240 Wire Size
National electric code 310 315 specifies electrical services wire conductor sizes of 2 0 for copper and 4 0 for aluminum for use in 120 240 volt 3 wire single phase dwelling services and feeders.
240 wire size. The wire size chart below shows allowable ampacities of insulated conductors rated up to and including 2000 volts 60 c through 90 c 140 f through 194 f not more than three current carrying conductors in raceway cable or earth directly buried based on ambient air temperature of 30 c 86 f. If you re installing this on a 20 ampere circuit with 12 awg wire you ll have to use the screw terminals. 6 wire is strongly recommended. The tables below are intended to be a general guide for wire size and amp ratings.
60 c 140 f 75 c 167 f awg mm copper. You can not use 14 awg anywhere on a circuit that has a 20a breaker. Common sizes include 14 12 10 8 6 and 2 gauge wire. For every extra 50 feet of cable wire up to 8 normally you upgradeto the next size consult you local codes if your unsure about doubleand triple length runs.
6 is sometimes mandatory for a 200 foot 12 amp run but can be used up to 300 feet on a 12 amp circuit. The ground wire must also be attached where there is a ground terminal or connection on all devices which should be present on the 4 wire 240 volt receptacles that you are installing. Wire gauge refers the physical size of the wire rated with a numerical designation that runs opposite to the diameter of the conductors in other words the smaller the wire gauge number the larger the wire diameter. Nec requires a minimum of 100 amp 3 wire service for a single family dwelling unit.
Electrical wire for the home. For copper wire no. Voltage enter the voltage at the source of the circuit. It s best if a bigger size wire is used.
Many times the ground terminal is identified with a green screw. 6 copper wire can support up to 55 amp at a temperature of 60 degree celsius. Wire is sized by the american wire gauge awg system. More about 240 volt electrical wiring.
Amperes enter the maximum current in amps that will flow through the circuit. Nec 240 4 d 3 states that 14 awg must be protected at 15a. 4 the nec allows a maximum of a 3 voltage drop on the main branch of a circuit at the farthest outlet of power and 5 total to both feeders and branch circuits to the farthest outlet. Single phase voltages are usually 115v or 120v while three phase voltages are typically 208v 230v or 480v.