ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Service conductors

I'm sure it is a continous load and the calculations for ACs and motors are figured at 125% for largest motor and 100% for other loads on the same circuit. Some electricians (not you I sure) get continous load and continous duty combined and a motor that is rated for continous duty is built lighter than a motor that has a high duty cycle. A single motor branch circuit conductor is sized at 125% due to the fact that the overload(s) are sized that way. The Ground Fault and Short Circuit protection is really not much of a motor protector.

This was certainly a good question. You always seem to come up with good ones.
Throwing an AC unit in there does add to the FUD since that "min circuit ampacity" is an engineered number that does not translate well into the 230 rules.
(hence our 230.42(B) question)
Refrigeration motors are not exactly like your garden variety motor and that is why they have the label on the cabinet.
Left to our devices electricians and inspectors would usually oversize the circuit.

what about the exception #1 ?
is it possible to invoke?

h2o

Can't follow where you see any exception?? We are using the '02 NEC and looking at 230.42(B) and 230.79.