CT leads can be extended using a variety of field wiring methods. The ideal solution, (especially for a longer wire run) is 18 AWG twisted-pair wiring, either in a:
- Jacketed cable, like the product in the following link:
- Unjacketed twisted pair wiring, as shown in the image below:
Field-fabricated CT extensions can be 18 gauge or larger. Smaller gauges should not be used as they will lead to inaccurate CT readings.
The twist in twisted-pair wiring reduces electrical noise that would otherwise be interpreted as current. This would introduce inaccuracy into the data. A twist can be added to field-fabricated wire pairs by inserting both wires into a drill chuck, tightening the chuck, then slowly operating the drill.
Installers can create regular field splices for extensions (wire nuts or WAGOs) or source Molex connectors that are compatible with those on the Lumin CT leads. If making field splices, take note that inside the grey cable jacket the CTs are wired with a black wire and either a white wire (on the CT side of the connector) or a red wire (on the Lumin Smart Panel side of the connector). Care should be taken to extend black-to-black to avoid reverse polarity, which would invert the data coming from the CTs.