For long conductor runs where voltage drop may be an issue, use the Voltage Drop Calculator to determine voltage drop and the Circuit Distance Calculator to determine maximum circuit length. Voltage drop in a circuit can occur by using a wire gauge that is too small, or the length of the condcutor is too long. Voltage drop can become an issue for engineers and electricians when sizing wire for long conductor runs. Use the calculator above to size wire for basic applications, or view some of the wire ampacity charts for wire ampacity values. Good judgement should be used when sizing conductorsīecause large conductors can become costly and difficult to install, while small conductors can cause potential danger. By increasing the cross-section of the conductor (or increasing the size of the wire), the resistance decreases, and the allowable ampacity increases. However, the cross-sectional area of a conductor can also be changed to alter theĬonductor's resistance. The length of a conductor is directly proportional to its resistance. The heating of a conductor can be directly attributed from its Wire ampacity is calculated in such a way as to not exceed a certain temperature rise at a particular electrical load.
However, many different external factors such as ambient temperature and conductor insulation play a part in determining In order to properly size a wire for your application, the ampacity ratings for a wire must be understood. The ampacity rating of a wire determines the amperage that a wire can safely Amperage is the measure of electricalĬurrent flowing through a circuit. Wire for many different applications can become complex and overwhelming. Wire to prevent overheating, fire and other dangerous conditions.
#Wire gauge chart code
The National Electrical Code provides requirements for sizing electrical Source: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, Table 310.15(B)(16-17) Conductor Sizing Always use the total length of the circuit for calculations.Ĭonsult with an engineer if your application requires more complex calculations. Note: It's recommended to check the ampacity of a wire after doing a voltage drop calculation. It is recommended not to exceed a voltageĭistance - Enter the one-way length of the wires in the circuit in feet. Voltage Drop - Choose the maximum percentage of the source voltage drop. In a cable, burried in the Earth, or in open air.
This is typically in a raceway (cable-tray or conduit), Installation - Choose the installation method for the circuit. Common conductors are copper and aluminum. Insulation - Select the thermal rating of the insulation on the wire.Ĭonductor - Choose the material used as a conductor in the wire. To calculate ground wire size, use the Ground Wire Size Calculator. For three-phase circuits, four wires are required. Single-phase circuits, three wires are required. This is typically single-phase or three-phase. Phases - Select the number of phases in the circuit. To multiply the nameplate FLA by 1.25 for wire sizing. While three-phase voltages are typically 208V, 230V or 480V.Īmperes - Enter the maximum current in amps that will flow through the circuit. Single-phase voltages are usually 115V or 120V, Voltage - Enter the voltage at the source of the circuit.
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