ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (CoolWill), 250 guests, and 13 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#80437 04/15/02 08:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
sparky Offline OP
Member
My calc's show a 5% VD on a 120v 20a circuit @ 75' , my ideal tester shows similar results. ALL the circuits I run when i wire a residence, save dedicated runs, are usually more than this length in total...

comments? suggestions? discussion? [Linked Image]

[Linked Image from eddhayes.com]

Stay up to Code with the Latest NEC:


>> 2023 NEC & Related Reference & Exam Prep
2023 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides

Pass Your Exam the FIRST TIME with the Latest NEC & Exam Prep

>> 2020 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides
 

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 160
C
Member
Does this mean that all your 20 amp circuits with #12 wire are loaded to the full load of almost 20 amps,just shy of tripping the breaker?

Chris

Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 375
G
Member
16amps is the correct design load for a 20amp circuit.

20amps is a lot of continous power for a residence. At 10amps and 120v you can go 150 ft before a 5% voltage drop on the same circuit.

I like to run 50amp 240v to subpanels and then feed 20amp circuits from those. It solves the voltage drop problem.

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 597
E
Member
What does the PoCo deliver to the Bus in your area? Around the seven county Metro Area here I commonly measure 126 V to ground at the service disconnect.

With the standard set at 120, at what point do I start tracking 5% of which voltage?


Al Hildenbrand
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 172
W
Member
I would think that this is why most of us routinely install more than the minimum number of circuits required by code, and increase the conductor size when we run into the occasional circuit that is expected to be heavily loaded. This method will not produce the lowest possible installed cost, but it does allow you to sleep better, at least untill you get the service call for the 59 cent switch that failed.

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 38
B
Member
Hey Sparky,
Is that sculpture by DeVries?
-Brian

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
sparky Offline OP
Member
Quote
16amps is the correct design load for a 20amp circuit.

agreed George....so we'd be looking for the 'dedicated' or maximum load. yet the ideal tester has a 15a & 20a setting. So to use the 15a setting on a 20a circuit would be close?

Quote
Does this mean that all your 20 amp circuits with #12 wire are loaded to the full load of almost 20 amps,just shy of tripping the breaker?
Chris, i suppose an arguement could be made for a non-continuos load?

Quote
What does the PoCo deliver to the Bus in your area?
Al, it's inconsistent, so another variable to deal with.

Quote
Is that sculpture by DeVries?
Briansparky, dunno..ripped it off google...
[Linked Image]

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
Sparky(s)

The Sculpture is a work by 'Edd Hayes'
You can see more at; http://www.eddhayes.com/

Some good stuff there.

Bill


Bill
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
Great picture, but one question...was his rod tested at the proper 100kV/foot level?

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
I have only seen one voltage drop problem in a residence & it was a double wide that had to have near 150 feet of 14-2 to the furthest outlet. When one of those 12 amp vacuum cleaners was plugged into it, it about choked, voltage fell to 85-90 volts.

The homeowner had hired me to find code violations so he could sue the home builder.I found a few, but couldn't help him with the voltage drop problem.


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5