I need to extend the wires to a stepper motor for my 3D printer.
Can anyone with experience please confirm the numbers ?
Steppers are 12V DC 1.7 A
Distance from stepper driver to Motor is 2 meters / 6.6 ft
Stepper ( and around 60% of the wire length ) is in an enclosure that reaches from 20 C up to 55 celcius ( 130 F )
I tried using CAT5 cable ( i believe it is around 24 AWG ) but after a few months, I noticed the plastic on the connectors was heat damaged. I am assuming the current is too much for the wire gauge or connectors, and am about to replace all the wiring and connectors.
I want to use a stranded cable.
Are my calculations correct, that for minimum voltage loss ( working on 1% ) and sufficient over-rating for a decent safety factor, that 14 AWG would be the correct choice ?
If so, can I use 2 lengths of 2mm / 14AWG speaker wire to make up the 4 cores that I need for the stepper motor ?
Are there any other factors that would make using the 2mm speaker wire a bad idea ?
A couple of meters is not that long and you should be able to get-by with the same gauge that comes on the stepper motor.
I tried using CAT5 cable ( i believe it is around 24 AWG ) but after a few months, I noticed the plastic on the connectors was heat damaged.
Right... Usually the problems show-up at the connectors (or the solder/crimp termination between the wire & connector). I'd look for connectors that are rated for more than 2 Amps and I'd "feel better" if they were rated for 5A.
...If it's been working for a few months "voltage drop" is not a "directly" problem.
14 AWG is probably overkill. 14 gauge is pretty common in house wiring!
Distance from stepper driver to Motor is 2 meters / 6.6 ft
I assume you know that's 4M "round trip". (But I still don't think you need 14 gauge.)
DVDdoug:
Usually the problems show-up at the connectors (or the solder/crimp termination between the wire & connector). I'd look for connectors that are rated for more than 2 Amps and I'd "feel better" if they were rated for 5A.
Thanks DVDdoug
I agree that the partially melted connectors / termination is the initial symptom of a problem - a problem that was nearly a disaster that I am determined to avoid. My intention is to do away with the connectors that join the stepper motor to the wiring harness, and replace with a soldered joint to a thicker gauge wire that goes directly back to the stepper driver on the Ramps shield.
I don't mind spending a little more on wiring, especially as it is such a short section, to go for overkill and maximum safety, hence my question about the 2mm speaker wire.