#6 SER cable for electric range

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jeff48356

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Livonia, Michigan
I'm going to be wiring an electric range outlet in a kitchen next week. Rather than using 6/3 copper romex (which is ridiculously priced), I decided to use #6 SER AL. Can I use a 50A breaker to power it, or would I need to use 40A?
 
SER larger then 10 AWG are not restricted to the 60 degree column as standard NM cable is, you can use the 75 degree column for RHW/THWN/XHHW which are the common conductor types for SE, NEC 338.10(B)(4)
 
You probably don't need more than 40 amps but depending on which code cycle you are using 50 amps would be compliant with #6 alum. SER is now able to be used at the 75C rating
 
I'd recommend using a 4-11/16 box and a mud ring or a raised cover with a flush-style receptacle. You'll probably be fighting that size wire & insulation making the terminations.
 
Electromatic said:
I'd recommend using a 4-11/16 box and a mud ring or a raised cover with a flush-style receptacle. You'll probably be fighting that size wire & insulation making the terminations.
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I find tombstone receptacles easier to make up (no wire bending).
P&S tombstones terminals are pretty good Levito tombstone terminals kind a suck.
The terminals on the flush mount versions of both makes are pretty decent.
 
texie said:
I seem to recall that they are only rated 60 degree.
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I looked at the UL standard (498) and for receptacles rated over 30 amps, there are provisions for listing them for 60C copper only, 60C/75C copper only, 60C Al/Cu, and 60C/75C Al/Cu. Sounds like the OP needs the one from the last category, if it's to be a 50A circuit, assuming they are commercially available.

Cheers, Wayne
 
I've been using#6 SER for years for range receptacles and now we are using #8 for electric dryers. The wiring is a little tight but the receptacle terminals are rated for #6 and #8 AL/Cu respectively. Never had an installation fail inspection.

Sent from my BE2028 using Tapatalk
 
So are the range receptacles you are using rated for 60/75C allowing you to use a 50A breaker with #6 SER, or are they rated 60C only, requiring a 40A breaker?

Cheers, Wayne
 
wwhitney said:
So are the range receptacles you are using rated for 60/75C allowing you to use a 50A breaker with #6 SER, or are they rated 60C only, requiring a 40A breaker?

Cheers, Wayne
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I have a dumb question.

When determining the temperature rating of the device terminals, am I to simply use the operating temperature listed in the specs? Or is there another temperature spec I need to find?

Here is the Leviton 279 I was looking at which states -40°C to 60°C.
"279 - 50 Amp Flush Mtg Receptacle in Black - Leviton" https://www.leviton.com/en/products/279

The reason I ask is because I was recently trying to determine a similar scenerio and came across a twist connector temperature rating of 105°C which seemed confusingly high. I expected 60, 75 or 90°C

Rob G
 
marmathsen said:
I have a dumb question.

When determining the temperature rating of the device terminals, am I to simply use the operating temperature listed in the specs? Or is there another temperature spec I need to find?

Here is the Leviton 279 I was looking at which states -40°C to 60°C.
"279 - 50 Amp Flush Mtg Receptacle in Black - Leviton" https://www.leviton.com/en/products/279

The reason I ask is because I was recently trying to determine a similar scenerio and came across a twist connector temperature rating of 105°C which seemed confusingly high. I expected 60, 75 or 90°C

Rob G
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Actrually it's not a dumb question, IMO the terminal temperature and the ambient operating temperature are not the same thing although I would guess that the upper limit could actually be the same number. In your link the maximum operating temperature is 60° C that could also be the terminal rating. Unless otherwise noted it would seem that 110.14(C)(1) would by default limit the terminal to 60° C.
 
Just started using 6-3 SER for single range units limiting to max 40A brk. Double ovens maybe a different bird.
 
The temperature rating for terminations will be marked on the receptacle. For this particular receptacle, you can see in the picture if you hover over the bottom of the yoke that it is stamped "75C rating":

279-S00

Black - 50 Amp, 125/250 Volt, NEMA 14-50R, 3P, 4W, Flush Mtg Receptacle, Straight Blade, Industrial Grade, Grounding, Side Wired, Steel Strap
www.leviton.com www.leviton.com

The top of the yoke is also marked Al Cu.

Cheers, Wayne
 
marmathsen said:
I have a dumb question.

When determining the temperature rating of the device terminals, am I to simply use the operating temperature listed in the specs? Or is there another temperature spec I need to find?

Here is the Leviton 279 I was looking at which states -40°C to 60°C.
"279 - 50 Amp Flush Mtg Receptacle in Black - Leviton" https://www.leviton.com/en/products/279

The reason I ask is because I was recently trying to determine a similar scenerio and came across a twist connector temperature rating of 105°C which seemed confusingly high. I expected 60, 75 or 90°C

Rob G
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Twist connector with rating of 105C is not uncommon. Think fixture wires or even higher temp applications within an appliance, where the conductors may also be more than 90C rated.

It can still be used in general applications where only 60/75/90C conductors are the norm.
 
marmathsen said:
Here is the Leviton 279 I was looking at which states -40°C to 60°C. "279 - 50 Amp Flush Mtg Receptacle in Black - Leviton" https://www.leviton.com/en/products/279
Click to expand...
Top center plate of receptacle image shows CU-AL 60-75°C

Published specifications are fungible (look it up), not subject to Nameplate marking requirements that fire code requires on the appliance or equipment.
 
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