ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Ampacity of Branch circuit

George:

Humble pie in hand....I sorry! Let's see where this goes......

Okay we won't settle the argument about what happens when the temperature changes, or what came first the chicken or the egg or whether it is hole flow or electron flow when current flow happens.

Next question: Given the temperatures mentioned in the original post, what size wire would we use if the load were 34 amperes? Plan on THWN.

Oh, John I accept your apology.

How high is the conduit above the roof?
(Table 310.15(B)(2)(c))

Figure 129 degrees F. as the temperature on the conductors inside the conduit and that I've already done the math required for 310.15(B)(2)(c).

If you added the height factor in 310.15(B)(2)(c) then I think you derate to 67% of the appropriate column (THWN vs THWN-2)

Greg- you and I and probably John are on the "same page" as they say and now I need someone to tell me what gauge THWN wire would be required for this branch circuit.

If you could find some THWN-2 I would say #8 cu.

You did make this a little test tho. If you say #8 THWN you only get 33.5a

Considering the 10' thing, I would probably take the #8 either way.

I agree Greg. I'd wink at the .5 amp. THWN-2 is something I've not seen out there and don't know how popular it really is.

The elusive THWN-2. This was left over from my wife's 700' pump circuit job. The wire came From City Electric.

Interesting, You have a conduit that would absord the sun energy in free air, add in a roof abosrbing heat and creating thermal effects then reflection. Does the white roof now cause double the efect on the conduit when it refects. Isn't there requirements based on spacing off the roof? What if the conduit is painted with some type of refective paint?

Ob