Enter the conductivity, cross-sectional area, resistivity, and temperature into the calculator to determine the current capacity.

Current Capacity Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the current capacity. 

CC = (k * A) / (R * T)

Variables:

  • CC is the current capacity (A)
  • k is the conductivity of the material (S/m)
  • A is the cross-sectional area of the conductor (m²)
  • R is the resistivity of the material (Ω.m)
  • T is the temperature of the environment (K)

To calculate the current capacity, multiply the conductivity of the material by the cross-sectional area of the conductor. Then, divide this result by the product of the resistivity of the material and the temperature of the environment. The result is the maximum amount of electric current that the device or conductor can carry without sustaining immediate or progressive deterioration.

What is a Current Capacity?

Current capacity refers to the maximum amount of electric current that a device or conductor can carry before sustaining immediate or progressive deterioration. It is typically measured in amperes (A) and depends on the material’s properties, its cross-sectional area, and environmental conditions such as temperature and cooling. Exceeding the current capacity can lead to overheating and potential failure of the device or conductor.

How to Calculate Current Capacity?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Current Capacity using the given formula:

  1. First, determine the conductivity of the material (k) in S/m.
  2. Next, determine the cross-sectional area of the conductor (A) in m².
  3. Next, determine the resistivity of the material (R) in Ω.m.
  4. Next, determine the temperature of the environment (T) in K.
  5. Finally, calculate the Current Capacity (CC) using the formula CC = (k * A) / (R * T).
  6. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge:

conductivity of the material (k) = 5 S/m

cross-sectional area of the conductor (A) = 2 m²

resistivity of the material (R) = 10 Ω.m

temperature of the environment (T) = 300 K