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Re: It's called the "National Electric Code" Posted by TML [Email]  (#2212)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from TML) on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:13:50
In Reply to: It's called the "National Electric Code", Eric, Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:51:56 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The 32A spec was for chassis wiring, which I did not mean to imply was a safe limit for insulated house wiring; I was just trying to illustrate how 15A was well below the theoretical limit of the wire itself. I should have quoted the rating for TW UF type wire, which is common in household wiring; it's still rated for 25A (single conductor), which includes the insulation. When it's bundled into a three-wire conductor, the rating goes down to 20A.
My point is that 15A in a 15A circuit is not an overload condition. The 80% rule you quote is for building code, NOT the end user. That is to say, it has already been accounted for in the ratings you mention (notice how 15A is basically 80% (a little conservative) of the 20A rating for the wire). The end user, for obvious reasons, is not expected to monitor the current draw on each circuit in his house. By re-applying the 80% limit yourself, you've actually imposed a 64% limit of the absolute maximum capacity. If 15A was not safe for 15A circuits, then they wouldn't be using 15A breakers, they'd be using 12A breakers.
posted by 216.13.111...
, Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:38:15, Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:13:50 <-- Viewing This Message, Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:44:53
, Sun, 17 Jan 2010 07:46:04, Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:38:05
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