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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 thermoplastic and thermoset products.
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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.
Benefits of Using Cable Management
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Even the smallest nick in a cable’s insulation during a pull can lead to outer sheath damage and a short circuit fault. Cables that won’t meg properly will need to be completely replaced to resolve the issue. Instead, 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.
Interlocked armored cables like Feeder MC provide the protection and durability required without the need for electrical conduit, elbows, costly offsets, and conduit couplings. Read our article to discover the additional advantages of switching to Type MC.