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THHN (Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon-coated) wire is designed with a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) insulated nylon sheath. Most THHN building wire comes with the dual rating THHN/THWN, meaning it is usable in both wet and dry conditions, as well as both indoor and outdoor use. THHN carries a UL rating of 90 degrees Celsius in dry environments and 75 degrees Celsius in wet environments. The conductor can either be copper or aluminum and either stranded or solid. It is available in 12 colors and is generally used in electrical applications of 600V or less.

What Can THHN Wire Be Used For?

THHN is the number one commodity wire in the U.S. It is a general use wire for equipment and circuits. It is popular among electrical contractors as an inexpensive building wire that can be used in industrial environments. The NEC (National Electric Code) rating for THHN is NFPA 70- the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards. THHN can withstand grease, oil, and heat, and passes the FT1 flame test.

Because of its voltage capacity and insulation, THHN can be used for many indoor appliances such as garbage disposals or hot water heaters. When applied indoors, the wire is used in either a single- or multi-conductor form. Additionally, it can safely carry electrical currents between buildings and external power sources, signaling, control wiring, machine tools, and automated conveyor belt systems.

THHN wire can also be used as control wire for outdoor applications in addition to indoor. For underground outdoor applications, THHN must first be safely installed into a conduit (tubing that protects buried wire) before being run underground. The nylon jacket on the wire protects it from damage as it is pulled through the conduit.

Why Should Electrical Contractors Bundle THHN wire?

THHN is a popular choice for electrical contractors because of its ability to meet the requirements of electrical applications at a low price point. Its affordability often makes it a good alternative to wires such as XHHW-2. THHN’s relatively thin PVC insulation improves conductivity but reduces the flexibility of the wire. By using THHN in a cable bundle, it can minimize the disadvantage of inflexibility. 

To ensure safety between construction workers and running electrical equipment, THHN building wire can be bundled to fit the specifications of the worksite. Increasing accuracy and reducing the number of labor hours that would be needed if the wire was installed manually. One-pull can also bundle THHN wire together with protective UFB (Underground Feeder, Direct Burial) Jackets to save time in outdoor applications.  

THHN building wire is a useful product for electrical contractors in commercial applications. Its high heat and water resistance make it possible for use in both indoor and outdoor applications. The cost-effectiveness of THHN often makes it a better choice in comparison to other commercial use wires such as XHHW/XHHW-2 or THWN. Bundling THHN in a one-pull bundle cable can help to create flexibility and reduce the amount of labor hours needed for the project.

Interested in learning more about the different wire types available in one-pull bundles? Have a look at XHHW-2.

XHHW-2 is a commodity in commercial and industrial applications. It is an upgrade from THHN (thermoplastic high heat resistant nylon) wire, as it can withstand more extreme temperatures. XHHW-2 is heat, chemical, oil, and moisture-resistant, and flame-retardant. It is rated according to UL standard 44 for use in 90 degrees Celsius in both wet and dry environments and approved for use up to 600V.  

What is XHHW-2 Wire Used For?

XHHW stands for XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) High Heat-resistant Water-resistant. It’s commonly used in applications like commercial buildings, and industrial applications such as power plants and mills. It can be used in single-phase setup or parallel for a multi-conductor. The conductors can be made of copper or aluminum and either stranded or solid, stranded being used for more flexible applications.

XHHW-2’s thermoset material also gives it great flexibility. The flexibility makes it suitable for applications that may involve bends or sharp corners. Another predominant use of the wire is for critical circuitry. RHH/USE, a derivative of XLP, can be used in power circuits run in conduit from the utility meter to main circuit protection panels and can also be used in direct burial applications.

Why Should Electrical Contractors Use XHHW-2?

XHHW-2 is often used in electrical contracting work despite being more costly than other options such as THHN. Its benefit in performance makes it a more popular choice among contractors and makes it the most recommended by the electrical distribution industry for industrial, residential, and commercial construction.

XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) provides a dielectric constant (k) value usually ranging from 2.2 to 3.0 megohms @ 20° C. This feature allows XHHW-2 to resist leakage at higher temperatures and prevent cracking at low temperatures.

THHN, which is made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is much more susceptible to temperature damage. Its hygroscopic nylon jacket absorbs moisture and can only withstand up to 75 degrees Celsius in wet environments.

These factors make it a safe choice for electrical contractors.

Making sure you have the correct wire and matching the NEC (National Electric Code) job site conditions in conjunction with the project engineer is vital for the safety of all contractors and construction workers. The elevated temperature resistance of XHHW-2 in wet and dry environments make it a safe option, despite the higher cost.

Additionally, its ability to be customized in conductor and color and its ability to be bundled is an advantage in electrical construction. One-pull can also customize the wire with stripes in a spiral or a longitudinal full-color stripe, along with being able to number each conductor or phase tape each end.

XHHW-2 is one of One-pull’s most requested access control wires to bundle. Learn more about what other types of wires can be used in wire bundles.

The demand for renewable energy remained higher than that of natural gas throughout the emergence of Covid-19. However, the increasing costs and supply chain disruptions threatened the projected growth of solar energy. An efficient supply chain is important for all manufacturers. Short lead times to distributors ensure customer delight and strengthen industry relationships. 97% of industrial product companies say that the pandemic has had a negative effect, and are making supply chain visibility the number one priority over the next three years.

1. Surge Pricing

Solar project developers are halting installations because of increased prices for materials and labor. Contractors who can wait on their projects have placed them on hold, hoping that the prices will begin to decrease. However, the prices continue to stay high, which is slowing down the growth of the solar industry.

Before the pandemic, the industry had been experiencing a steady growth of 42% per year, while maintaining low costs. This surge in pricing suggests a turn-around from the advancements made in the past decade in the solar sector; threatening the U.S. plan for 70% renewable energy in 2030. Despite the U.S. now being in the recovery of the pandemic, contractors are still hesitant to continue projects that they had put on hold in 2020.

2. Layoffs

Nearly 600,000 clean energy jobs were lost during the peak of Covid-19, around 17% of the existing workforce. Jobs in solar and wind make up over 15% of that number. Due to social distancing guidelines from the CDC, access to homes was limited during the pandemic, causing the cancellation of many commercial and residential projects that required entry by workers.

Between December 2020 and January 2021, the renewable energy sector went through a massive rehire of the labor force. However, they were still at a 12 percent decline over pre-COVID-19 employment levels.
If the renewable energy industry continues at this slow rate of recovery, it would take at least two more years to balance the employment losses during the pandemic.

3. Construction Delays

Installations under construction could not continue with the component delays during the pandemic. Three essential processes of solar installations i.e. approvals for hydropower projects, investment in battery storage, and electricity grid spending experienced a decline in 2019 and into 2020 impacting development schedules for all projects. The majority of utility-scale installations are expected to fully resume in 2021. However, individuals and companies along the supply chain remain hesitant to make investments in distributed PV and solar heaters, with the uncertainty of return on the projects.

Once the fastest growing industry, the solar industry took a hit with the emergence of Covid-19. However, despite slowed and cancelled projects, the EIA expects that the share of U.S. generation from wind and solar sources will rise from 11% in 2020 to 15% by 2022. For this to happen, companies within the clean energy supply chain will need to focus on repairing the damage to their supply chain caused by the pandemic.

Learn more about the U.S. plan for renewable energy in 2021.

Conveyor systems  increase efficiency and productivity in manufacturing. When considering installing a conveyor system, it is essential to be aware of all the components that determine the pricing.  

Installing a conveyer belt system goes beyond equipment acquisition. A conveyor system carries three costs— two of which are rarely taken into consideration. Besides the initial costs that are easiest to understand and quantify, there are operational and maintenance costs. Being aware of and understanding these associated costs enables companies to decide whether installing a conveyor system is financially feasible.  

Since conveyor system installation costs vary, this article does not provide specific prices associated with conveyor belts. However, it gives a breakdown of what factors go into determining the overall costs.  

We look into the three costs mentioned above and how they factor into an automated conveyor system installation. 

1. Initial Costs

When it comes to a conveyor belt system installation, the initial costs  include the price of the equipment, installation, and controls.  

Conveyor systems come in a range of prices depending on their intended use. They vary depending on the needs and scope of the project. Certain types of conveyor systems are more expensive than others. For example, a regular conveyor belt is used for a general process or a manufacturing step can be found at lower prices. Belt conveyors, on the other hand, are the most commonly used since they are cost-effective.

Another less expensive option would be acquiring used conveyor belts or modular conveyer belts. Modular belts are small and semi-portable. They come in pieces and are assembled on site. While less expensive, they are subject to wear and are not heavy duty.  

Labor costs should also be taken into consideration when looking at initial costs. While hiring a specialty electrical contractor adds to the labor costs, it could ensure a safe and successful installation. Improper installation can lead to performance issues which is why getting the right contractor is important. Such contractors are well-trained to handle new equipment designs and safety procedures. The electrical contractor can also oversee ongoing maintenance contributing to more efficient production. In the long run, this not only reduces injuries but also saves money. 

2. Maintenance

A well-maintained conveyor system is critical to its success. High breakage of materials could lead to longer processing times which in turn delays orders.  

Different types of conveyor systems require different levels of maintenance. Vacuum conveyors, for example, have a very high maintenance cost.  

While everyday maintenance is critical, it does not significantly increase the overall cost compared to maintenance resulting from poorly functioning equipment.  

Purchasing a cheaper conveyer system to lower initial costs, regardless of the durability of the equipment, could mean constantly having to buy and install replacement parts. This could quickly add up, bringing the cost even higher than the initial cost or even the cost of a more expensive but durable conveyor belt system. Therefore, it may be more cost-effective to purchase more expensive but more reliable equipment than initially cheaper equipment with a higher risk of failure. 

Replacing parts of a conveyor system requires expertise which could mean hiring specialized labor. This adds to the labor costs and overall cost of the conveyor system.  

Learn more about conveyer systems in our quick guide to material handling systems. 

3. Operational

 While more manufacturing machinery is becoming automated, running a conveyer belt still requires some form of human oversight. This is an operational cost in the form of associated human labor costs. This goes beyond wages as it includes administrative costs of maintaining operators for the conveyer equipment. 

Maintenance and repair costs are also factored into the overall operational cost of the conveyor system. 

Besides maintenance, repair, and labor costs, another operational cost associated with conveyor systems is the energy consumption cost. 

A facility’s energy costs will vary based on the type of energy source, location, and electricity peak demands. Being a high energy consumption equipment, conveyor systems could significantly raise the energy costs of a facility. Hence one should consider the energy needs of a conveyor system prior to installing one to make sure that they are ready for the associated energy costs.   

In summary, to determine the overall cost of a conveyer system, always take this calculation into consideration: 

TCO (total cost of ownership) = IC (initial cost) + OC (operational costs) + MC (maintenance costs)/ useful life of the system. 

Check out  5 U.S. companies that are leading the charge in the manufacturing of automated conveyor belt systems.