ECN Electrical Forum
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Table one of Ch 9 says if we have one conductor we can fill the conduit to 53%, 2 conductor to 31% and more than 2 conductors the conduit can be filled to 40%.
My question is why 31% for 2 conductors and 40% for more than 2 conductors? what is rational behind it.

An IAEI instructor once told me it is because of the heat dissipation. But he did not explain in details why?

Thanks.

It just has to do with how they pack into the pipe. Three takes up less room than 150% of 2 and it is volume we are speaking of.
Heat really doesn't enter into it. You derate "x" number of conductors the same no matter what size pipe it is in.

ask your instructor to elabroate.Then come tell us.

Rewire,
the instructor was at a seminar. so i don't have access to him anymore.

I have posted the same question at Mike's site http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=123904
but i am still not 100% confident on my understanding.

It's the radius of the conductors...

Do the math.

It boils down to the straight geometry of circles.

The conduit/EMT is the big circle...

Now how many circles can you fit inside leaving enough room to pull in without excessive force/ruining the insulation.

That's all that's involved.

http://www.pdhcenter.com/courses/e122/e122content.pdf for a more in depth explanation

Expounding on Tesla, 3 conductors can line up in a straight line so all the diameters add up. 4 or more and bundle collapses (the conductors don't ever twist up to line out in a row. Thus the binding issue for 3 conductors.

just when it all makes sense they bring in nipples