Ampacity of #6 Se cable

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Flex

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poestenkill ny
Ive had an ongoing discussion with a coworker, the boss and an inspector about Home Depot rating #6 aluminum SE cable for 60 amps. The inspector says 50 amps. My coworker wants to use an existing SE cable for a subpanel and we both think it needs to be on a 40 amp breaker. Im not sure who is wrong but I would appreciate any insight.
 
Little Bill

Little Bill

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Flex said:
Ive had an ongoing discussion with a coworker, the boss and an inspector about Home Depot rating #6 aluminum SE cable for 60 amps. The inspector says 50 amps. My coworker wants to use an existing SE cable for a subpanel and we both think it needs to be on a 40 amp breaker. Im not sure who is wrong but I would appreciate any insight.
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The inspector is correct 50A for al under the 75 deg. column. You can still use it with a 40A breaker.


Iwire,
We posted at the same time. I didn't address any details other than ampacity.
 
Little Bill

Little Bill

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iwire said:
No doubt, but that is the point, HD is saying 60, inspector saying 50 when it may really be only 40.
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HD and the inspector are talking about the ampacity of the #6 AL SE. HD says 60, inspector says 50, I'm saying the 40A breaker will work with the #6, whether 60,50, or 40.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

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If it is #6 al and under the 2008 code then it must be used at 60C which means 40 amps. It may be used for standard ranges , whatever a standard range is???:grin:

Now in 2011 the se cable is rated 75C if it does not come in contact with insulation.
 
iwire

iwire

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Little Bill said:
HD and the inspector are talking about the ampacity of the #6 AL SE. HD says 60, inspector says 50, I'm saying the 40A breaker will work with the #6, whether 60,50, or 40.
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And what I am saying is it could be a code violation to use a 50 or 60 amp breaker with 6 AWG AL SE.
 
Little Bill

Little Bill

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iwire said:
And what I am saying is it could be a code violation to use a 50 or 60 amp breaker with 6 AWG AL SE.
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I agree, but the OP said he and coworker thought it ought to be on a 40A breaker. I'm just saying that if the existing SE is indeed #6 AL, that the 40A would be ok. I took it to mean that they were discussing why HD said #6 AL was rated for 60A and ask the inspector and he said 50A. Maybe I'm reading it wrong and I don't want to beat this to death.
 
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hurk27

Senior Member
Location
Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Flex said:
2008 nec, its being used as a subpanel feed. Id also like to know if it could be used for range cable just for future knowledge.
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I hate to put a dead stop in your work but if it is only a 3-wire SE cable it can't be used for a sub-panel and if for a range it has to be existing for that range
 
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augie47

augie47

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hurk27 said:
I hate to put a dead stop in your work but if it is only a 3-wire SE cable it can't be used for a sub-panel and if for a range it has to be existing for that range
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what if my sub-panel is 120 volt ? :grin:
(devil made me do it)
 
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