[Sneap] RG58C/U max dc voltage?

[Alan McIlwain]

Hi Hjalmar.   Here are some data from the ARRL Amateur Radio Handbook 
(2005). The FPE indicates foam polyethylene dielectric.  The PE 
indicates solid polyethylene dielectric. The last number is the RMS 
voltage the cable is rated at.  The RG-58C is rated at 1400 V RMS which 
should be good for about 1900 VDC (1.4*1400).

RG-58   Belden 7807A    FPE   300
RG-58   TMS LMR200   FPE   300 
RG-58   WM CQ124      PE    1400 
RG-58    Belden 8240      PE    1900 
RG-58A Belden 8219     FPE   300 
RG-58C Belden 8262     PE    1400 
RG-58A Belden 8259     PE    1900 

I suggest you switch to another type of cable. A solid dielectric RG-8 
cable Such as Belden 8237 is rated at 3700 VRMS which is about 5200 
VDC.  You can usually use the cable at higher voltages than they are 
rated - there is a margin of safety built into the specs.  Try 
contacting Belden for their advice.

I hope this helps.

Alan McIlwain
Case Western Reserve University.


Hjalmar Bruhns wrote:
> The host for the 2008 SNEAP annual meeting is the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.  The meeting dates are: October: 10 - 16, 2008.
> The meeting web link is:
> http://www-ners.engin.umich.edu/research/Mibl/Sneap/2008.htm
>
>
> Dear SNEAPers,
>
> Does anyone know how much DC voltage a RG58C/U cable is spec'd to handle?
>
> SHV-10 connectors like the Kings 1065-1  
> http://www.kingselectronics.com/HighVoltage/connectors/tabid/52/laproduct/351/default.aspx  
> are rated to 10kV "for use with RG58C/U cable". But the bit of info I find  
> on RG58C/U concerning voltage is "Max. Voltage 1900 Volt" - although that  
> probably applies to RF applications, not DC.
>
> We intend to switch our ~8kV on and off with up to 5kHz using HV switches  
> that have ~100ns switching times.
>
> Can we trust RG58C/U to handle that?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Hjalmar
>
>