Generator wire size question
#1
Generator wire size question
Hi all, I've had a 3500 watt 120 volt backup generator for about a year and I’ve always wondered about this.....
I looked at the wires that run the single outlet on my generator. If my calculations are correct, I have about a 32 amp generator. It looks like I have about 16 AWG wires running my outlet... hmmmmmm
I have used a volt meter to determine that I have about 55 volts on both legs of the hots (so I guess it's a 110 generator with about 31.8 amps).
How can these wires hold up under a 3500 watt constant load (3800 peak)? It does seem to hold up well with over 3000 watts being pulled from it.
I looked at the wires that run the single outlet on my generator. If my calculations are correct, I have about a 32 amp generator. It looks like I have about 16 AWG wires running my outlet... hmmmmmm
I have used a volt meter to determine that I have about 55 volts on both legs of the hots (so I guess it's a 110 generator with about 31.8 amps).
How can these wires hold up under a 3500 watt constant load (3800 peak)? It does seem to hold up well with over 3000 watts being pulled from it.
#3
Thanks for the mathematical correction.
The only thing I can say for sure at this point is I'm sure they're not 10 AWG. They seem even small for 14....
I'll take a closer look, I was just wondering if there was some reason smaller AWG is acceptable for generators because it's 110 volts split-phase. (I think)
The only thing I can say for sure at this point is I'm sure they're not 10 AWG. They seem even small for 14....
I'll take a closer look, I was just wondering if there was some reason smaller AWG is acceptable for generators because it's 110 volts split-phase. (I think)