[Elecraft] [OT] Zip Wire Misrepresentation?

Clay Autery cautery at montac.com
Thu Aug 11 13:42:51 EDT 2016


Guy, I am intimately aware of the code...   I started out with a 40 Amp
breaker at the service to the sub...  I changed it to a 60Amp to "match"
the 6AWG run...  I would never install anything that was not up to code
or use non-UL materials...  And I always have my work double-checked by
a respected master electrician.

My POINT was that for the max 20 Amp demand that will likely ever be
seen from that sub, the 6AWG is much bigger than required...
specifically to reduce voltage drops...

The twisted pairs and conduit are not "required" by code either, but are
there to help keep the power "quiet".

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 8/11/2016 12:30 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
> If the feed to the sub-panel has 60 amp breakers in the main panel,
> then #6 AWG feed to the sub-panel is required by the NEC code. That
> you estimate at this time you do not ever use more than 20 amps out of
> the sub-panel has no bearing on the ampacity requirement for the
> sub-panel. A subsequent occupant of your property may chose to expand
> use of the sub-panel to the degree implied by the main panel breakers
> for the sub-.panel. The code is intended to protect future occupants
> as well.
>
> 73, Guy K2AV
>
> On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:38 PM, Clay Autery <cautery at montac.com
> <mailto:cautery at montac.com>> wrote:
>
>     How do you define "necessary".
>
>     Paraphrasing K9YC, Jim....  "Big wire is your friend".
>
>     I agree...
>
>     I typically use wire at least 2 sizes larger than "required".... 
>     Often
>     the wire size is determined by how big of a wire I can FIT in the
>     application and how much money I can part with at the time.
>
>     For instance, on my current power project... I am running 6 AWG x
>     4 from
>     the service to the sub-panel @ 50 foot run for a 60 Amp separately
>     derived service where there'll never be more than about a 20 Amp total
>     demand...
>
>     From the sub-panel to the receptacles about 3-1/2 feet below, I am
>     using
>     10 AWG....  only because that's the largest wire the receptacle
>     terminals are rated for.
>
>     From the receptacles to all equipment, minimum 10 AWG...
>
>     Bigger and shorter the wire, the better...
>
>     ______________________
>     Clay Autery, KY5G
>     MONTAC Enterprises
>     (318) 518-1389
>
>     On 8/11/2016 10:43 AM, Ronnie Hull wrote:
>     > Is 10 gauge necessary?
>     >
>     > Sent from my iPhone
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