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Sizing Conductors, Part XLI

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By Charles R. Miller (/contributing-authors/charles-r-miller)

Article 310 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) covers

general requirements for conductors and their type
designations, insulations, markings, mechanical strengths,
ampacity ratings and uses. Ampacities for conductors rated
0 to 2,000 volts (V) shall be as specified in the Allowable
Related Stories
Ampacity Table 310.15(B)(16) through Table 310.15(B)(19)
and Ampacity Table 310.15(B)(20) and Table 310.15(B)(21)
as modified by 310.15(B)(1) through (B)(7) [310.15(B)].
Section 310.15(B) also states that the temperature correction
and adjustment factors shall be permitted to be applied to(https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-
standards/proper-approval-objectives-
the ampacity for the conductor temperature rating if the
responsibilities-achieving-code-
corrected and adjusted ampacity does not exceed the compliance)
ampacity for the termination temperature rating in Codes & Standards
accordance with the provisions of 110.14(C).
 (/section/codes-standards)
 Nov 15, 2022
While there are many ampacity tables, Table 310.15(B)(16) is Proper Approval
used most often. The ampacities shown in this table are
Objectives:
Responsibilities to
based on no more than three current-carrying conductors in a achieving Code
raceway, cable or earth (directly buried). 
 compliance
(/section/codes-
The ampacities listed in Table 310.15(B)(16) are based on an standards/proper-
ambient temperature of 30°C. When there are more than approval-objectives-
three current-carrying conductors, the conductor’s ampacity responsibilities-
achieving-code-
must be adjusted. Likewise, if the ambient temperature is
compliance)
something other than 30°C, the table ampacities shall be
corrected. It may even be necessary to apply both a
correction factor and an adjustment factor.

Before selecting a conductor, the load must be determined.
Article 220 provides requirements for calculating branch
circuit, feeder and service loads. As stated in 220.18, the total
load shall not exceed the branch circuit rating, and it shall not
exceed the maximum loads specified in 220.18(A) through
(https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-
(C) under the conditions specified therein. The first standards/continuing-our-code-journey-
accepting-nec-change-part-10)
specifications in this section pertain to motor-operated and
combination loads. The second sentence in 220.18(A) Codes & Standards
(/section/codes-standards)
pertains to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
 Nov 15, 2022
Where a circuit supplies only air conditioning equipment, Continuing our Code
refrigerating equipment or both, Article 440 shall apply. Journey: Accepting
Article 440 applies to electric motor-driven air conditioning (NEC) change, part 10
(/section/codes-
and refrigerating equipment and to the branch circuits and
standards/continuing-
controllers for such equipment. Selecting conductors and our-code-journey-
overcurrent protective devices for air conditioning equipment accepting-nec-
is not the same as it is for motors. With a hermetic change-part-10)
refrigerant motor-compressor, the nameplate on the
equipment usually provides the information necessary for
selecting the conductor size and the overcurrent protective
device rating. In accordance with 440.6(A), it is permissible to
use the nameplate information in determining the rating or
(https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-
ampacity of the disconnecting means; the branch-circuit standards/bilingual-markings-tr-
conductors; the controller; the branch-circuit short-circuit receptacles-offices-and-more)
and
ground-fault protection; and the separate motor overload Codes & Standards
(/section/codes-standards)
protection. Some of the electrical information on air
 Nov 15, 2022
conditioning equipment nameplates includes the rating in
Bilingual Markings, TR
volts, frequency and number of phases, minimum supply Receptacles in Offices
circuit conductor ampacity, and the maximum rating of the and More
branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective (/section/codes-
standards/bilingual-
device. See 440.4 for all of the required nameplate
markings-tr-
information.
 receptacles-offices-
and-more)
Because the minimum supply circuit conductor ampacity is
on the nameplate, calculating the equipment ampacity is not
necessary. For example, an outdoor air conditioner is to be
installed. The minimum circuit ampacity shown on the
nameplate is 35.8 amperes (A), and the maximum rating for
the overcurrent device is 50A. The branch-circuit conductors
supplying power to this air conditioner will be THWN copper,
and the conductors will be installed in a raceway. What is the
minimum size conductor required to supply this air
conditioner, and what is the maximum rating for the
overcurrent device, which will be a circuit breaker?


The voltage drop will not exceed the NEC recommendation.

All of the terminations will be rated 75°C. The maximum
ambient temperature will be 30°C, and there will not be more
than three current-carrying conductors in the raceway.
Because the minimum circuit ampacity shown on the
nameplate is 35.8A, the conductor must have an ampacity of
at least 35.8A. In accordance with the 75°C column of Table
310.15(B)(16), an 8 AWG conductor is good for 50A. A 10
AWG conductor is close, but it is only good for 35A. As
shown on the nameplate, the maximum rating for the
overcurrent device is 50A. Therefore, the maximum rating for
the circuit breaker is 50A (see Figure 1).


Correction and/or adjustment factors may have to be applied

when selecting a conductor for air conditioning equipment.
For example, a rooftop air conditioner will be installed. The
minimum circuit ampacity shown on the nameplate is 43.2A,
and the maximum rating for the overcurrent device is 70A.
The branch-circuit conductors supplying power to this air
conditioner will be THWN-2 copper, and the conductors will
be installed in a raceway that will be exposed to direct
sunlight. The distance above the roof to the bottom of the
raceway will be 4 inches. What is the minimum size
conductor required to supply this air conditioner?

The voltage drop will not exceed the NEC recommendation.
All of the terminations will be rated 75°C. The maximum
ambient temperature will be 40°C, and no more than three
current-carrying conductors will be in the raceway. As stated
on the nameplate, the conductor must have an ampacity of at
least 43.2A. 


In accordance with the 75°C column of Table 310.15(B)(16),

an 8 AWG conductor is good for 50A, which is more than the
minimum circuit ampacity. The ambient temperature is more
than 30°C, and, therefore, the allowable ampacity must be
corrected. Because the raceway is exposed to direct sunlight
above a roof, a temperature adjustment must be added to the
ambient temperature. In Table 310.15(B)(3)(c), the
temperature adder for a raceway located 4 inches above the
roof is 17. With the temperature adder, the new ambient
temperature is 57°C (40 + 17 = 57). The Table 310.15(B)(16)
ampacity for an 8 AWG THWN-2 conductor in the 90°C
column is 55A. The Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) correction factor, in
the 90°C column for an ambient temperature of 57°C is 0.71.
After applying the correction factor (often referred to as
derating), an 8 AWG THWN-2 conductor has a maximum
ampacity of only 39A (55 × 0.71 = 39). Since the minimum
circuit ampacity is 43.2A, this 8 AWG THWN-2 conductor will
not be permitted. Therefore, select the next larger size
conductor, which is 6 AWG, and perform the calculation
again. The Table 310.15(B)(16) ampacity for a 6 AWG THWN-
2 conductor, in the 90°C column, is 75A. After applying the
correction factor, a 6 AWG THWN-2 conductor has an
ampacity of 53A (75 × 0.71 = 53.25 = 53). Because the
minimum circuit ampacity is 43.2, the minimum size THWN-2
conductor required to supply this air conditioner is 6 AWG
(see Figure 2).

If a certain type of insulated conductor is installed, it will not
be necessary to include the temperature adder for raceways
or cables exposed to sunlight on or above rooftops. In the
2014 NEC, a new exception was added to 310.15(B)(3)(c):
Type XHHW-2 insulated conductors shall not be subject to
this ampacity adjustment. For example, the same roof-top air
conditioner from Figure 2 will be installed. Everything will be
the same except the type of conductor. Instead of THWN-2,
the branch-circuit conductors supplying power to this air
conditioner will be XHHW-2. What minimum size conductor is
now required to supply this air conditioner? As stated on the
nameplate, the conductor must have an ampacity of at least
43.2A. Because the conductors will be XHHW-2, it is not
necessary to include the temperature adder. The ambient
temperature is 40°C; therefore, the allowable ampacity must
be corrected. The Table 310.15(B)(16) ampacity for an 8
AWG XHHW-2 conductor in the 90°C column is 55A. The
Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) correction factor, in the 90°C column
for an ambient temperature of 40°C, is 0.91. After applying
the correction factor, an 8 AWG XHHW-2 conductor has a
ampacity of 50A (55 × 0.91 = 50). Because the minimum
circuit ampacity is 43.2, the minimum size XHHW-2
conductor required to supply this air conditioner is 8 AWG
(see Figure 3).


Next month, the discussion of sizing conductors continues.

Tags:
Code in Focus (/tags/code-focus)
About the Author

Charles R. Miller
(/contributing-
authors/charles-r-
miller)
Code Contributor

Charles R. Miller, owner of Lighthouse

Educational Services, teaches custom-
tailored seminars on the National
Electrical Code and NFPA 70E. He is the
author of “Illustrated Guide to the National
Electrical Code” and “Electrician's Exam
(https://www.ecmag.com/contributing-
Prep Manual.”...
authors/charles-r-miller)

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My last article provided a history and background on Article 400, dealing with flexible
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