Have to extend my Air condition power line and need to verify wire type and size

I am finishing my basement but had to move my A/C power line. I will need to use a disconnect to add on the additional 40 feet of wire needed.

The A/C is a 5 ton unit and now running on a 50 amp breaker and the wire currently used is stamped ( AWG 6 more than 600 volts). This wire has gray shield and the ground is a twisted type threads of copper.

The only new wire I could find at home depo was a 6-2 wire and it has a smaller ground that is solid. Can this type of wire be used to extend the circuit by tieing the two together with a disconnect switch?

Is it a problem that the ground on the 6-2 wire from home depo is smaller? Or solid instead of braided?

Any help is appreciated.
Thx

 

6/2 wg NM IS FINE

a disconnect switch WILL MAKE A NICE J-BOX.

 

I was afraid because the ground on that 6-2 wire from home depo seems much smaller than on the existing wire.

Yep already bought the disconnect.

Thanks for the reply.

 

the old wire is USE wire and has a full size ground wire.

the new wire has a 10 gauge ground wire.. both are OK

 

It sounds more like SEU to me.

If the extension to the circuit is outdoors, 6-2 NM-B cable cannot be used. If it is indoors, you don't need to use a disconnect as a junction box, any suitable junction box can be used. NM-B can be used indoors as long as the junction box remains accessible.

 

Type USE cable is for underground use and should not have been used inside. It typically lacks the flame retardant covering to be used inside.

 

I think the old wire is SE type. Looks like this one I found online except mine just has two wires and a ground. See link below.

Copper SE Cable

 

What is the minimum circuit ampacity required for the AC?

 

Would I find that on the outdoor air condition unit?

 

Yes, there should be a dataplate on the unit.