Wire size for 50 amp?


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Old 03-19-06, 07:50 PM
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Wire size for 50 amp?

Just looking for wire size for a 50 amp connection.
Run is less than 4', 240v, (3+ground).

I'm thinking 6ga stranded or 8ga solid?
 
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Old 03-19-06, 07:56 PM
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just a quick question here,,

what you are planning to run with this much load on it ??

techally wise most 50 A load genrally use #6 wires BUT before i can get into more futher details please let us know what you will be running with it.

Merci, Marc
 
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Old 03-19-06, 07:58 PM
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First off, for 240v you do NOT need 3 wires plus ground. NO neutral is required for straight 240v. Only two plus ground is required. If you did run 3 you would have no place to connect the neutral wire anyway.

Very basically, for a 50A circuit using NM cable you would need #6.
For THHN conductors in conduit you can go with #8cu.
 
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Old 03-19-06, 08:37 PM
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Is this a cooking appliance, a spa, a welder, or a subpanel feeder?
 
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Old 03-20-06, 08:29 AM
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Interface conduction between generator connection and panel. (not mine).

I was looking at an appliance whip, since it's 6', already in conduit with fittings, it's 8ga THHN wire, and only $14 to boot. Would just need to feed a neutral wire through it.

"50 amp, 277 Volt Liquid-tight non-metallic 3/4" conduit. Pre-wired with 3 color coded 8 gauge THHN wires. One straight and one 90 deg. connector with reducing washers"
 
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Old 03-20-06, 01:49 PM
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So you DO have a 120/240v run, not simply a 240v run.

Do you have a transfer switch you are using?
 
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Old 03-21-06, 06:38 PM
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I got a little more info.

This is basically about a 1.5' run between the generator plug and the transfer panel. He's going to need another cord to get from the generator to the plug.

I've got a length of UF-B, 8ga with 10ga ground. This is thick stranded wire, wrapped in a buriable sheathing. Would this work?
 
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Old 03-22-06, 03:32 AM
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No. UF is NM cable and #6 must be used.
 
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Old 03-22-06, 08:37 AM
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Thanks.. I'll let him know he's just going to have to buy the wires individually.
 
 

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