Electric cable - Revision history

Michel Lamontagne: /* Grounding */

2019-07-24T17:41:46Z

Grounding

Michel Lamontagne at 18:01, 23 July 2019

2019-07-23T18:01:12Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Conductors */

2019-07-10T20:58:26Z

Conductors

Michel Lamontagne: /* Grounding */

2019-07-10T20:57:40Z

Grounding

Michel Lamontagne: /* Conductors */

2019-07-10T20:56:01Z

Conductors

Michel Lamontagne at 20:53, 10 July 2019

2019-07-10T20:53:06Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Insulation */

2019-07-10T20:52:38Z

Insulation

Michel Lamontagne at 20:40, 10 July 2019

2019-07-10T20:40:52Z

Michel Lamontagne at 20:36, 10 July 2019

2019-07-10T20:36:43Z

Michel Lamontagne at 20:15, 10 July 2019

2019-07-10T20:15:35Z

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 Grounding may pose a particular problem as Martian soil, being frozen, may not be very conductive.  Extensive grounding may be required to complete electrical circuits and ensure that return voltages are not too high compared to various conductive elements in the settlement.  Discharge of static electricity buildup in structural elements over poorly conducting ground will need to be included in electrical system designs.
+== Protection ==
 [[Category:Distribution]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:01, 23 July 2019
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−	~~{{stub}}~~
	[[Category:Distribution]]		[[Category:Distribution]]

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 Conductors are described by the American Wire gage system, from 24 to 0000, and then in the MCM (thouthands of circular mils) system from 250 to 2000.  The system has many particular dimensions, such as 477 Aluminium wire, that is 477 MCM and used as its conductivity is equal to the older 300 MCM copper conductors it often replaces.
-Most conductors inside buildings are likely to be sized following existing building codes, with a limitation in voltage drop of about 5%. So for a 480V system, motors will be rated to operate at 460V, and 120V at 114V.
+Most conductors inside buildings are likely to be sized following existing building codes, with a limitation in voltage drop of about 5%. So for a 480V system, motors will be rated to operate at 460V, and 120V at 115V.
 ==Insulation==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Grounding==
-Grounding may pose a particular problem as Martian soil, being frozen, may not be very conductive.  Extensive grounding may be required to complete electrical circuits and ensure that return voltages are not too high compared to various conductive elements in the settlement.  Static electricity buildup in structural elements over poorly conducting ground will need to be treated included in electrical system designs.
+Grounding may pose a particular problem as Martian soil, being frozen, may not be very conductive.  Extensive grounding may be required to complete electrical circuits and ensure that return voltages are not too high compared to various conductive elements in the settlement.  Discharge of static electricity buildup in structural elements over poorly conducting ground will need to be included in electrical system designs.
 {{stub}}
 [[Category:Distribution]]

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 ==Conductors==
-Most high voltage and high amperage conductors are [[Aluminum|aluminium]], while copper is usually used in domestic distribution and communications.  Both metals are recyclable.  Conductors are temperature limited, and conductivity decreases with temperature.
+Most high voltage and high amperage conductors are [[Aluminum|aluminium]], while [[copper]] is usually used in domestic distribution and communications.  Both metals are recyclable.  Conductors are temperature limited, and conductivity decreases with temperature.  Although the [[embodied energy]] of aluminium is generally higher than for copper, the density of aluminium is 4 times lower, while the conductivity is about 2/3.  So aluminium is less expensive to produce overall when evaluated in the terms of energy carried.
 In a conductor, V=R*I where the voltage drop (V) is equal to the electrical resistance (R) * the current (I).

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 Conductors are described by the American Wire gage system, from 24 to 0000, and then in the MCM (thouthands of circular mils) system from 250 to 2000.  The system has many particular dimensions, such as 477 Aluminium wire, that is 477 MCM and used as its conductivity is equal to the older 300 MCM copper conductors it often replaces.
 ==Insulation==
 Glass fabric made from [[fiberglass]] is an interesting material for cable insulation, for it meets all above-mentioned requirements. See also [[lunarp:In Situ Electrical Insulation]].‎
-[[Plastics]], such as [[Polymer|PVC]] (polyvinyl chloride) could be manufactured on Mars from non edible biomass, that usually form at least 50% of vegetable production, of from [[hydrocarbons]] manufactured from CO2 and hydrogen using the xxx process.
+[[Plastics]], such as [[Polymer|PVC]] (polyvinyl chloride) could be manufactured on Mars from non edible biomass, that usually form at least 50% of vegetable production, of from [[hydrocarbons]] manufactured from CO2 and hydrogen using the [[Fischer-Tropsch reaction|Fischer Tropsch]] reaction.
-*What conductive material can be produced in-situ with the lowest effort?
+== Grounding ==
-*Outdoor cables need special protection against [[static electricity]]. Preventive measures, shielding and protective circuits must be defined.
+Grounding may pose a particular problem as Martian soil, being frozen, may not be very conductive.  Extensive grounding may be required to complete electrical circuits and ensure that return voltages are not too high compared to various conductive elements in the settlement.  Static electricity buildup in structural elements over poorly conducting ground will need to be treated included in electrical system designs.
 {{stub}}
 [[Category:Distribution]]

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Glass fabric made from [[fiberglass]] is an interesting material for cable insulation, for it meets all above-mentioned requirements. See also [[lunarp:In Situ Electrical Insulation]].‎
-[[Polymer|PVC]] (poly vinyl chloride) could be manufactured on Mars
+[[Plastics]], such as [[Polymer|PVC]] (polyvinyl chloride) could be manufactured on Mars from non edible biomass, that usually form at least 50% of vegetable production, of from [[hydrocarbons]] manufactured from CO2 and hydrogen using the xxx process.
 ==Open Issues==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Electric cables ''' are used for the transmission of [[electricity|electrical]] power and information. For a [[Mars|Martian]] [[settlement]] the following requirements apply:
+'''Electric cables, '''also called conductors, insulated conductors and wiring, are used for the transmission of [[electricity|electrical]] power, grounding and communications. For a [[Mars|Martian]] [[settlement]] the following requirements apply:
-*It must be [[recycling|recyclable]].
+*It should be [[recycling|recyclable]].
-*It must be made [[in-situ resource utilization|in-situ]] from [[local resources]].
+*It should be made [[in-situ resource utilization|in-situ]] from [[local resources]].
-*It must be [[fire]]-proof
+*The insulation must be [[fire]]-proof if used inside a [[habitat]].
 ==Insulation==
@@ Line 9: / Line 12: @@
 ==Open Issues==
 *What conductive material can be produced in-situ with the lowest effort?
 *Outdoor cables need special protection against [[static electricity]]. Preventive measures, shielding and protective circuits must be defined.