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Extreme cold temperatures can cause cables to stiffen, crack, and even break. To avoid cable damage, select a cable with a sufficient cold temperature rating for your application.
Extreme cold temperatures can have adverse effects on your wire and cable, causing them to temporarily become brittle and inflexible. In these conditions, some cables will stiffen and even crack if they are installed below recommended temperatures.
This video shows THHN-2 snapping on the jobsite during a cold weather installation. The temperature caused the PVC insulation to stiffen, and the nylon jacket cracked when the cable was pulled. This not only destroyed the cable, but it became a safety risk to all involved—just one example of why selecting the right cable is critical.
Industry standards allow a variety of cold temperature ratings. This rating reflects the cable’s lowest recommended temperature for installation. Cables made of thermoplastic insulation (THHN/THWN-2) may stiffen at temperatures colder than -10°C, while cables made of thermoset insulation (XHHW-2) are temperature rated for -40°C.
Thermoset products like XHHW-2 have XLPE (crosslink) insulation instead of PVC. The cold temperature resistant polymer allows the cable to better maintain its flexibility during cold weather installations. Read “THHN vs. XHHW-2: What’s the Difference” to learn more about the differences between thermoplastic and thermoset cables.
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When working on cold weather installations, consider using Cable Management. Cable is housed in one of Service Wire’s three state-of-the-art facilities until you need it—protecting your investment from unnecessary wear before installation.
Benefits of Using Cable Management
Protect your investment in subzero temperatures. Download our Cold Weather Fact Sheet to learn more.
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET
No Pulling Lubricant Required (#6 AWG and Larger)
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Even the smallest nick in a cable’s insulation can lead to outer sheath damage & a short circuit fault. Cable’s that won’t meg properly will need to be replaced. Learn how you can prevent cable faults during installation.
Thermoset XLPE insulation is superior to the thinner PVC insulation used in thermoplastic products (like THHN/THWN-2). Learn more about the differences between THHN and XHHW-2.
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