Another engineer posted that 100mA was my current capacity for 5 volts over IDC connectors through 7 stranded 36AWG wire (listed as 28AWG) ribbon cable. But I don't know where that information comes from. I'm going through about 12" of ribbon cable. Other tables I look up suggest that I could theoretically expect to pass between 200 and 250mA.
I'm pinning out IDC connectors that will carry between 100mA and 300mA of 5 volts and need to minimize the number of pins dedicated to the power. If I'm out of pins, could I get away with 2 pins for 300mA?
Thank you for any replies.
Electronic – current capacity of IDC connected of 7 stranded 36AWG wire (listed as 28AWG)
currentribbon-cable
Related Topic
- Electrical – LiPo battery capacity valid at what discharge current
- Electronic – Pinout for board to board ribbon cable
- Electronic – pull 2 amps through 22 AWG stranded wire
- Electronic – Current capacity for Kanthal wire
- Electronic – Wire capacity – Total power or just current
- Electronic – Efficacy of more lines of power on legacy ribbon connector with limitations
Best Answer
Based on this page which is super nicely detailed: http://www.mosaic-industries.com/embedded-systems/electronic-instrument-design-new-product-development/cables/ribbon-cable-current-rating
Ribbon cable is closer to chassis wiring (Free to air wires) than it is power transmission wiring (Closely bundled wires, some not exposed to outside air). A single 28 AWG (or in your case 36/7 stranded) wire can conservatively handle 1.4A by itself. 500 mA is much lower. 3M also finds 1.5 Amps as a max for their ribbon cable, as a derated to 30 Degree over ambient temperature rise. The absolute max is closer to 2.5 Amps!
If you dedicate 2 wires, (4 if you include ground), the temperature rise over each and the voltage drop over both will decrease, making it a better solution. But you can use a single wire if you wanted to.