wire temperature

[tj234]

I'm looking for information on how to calculate the temperature of a conductor in free air, given the resistance of the wire, the current, the ambient temperature, etc. I would like to be able to find the temperature of both the conductor and the outside of the insulation(how hot to the touch).
Any insight, websites, or tables would be appreciated.

 

[bob]

Re: wire temperature

I hope you have a lot of spare time. Check out the Neher McGrath formula 310.15(C).

 

[c-h]

Re: wire temperature

A book on heat transfer will be a good guide if you are serious about this. In theory, this is easy to calculate, but in practice it is a bit more difficult as you need data for the insulating material. (Keep in mind that termodynamics and heat transfer aren't exact sciences.)

I have J.P. Holman "Heat transfer" (McGraw-Hill), a good but not great book. http://www.mhhe.com/engcs/mech/holman/index09.mhtml