Now that we have danced all around for seven pages and ninety six posts and no one has yet explained the last sentence of 210.19(A)(3) although I thought that Don was going to for a couple of minutes, I will be glad to explain it for you.
I will show just how easy the NEC is to understand and just how easy it is to get hung up on something other than the question at hand.
Before I get to 210.19(A)(3) let me go to a couple of other sections on the NEC that have been posted in this thread.
First I will address section 220.55.
Just what is being addressed in 220?
Article 220 addresses Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Service Calculations or the sizing of the conductors for the Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Services.
In 220.1 we are told how Article 220 is laid out and what order the Branch-Circuit, Feeders, and Service calculations are made.
I. General
220.1 Scope.
This article provides requirements for calculating branch-circuit, feeder, and service loads. Part I provides for general requirements for calculation methods. Part II provides calculation methods for branch circuit loads. Parts III and IV provide calculation methods for feeders and services. Part V provides calculation methods for farms.
In Part II of 220 (Branch-Circuit) section 220.14(C) we are told that we can use Table 220.55 to size the conductors for a range.
In Part III of 220 (Feeders and Services) we find Table 220.55 and the guidelines for sizing the conductors for a range or for multiple ranges.
Now that I have covered the proper way to size the conductors for a range, have I covered 210.19(A)(3) or negated the last sentence of that section? NO
None of this has any bearing on the last sentence which states ranges of 8? kW or more rating, the minimum branch-circuit rating shall be 40 amperes. This sentence still is part of the NEC and means just what it is saying.
I have not addressed the conductors of the branch circuit in any way with my post other than when I was addressing 220.55. I may have implied the conductors by saying ?circuit? and I will admit that I was using the term out of context of 210.19(A)(3) but it was unintentional.
For us to understand just what is being said in 210.19(A)(3) we must first know what is being addressed. The last sentence of that section is only addressing the rating of the circuit not the conductors.
What determines the rating of a circuit?
The answer of this question can be found in 210.3
210.3 Rating.
Branch circuits recognized by this article shall be rated in accordance with the maximum permitted ampere rating or setting of the overcurrent device. The rating for other than individual branch circuits shall be 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 amperes. Where conductors of higher ampacity are used for any reason, the ampere rating or setting of the specified overcurrent device shall determine the circuit rating.
Upon careful reading of this section of the code I learn that the overcurrent device is what determines the rating of the branch circuit NOT THE CONDUCTORS.
Now as I have said all along the minimum circuit
rating for a range 8 ? kw and everyone more than 8 ? kw is 40 amperes.
Let's not forget what is being addressed. It is the rating not the size of the conductors.
I have said that I think that the last sentence should be removed and now each of you know why it wasn't.