Choosing the right flex braid.

When purchasing flex braid there are several factors that need to be addressed. The first factor that impacts a flex braid purchase is the ampacity that must be achieved and maintained. Ampacity is the maximum amount of electric current that a wire, cable or braid can carry without experiencing immediate or gradual deterioration or exceeding its temperature rating.  Another term that is often used is current rating or current-carrying capacity.

Once ampacity is determined, the next set of questions address the physical design factors. You’ll need to know what hole pattern will be required on both ends, the distance between the holes and the length from end to end. The next critical factor is width, is often a limiting factor and is most often impacted by ampacity. Higher rated braids tend toward wider configurations. Storm stocks flat flex braid in sizes ranging from #6 all the way up to 4/0. When the larger sizes are too wide for the physical limitations of an application, multiple layered flex braids are created to reach the correct design load.

Another element of braids is the stranding pattern. The number of strands and the size of strands are pre-determined by the manufacturer for each size of braid. Custom stranding is very expensive and generally not desirable when there are so many standard options available. Braid comes in bulk from the manufacturer with markings that indicate its qualities. A designation of 24-30 means that the braid is made of 24 strands of 30-gauge wire. The higher the gauge number, the finer the wire.