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mr.Magoo

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Cable heat is due to the current flowing through it, not KW.
So, if I understand you correctly, then 1000A @ 1V sould generate (about) 1000X more heat than 1A @ 1000V ?
Does the "only current (not watts) = heat" apply to cables only, or does it also hold true for things like radiant heating, water heaters, etc. ?
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Maquis

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So, if I understand you correctly, then 1000A @ 1V sould generate (about) 1000X more heat than 1A @ 1000V ?
Does the "only current (not watts) = heat" apply to cables only, or does it also hold true for things like radiant heating, water heaters, etc. ?
A 1000 watt heater can be designed to operate at either 1V, 1000A or 1000V, 1A. The same amount of heat is produced either way.

The wire supplying power to the heater will exhibit losses = the current squared times the resistance of the wire. So the higher the current, the bigger the wire required to minimize losses.

System design is always a compromise. Higher current requires larger wire (more copper), while higher voltages start getting into safety and insulation issues. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
 


 


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