Guy, I am intimately aware of the code... I started out with a 40 Amp breaker at the service to the sub... I changed it to a 60Amp to "match" the 6AWG run... I would never install anything that was not up to code or use non-UL materials... And I always have my work double-checked by a respected master electrician.
My POINT was that for the max 20 Amp demand that will likely ever be seen from that sub, the 6AWG is much bigger than required... specifically to reduce voltage drops... The twisted pairs and conduit are not "required" by code either, but are there to help keep the power "quiet". ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G MONTAC Enterprises (318) 518-1389 On 8/11/2016 12:30 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > If the feed to the sub-panel has 60 amp breakers in the main panel, > then #6 AWG feed to the sub-panel is required by the NEC code. That > you estimate at this time you do not ever use more than 20 amps out of > the sub-panel has no bearing on the ampacity requirement for the > sub-panel. A subsequent occupant of your property may chose to expand > use of the sub-panel to the degree implied by the main panel breakers > for the sub-.panel. The code is intended to protect future occupants > as well. > > 73, Guy K2AV > > On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:38 PM, Clay Autery <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > How do you define "necessary". > > Paraphrasing K9YC, Jim.... "Big wire is your friend". > > I agree... > > I typically use wire at least 2 sizes larger than "required".... > Often > the wire size is determined by how big of a wire I can FIT in the > application and how much money I can part with at the time. > > For instance, on my current power project... I am running 6 AWG x > 4 from > the service to the sub-panel @ 50 foot run for a 60 Amp separately > derived service where there'll never be more than about a 20 Amp total > demand... > > From the sub-panel to the receptacles about 3-1/2 feet below, I am > using > 10 AWG.... only because that's the largest wire the receptacle > terminals are rated for. > > From the receptacles to all equipment, minimum 10 AWG... > > Bigger and shorter the wire, the better... > > ______________________ > Clay Autery, KY5G > MONTAC Enterprises > (318) 518-1389 > > On 8/11/2016 10:43 AM, Ronnie Hull wrote: > > Is 10 gauge necessary? > > > > Sent from my iPhone > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> > Post: mailto:[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
