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#90859 12/15/04 09:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
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sgreany Offline OP
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I learned that if I terminate a wire with insulation rated for an ambient temperature rating of 75 degrees C. to somthing like a breaker rated 60 degree C. I have to size the wire to the 60 degree C. Colum of 310.16

Can someone explain this this to me? How dose the terminal change the physical properties of the insulation?

I have asked this quistion since the code change went into affect and no one can seem to give me a streight answer. It seems to me someone confused ambient temp. with accual operating temp becuase thats the only way it makes sense.

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Lets use an example. A 8AWG copper conductor with 75C insulation has an ampacity of 50A. This means that with 50A current in the conductor its temperature could reach 75C. If connected to a terminal with a 60C rating the excess temperature would be detrimental to the 60C termination.


John
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Great description electricman2. [Linked Image]


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
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sgreany Offline OP
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Yes I understand that. I want to know why as is in the rule is to install GFCI protection in bathrooms, the reason is becaus of the presence of water creates a higher shock risk, or the rule is anything installed outside has to be sunlight resistant. why, because sunlight can cause some materials to deteriorate and fail.

I think someone misunderstood the term ambient temp. when thay created this rule and it should be re evaluated.

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sgreany Offline OP
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also thats not correct, the ambient temp rating by definision in the code is the enviroment temp. where the wire is installed, this wire can safley operate without the insulation breaking down applying the apropriate ambient temp. corection factor of course. At 75 deg. C. salt water will boil, thats kindof a warm instalation dont you think?

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The code isn't saying that wire will be installed in an ambient temperature of 75 degrees C, its saying that wire can be allowed to reach 75 degrees C. And table 310.16 gives you the amperages that will achieve that temperature assuming an ambiant temperature of 30 degrees C.

If the ambiant is higher, ofcourse it will take less amperage to reach the threshold temperature of the wire so thats what the correction factors at the bottom of the table are about.

As far as GFI's outside, the code does not require a GFI installed outside, but a GFCI protected outlet. And that is purely for shock protection due to water.

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sgreany Offline OP
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Perhaps you are correct, but if you read through 310.13 and the notes the wording and language indicates that operating temp. is intended as ambient temp. Also, I learned in trade school that the temp rating indicated max ambient temp. for that particular insulation. Thats probably my source of confusion. The code should, in the futer, clerify this. Perhaps a call to a wire MFG. will shed some more light on the subject, as I am still not shure what the intent of maximum operating temp. Read it carfully it could go either way.

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sgreany

The question you asked has absolutely nothing to do with the ambient temperature.

electricman2 nailed it, there is nothing for the NEC to reevaluate, the rule is a good rule.

First read carefully the name of Table 310.16

Quote
Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors Rated 0 Through 2000 Volts, 60°C Through 90°C (140°F Through 194°F), Not More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in Raceway, Cable, or Earth (Directly Buried), Based on Ambient Temperature of 30°C (86°F)

The rating of 8 awg in the 75 C column is 50 amps.

Now if the ambient temperature is 30 C as the table is designed around and if the cable or raceway has three 8 AWGs each loaded to 50 amps the temperature of the conductors will approach 75 C.

75 C is 167 F and yes that is warm but it is within the design limitations of any 75 C insulation.

Connect this conductor that is close to 75 C to a 60 C rated breaker and the heat transfer from the conductors to the breaker is very likely to cause the breakers thermal overload to trip the breaker.

Bob


Bob Badger
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If you look at the bottom of 310.16 you see "correction factors". That is an additional derating you must use if the ambient is above 30c.

As for termination temp, it is usually not really a factor since virtually any breaker above 30a has 75c terminations. 240.4(D) pretty much takes care of those 30a and below.
I say "usually" because I am sure you can find cases where this is not true but they are "unusual" ;-)


Greg Fretwell
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iwire Wrote:
Quote
sgreany

The question you asked has absolutely nothing to do with the ambient temperature.

electricman2 nailed it, there is nothing for the NEC to reevaluate, the rule is a good rule.

First read carefully the name of Table 310.16

quote:Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors Rated 0 Through 2000 Volts, 60°C Through 90°C (140°F Through 194°F), Not More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in Raceway, Cable, or Earth (Directly Buried), Based on Ambient Temperature of 30°C (86°F)

The rating of 8 AWG in the 75 C column is 50 amps.

Now if the ambient temperature is 30 C as the table is designed around and if the cable or raceway has three 8 AWGs each loaded to 50 amps the temperature of the conductors will approach 75 C.

75 C is 167 F and yes that is warm but it is within the design limitations of any 75 C insulation.

Connect this conductor that is close to 75 C to a 60 C rated breaker and the heat transfer from the conductors to the breaker is very likely to cause the breakers thermal overload to trip the breaker.

Bob
I believe that the actual problem with the temperature rating of terminals is whether they will continue to conduct the current safely rather than the effect the heat would have on adjacent parts. When the testing laboratories test terminals they subject them to repeated thermal cycling. The temperature rating of the terminal is the maximum temperature it can be repeatedly subjected to without loosening or failing physically which would cause arcing and destructive heating of the terminal and the conductor insulation. In other words you can only allow a certain temperature rise in a terminal before the stresses induced by thermal expansion will cause the terminal to fail.
--
Tom H


Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use" Thomas Alva Edison
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