Wire type to use for an industrial immersion heater? (no PVC)

[emiller233]

never really dealt with heater elements, so I'm not sure what temperature rating i should use on the wires? :dunce:

What is the recommended wire type to use for an industrial immersion heater? This will end up in a nuclear plant so they have a 'no PVC spec' we have to meet

we are using SIS cable on everything else (motors & control) on this system if that's acceptable?
quick search looks like TGGT is the 'standard' wire to use on heaters...?
TGGT wire link: https://www.awcwire.com/productspec.aspx?id=tggt-wire-ul5196

Immersion heater
12KW @ 480VAC/3ph

 

[SceneryDriver]

The needed temperature rating of the wire is all going to depend on the temp rating of the terminals on the heaters. If they're marked for 90C or less, you can use XLPE insulated conductors. The XLPE satisfies the "no PVC" spec. Can you connect individual conductors in conduit, or do you need cable?

Individual conductors:
https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/12-awg-xlp-use-2-rhh-rhw-2-building-wire.html

Cable:
You could possibly use XLPE-insulated and XLPE-jacketed tray cable. Anixter can probably help you source what you need. Be careful - some tray cable has XLPE-insulation on the conductors, but a PVC jacket.

Pick your AWG appropriately. Your local supply house may be able to source it locally. Does the wire have to meet any additional specs / certs, since it's in a nuke plant?


SceneryDriver

 

[emiller233]

i reached out to the vendor for the heater but haven't heard back from them yet...

we will be running these in LFMC, they don't want to see any cable. but we can use single wire or cable. its only like a 15 foot run back to the starter.

it does have a 'Vertical Flame Test' requirement, but no other specs that i remember, but I'm still digging dig thru the document to double check (takes a while 400+ pages)