If I wanted to heat carbon fiber wire to roughly a constant 75 degrees F, would there be resistance in this type of wire? Therefore, can I expect to generate and maintain the same temperature for the entire length of the wire? How many linear feet of wire can I maintain the required heat of 75 deg F, before I have to develop a new circuit? What is the resistance of Carbon Fiber Wire, per foot? What would be the service life of Carbon Fiber wire, with a constant 75 deg F thermal load? Thanks

 

Welcome to AAC!
Googling "carbon fibre resistance" gives hits indicating a wide range of resistivity depending on fibre type. But all the values are very low, making it an extremely poor heating element.

 

Welcome to AAC!
Googling "carbon fibre resistance" gives hits indicating a wide range of resistivity depending on fibre type. But all the values are very low, making it an extremely poor heating element.

Thank you for your info. Do you by chance have a suggestion

 

I am not familiar with "carbon fiber wire" in any form. But NICHROME resistance wire has been around a very long time and is used for heating. So if the carbon fiber stuff works the same, it probably comes in a wide variety of specifications. So you will need to first determine how much heat output you need to heat whatever it is. Both temperature and the amount of heat energy.

 

Carbon has a negative temperature coefficient of resistance, nichrome has a positive temperature coefficient. I suggest use of nichrome, except I don't know why you through of carbon.

 

The positive temperature coefficient is key. This means that the resistance will increase with temperature to give a powerful negative feedback and thus a stable temperature. No thermal runaway.

Nichrome, inconel and kanthal are some of the popular heater wires.

 

The motivation for using carbon wires would be that the insulated carbon heater wires are a whole lot simpler to use. AND a bit safer as well. Hot nichrome wire is a nasty shock hazard as well as a burn hazard. I learned that way back in my elementary school days.