The issue is delicate - much more things to consider. The ultimate source on contact physics is Holm, R.: Electric Contacts - Theory and Application, 1967 an alternative (and easier available) is Slade, P.: Electrical Contacts -Principles and Applications, Decker Inc., 1999 Thomas > -----Original Message----- > From: - Bogert [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 12:39 AM > Subject: Calculate current capacity for electrical contacts > > > February 10, 2005 > > How does one determine what current can be carried by > electrical connector contacts to determine capability to > carry about 80 AMPs (RMS), low freq AC, or DC. > > We have an application that uses a carbon steel base metal > pin contact. The contact is given a nickel flash, followed > by a copper plating (to fill in small voids), followed by > another nickel flash, followed by silver plating. Does one > calculate current capacity from just the carbon steel base > metal, or does one need to take the plating into account? > What formula or chart is used to support the calculation? If > the nickel flash thickness is increased, will it impact > current capacity? If plating is changed to gold, does that > impact current > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with > following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send > e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail > to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: > http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site > http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for > additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at > [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 > ----------------------------------------------------- > capacity? > --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------