Coax Cable Power Handling Calculator

Formula

To calculate the Power Handling (\(P\)):

\[ P = \frac{\pi \cdot D_o \cdot D_i \cdot f \cdot \tan(\delta)}{2 \cdot Z_0} \]

Where:

\(P\) is the power handling (W)
\(D_o\) is the outer diameter (m)
\(D_i\) is the inner diameter (m)
\(f\) is the frequency (Hz)
\(\tan(\delta)\) is the dielectric loss tangent
\(Z_0\) is the characteristic impedance (ohms)

What is Coax Cable Power Handling?

Coax cable power handling refers to the maximum amount of power that a coaxial cable can safely transmit without experiencing significant loss or damage. This is a critical parameter in the design and selection of coaxial cables for various applications, including radio frequency (RF) transmission, telecommunications, and broadcasting. The power handling capability of a coaxial cable depends on several factors, including the cable’s diameter, the materials used for the inner and outer conductors, the dielectric material, and the frequency of the transmitted signal. Properly calculating and understanding the power handling of a coaxial cable ensures reliable and efficient signal transmission.

Example Calculation 1

Let's assume the following values:

Outer Diameter (\(D_o\)) = 0.01 m
Inner Diameter (\(D_i\)) = 0.005 m
Frequency (\(f\)) = 1 GHz (1 × 10⁹ Hz)
Dielectric Loss Tangent (\(\tan(\delta)\)) = 0.001
Characteristic Impedance (\(Z_0\)) = 50 ohms

Using the formula:

\[ P = \frac{\pi \cdot 0.01 \cdot 0.005 \cdot 1 \times 10^9 \cdot 0.001}{2 \cdot 50} \approx 1.57 \text{ W} \]

The power handling is approximately 1.57 W.

Example Calculation 2

Let's assume the following values:

Outer Diameter (\(D_o\)) = 0.02 m
Inner Diameter (\(D_i\)) = 0.01 m
Frequency (\(f\)) = 2 GHz (2 × 10⁹ Hz)
Dielectric Loss Tangent (\(\tan(\delta)\)) = 0.002
Characteristic Impedance (\(Z_0\)) = 75 ohms

Using the formula:

\[ P = \frac{\pi \cdot 0.02 \cdot 0.01 \cdot 2 \times 10^9 \cdot 0.002}{2 \cdot 75} \approx 8.38 \text{ W} \]

The power handling is approximately \(8.38\) W.