020. THANK YOU
Same trade I dumped
Why? no work?
Hell yeah brother, so glad to see you making videos again. Hope you are feeling better, best of luck to you.
Fixed someone’s mess up yesterday due to these same issues in your video. Your information is absolutely amazing. Thanks again bro
Bro I been watching your videos for about 2 years now, I just started going to IEC in Columbus Ohio and they show us your videos quite a bit. Makes me feel a head of the game cuz I've already watched all your videos lol. Love your channel man!! Keep it up bro!!
Sparkie from the UK here. Its always intresting to see how you do electrical work over there. Keep it coming.
As a new apprentice, I find your videos very helpful and useful. Thank you for posting. In this instance though, the title isn't wrong; you explain "why" knowing insulation types is important. IDK why I was expecting more depth discussion about the *types* and their uses. An idea for a future video perhaps. And as I type this, I see someone else mentioned it as well.
Switching from aircraft maintenance to electric cause of covid. Super excited and can't stop watching your videos! Thanks for all your stuff man.
Exactly what I needed to understand what a potential vendor for a commercial project was talking about. Thanks for this video!
thanks for spreading the knowledge of the trade greatly appreciate it!
This is great information. You should round out this discussion by doing a video on stranded VS solid wires and the various densities of stranded wire. Tell us why the ampacity is different for each. Unless you have already covered that.
Incredibly informative. Thank you so much!
You are almost single handedly keeping me looking good at work, most times they teach me something and then I come here sans improve off it or I learn it here first then wow them at work
Dustin, what you are doing is fking awesome. You're a pretty great teacher. You break down the info so non-pros like me can retain the info. Thanks dude!
Great stuff bud, been liking the recent videos a lot👍🏻
I just started trade school to become an electrician and your videos have helped me so much dude
Thank you so much for all the great info Dustin 👍
Damn, you re spoiling us with this much video, it looks like you re back! Hell yeah! The best to do it on youtube 💪💪💪 much respect and gratitude
Bro I'm single now...I got nothing but time to make videos for you crazy bastards lol. I've got loads more coming. I'll still take time off every year for a few months so I can have some fun with my life too...but for the immediate future I'm pumping out two a week until my fingers fall off
@@ElectricianU Again soooo good to see that you have recovered and fully back!!! Awesome, congrats to you for not going down the dark path, only good to come for you!
Very well explained. I appreciate how you walk us through why it's so important to ground objects.
Wire insulation, this was a great instructional course that you gave, without all the outside noise. You are very direct. That makes a great instructor.
SOOOOO helpful!! LOVE this channel. Thank you so much. As a home owner and DIYer, you're really helping me understand things at a much deeper level. WELL DONE!
Good too see you back dustin!
I used to work for a power factor correction company. We were concerned alot with kVBIL, the products they made ranged from 14kV to 40kV, so most of the time we used air as our insulation. The highest voltage rating I've used is 14.5 kV, expensive stuff.
Dude your videos are great!!! Thanks alot for your teachings man! I work in Austin texas as well
This is my favorite KZhead channel...and I'm not even an electrician 🤣👌✌
hahaha for real? what do you do?
I’m in the same boat!
@@ElectricianU lol, I was Army, private security contractor, now Federal Law Enforcement. I just like knowing shit 🤣. Electrical, hvac, plumbing...I watch and read it all. LOVE ELECTRICIANU!!
Another awesome video from electrician U .Great job thanks Dustin!
Don't know if it's addressed in another video or not but derating is a big and important topic. Glad you touched on it but it deserves more.
Love the damaged insulation segment. There are so many areas that damage insulation that you never think about unless you are the one that comes to fix where it has failed. On the other hand we get really focused on damaged insulation for really common things, that frequently come down to the people installing it. I was just in an addition to a house that had been wired, approved, drywalled and simply needed devices installed. In total there were about 7 boxes I had to work on. I found four separate conductors with damaged insulation, all in the same fashion. In every case it was a jagged scrape about 1/2" long resulting in exposed conductors. Then came the figuring out what went to what. No diagram anywhere, just wires hanging out of boxes with no indicator of what was supposed to do what. Ok fine, this is common, but unnecessary. Finally, everything is hooked up and no matter what device you turned on, it tripped the gfci. Long story short, bad gfci. Ok these things happen, but that was already installed and I was working downstream from it and had to work on the stupid thing in place because moving the billion ton washing machine in front of it was worse than crawling on top of it and hanging down the back. I told the homeowner he needed to find an electrician that knew how to pull wires.
Man Justine you help us a lot bro because no one in KZhead explain better than you you’re the best teacher ever ✌️✌️
Nice intro to wire insulation. Another cool topic to build off this (you may have already covered this in another video) is sizing conductors based on the terminal’s temperature rating and how that affects the sizing process. That concept took a long time for me to grasp and no one could explain it to me well so I had to figure it out on my own.
Great suggestion! I've got one on conduit fill but not terminal and temperature ratings/sizing. Thanks
love all your videos, always make me a smarter person.
Please do a grounding and bonding video! I’m barely starting to look/ get into the field and don’t know anything just yet. Your videos help me understand so much better.
Enjoy your videos. Would love to see one on grounding rods and the need for 2 rods
So good! Thank you!
Please do a show on Bonding grounds. It has some complexity and I am not sure why some of the rules are there. Both a basic introduction and some deeper bonding issues would be wonderful.
The pic @ 6:55 though, I come across illegal junctions too often. If I did that in someone's home I wouldn't sleep worrying of that exact scenario.
Nice to see your back!
Thanks Dustin, this is EXACTLY the info I was seeking! E-U is fuuggggin GREAT!
Last job I was on we had to use a special cable. Cant remember what it was called. The cables were feeding emergency power and lighting. It was similar to TECK cable. The rubber insulation was fire rated for 1hr I think. Supper soft but strong insulation, clad in a copper armor. I think it was around $250/m. And we had to use very expensive fancy connectors.
you do such a great job with these vids!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the video man, great topic!
Glad you liked it!
Keep pumping out vids man
Love your videos!!
Thanks for sharing bro, very useful information.
Insulation is what makes safe electricity possible. It's honestly gotta be the most important over looked thing. I thing guys that have replaced knob and tube have a higher respect for modern insulation 😂
Alec Ver Bunker my old house had some leftover knob and tube (not live) and it looked like a death trap.
@@firstmkb It was.
Can you please give us a depth class on grounding and bonding please I’m taking notes on every video you make !! I appreciate your help
Mike Holt has several videos on grounding and bonding. Holt is much more technical, but he is the man. If you are serious about getting a license then buying his course is well worth it.
Thank you. Now I need to check some of our house wiring. Better check than be unsafe.
Thanks. Good info.
Great information. Maybe you could do a video on the different types of flux and Sauter for different wires and metal applications?
Freaking love you Dustin, can you do a video on how you would read a print and how you would price a house for wiring ?
Yes do a part 2 on more variety! Great info, a nice refresher
I agree with Dylan 1000%
Really interesting to see how you do stuff compared to over here. I’m guessing your Romex is the equivalent of our twin and earth ? And am I right thinking do the different cable sizes they have a different colour sheath ? We don’t have that if so. Good video
Point of clarification: NM/Romex insulation is actually rated for 90⁰ C and derating is based on 90⁰ table, BUT we're never allowed to load it above 60⁰ table.
But this is more of a technicality.
@@reubenkriegel7639 It's not just a technicality. In multi-current-carrying conductor bundles, you can use the 90⁰ C tables rather than the 60⁰ C tables, which is a big difference. NM is restrained to the 60⁰ C ratings to be conservative enough that you don't need to worry about where it is installed; e.g., buried inside insulation in an exterior wall.
I am an experienced electrician and love the channel! I sometimes feel like its me talking to my guys... only your much better. Your usually very detailed and concise, but this video was not. I understand that publishing anything regarding electrical theory is a risk. I get it. The insulation of electrical conductors is not theoretical. I’d love to know the types of insulation and there insulation properties....
I do have a question - what is the difference in electric load for solid vs braided wire. ie if I had 8ga solid vs some 8ga braided wire - where would one be more appropriate? Both are copper
keep up with the grind
Appreciate you, man!
Have to say had people that lost power to outdoor lights and find romex a bunch of times, not uf but romex yellow sheath clearly labeled romex and it was pretty intact. The paper is usually soaking wet all the time and comes right off, the only thing I noticed is the romex sheathing is tougher to strip if that makes sense you can't use romex strippers on it. Unknown if its generally landscapers that hit it, sprinkler people, or if it just shorted somewhere else buried. Also I've noticed a few times in romex where the copper isn't as shiny as usual and has a duller finish where it doesn't even appear to be copper anymore have you ever noticed this? Its more almost a brown in color.
you should do a video on Tube and Knob and how to work with antique wiring in the 21st century!
I am not an electrician. Just a DIYer but I use UF anywhere that I’m going to use spray foam and anywhere that’s going to have any exposure possibilities of water or excess heat. just something to think about doing a little research on like I have. I hope this helps anybody out there DIYing
Yess . Bonding n Grounding vid Dustin
You got it! May be a minute since I've got a bunch in the cannon but I'll get to it for sure. There's probaly 20 videos I could do on that alone
So I'm going to be scrapping a lot of copper wire soon, what should I do with the wire insulation? Can it be sold? Is it worth anything? Where should I take it?
Interesting difference between US and Canadian code, here NMD90 (non-metallic, dry, 90 degree) is the standard residential wiring, even though we have code for 60/75 degree wires. Your UF is probably the equivalent of our NMWU.
great info, thanks
Can I use a 240 box for an ac to also power a 110v outdoor receptacle
Thanks brother..💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
where can i find in the code book the part of not running romex in conduit?? i see that you can do it for protection but i can't see where it says not allowed???
great information, every assumes you can use romex outside, nice video
Awesome video. Thanks
I have installed a 1400 watt heated floor that's fed by a 14 gage wire on a 15 amp 240 volts circuit. That wire (NMWU) is going trough an electrical conduit ¾ inch pipe for about 20 feet. I have run a 16 gage wire, for a door bell with it, in the conduit. I have some doubt this is not exactly to code, are there any issues with impedance, should I pull the small wire? The conduit goes trough a 6 inch concrete slab.
Well I know I'll be a leg up if I ever get into the IBEW thanks to you
You'll get there my dude just keep grinding
Great job!
can you use stranded wire for 120v light fixture? or tips for Romex to get folded into the boxes?
NM is now rated at 90 degrees. Was a truck question on my test because back in the day it was only 60 and that is what everyone remembers, but it has ti be rated at 90 now.
Love Ariat boots usually only get about 6 months out of a pair i work in a high heat environment
What guage wire would you recommend to power 3 travel trailers on one 50amp breaker
Hey D, in your comment below you mention capacitive inductance. I’m impressed. A while ago I dewired a 3-way and energized the circuit and was surprised to find 40v on the travelers. A little research revealed it was caused by capacitive inductance. I know sparkys with 35 years experience who don’t know or understand this. Sounds like you need to do a video on it. There are experiments you can do showing this. Cool stuff.
@@jash21222 yes, you are correct.
Did not realize us wire is different then canadian, we use nmd/90 here. Non metallic dry rated at 90°C. I think even our wiring from the 70's ish i believe was nmd7, and that was rated for 70°C
You mentioned that you can run 30/40amp or higher circuits to a 20amp piece of equipment If the machine was to crap out like a motor calling for 25amps instead of 20 would it still fault at the capacity? Or what could be the outcome ? Thanks broski 👊😎
I enjoy your videos, but I felt this one stopped a little short. I expected a 'list' of different insulation types and their uses, but only saw NM and UF. Does color indicate anything useful. Etc. More information would be helpful here. Thanks!
Thanks!!
Is there a trick to getting the insulation off of UF? I usually just use a knife to expose the conductors on the end then peel them apart, but it seems like there should be an easier way.
Greetings Fella. Remember folks Conductor Insulation isn't actually sheathing. There isnt a Type NM-A....Its Type NM Cable available as NM-B , NM-C, and NM -PCS and NM-S is no longer constructed. Actually, Type NM Cable is permitted in raceways but as Dustin says its not the typical application. Interesting fact, the "-B" means the inner conductor insulation is rated 90°C even if the NEC limits it to 60°C. Now, remember you cant run 30 Amp or 40 Amp circuits to locations that require a 20 Amp circuit...if the NEC requires a 20 Amp small appliance branch circuit then thats what is required unless stated otherwise. Great Job Dustin keep em coming.
What about TFN,TFFN,MTW, PFTE. I’ve never heard anyone talk about these different types. I recently had to repair ceiling fan light and you can’t use typical building wiring. I had to do some research online plus use a magnifying glass to check out markings on existing wire; eventually used piece of TFN.
Most wires are also "cross-listed" for and therefore approved for multiple insulation ratings. For example, most THHN is also MTW rated (but not the reverse!). You'll see it printed on the wire itself.
Excellent! !!!
Awesome video!!!!
Someone needs to put together a table of common wire types and their "intended" applications.
Google images :P
I got way to excited about this video.
Working as a shop kid. Hoping to pass my test and get through the interview process successfully. I want to work in the field so bad. Dropping stuff off to the sites is worse than blue balls.
Does the insulation of outdoors wires degrade? If so, how long does these outdoor wires need to be replaced before it is damaged due to weather and UV exposure?
I bought a house, and everything in the kitchen is on one breaker… My home depot is out of 12/2 indoor wire. Can I use a 12/2 outdoor wire (besides the fact that it is incredibly expensive)?
Thank you
So, if Romex is rated for only 60 degrees, how come is it allowed to be installed in homes? I have seen Romex in my attic and my attic gets freaking hot during summer, i would say at least 100 degrees. Isn't it dangerous? Should I install something else?
Excellent observations - - - and, let us not forget that even the "Code" is compiled by [albeit 'experts'] people who have diminished days [i. e.] and even they miss critical facts. All electrical work should be couched in the realm of safety.
Do they have xlpe romex in usa they have it in Canada but rare and expensive way better than nylon