600V cord capacity

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Toros

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Tujunga, CA
Hi ,
I have an existing equipment connecting cord-set labeled; "600V, 400A"
Can I use that set of cord to connect the new equipment operating @ 500A , 208V, 3 phase????

What is the max. draw from that cord if the system is 120/208V ?????

Thank you
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
UK
Toros said:
Hi ,
I have an existing equipment connecting cord-set labeled; "600V, 400A"
Can I use that set of cord to connect the new equipment operating @ 500A , 208V, 3 phase????

What is the max. draw from that cord if the system is 120/208V ?????

Thank you
Click to expand...
400A I would have said. Dropping the voltage doesn't generally increase the current rating of a conductor.
 
don_resqcapt19

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
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Location
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retired electrician
In addition, that 400 amp rating may be a manufacturer's rating and may not be compliant with the rules found in the NEC.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Toros said:
Hi ,
I have an existing equipment connecting cord-set labeled; "600V, 400A"
Can I use that set of cord to connect the new equipment operating @ 500A , 208V, 3 phase????

What is the max. draw from that cord if the system is 120/208V ?????

Thank you
Click to expand...

The answer is that you need to match the ampacity of the cordset to how much current the equipment draws. The voltage rating is about the insulation.

It seems unlikely you would have a piece of equipment that operates at exactly 500 A.

I have also never seen a cord set that is factory labeled as 400 A. The plugs might be labeled that way, but not the cord set.

Perhaps a picture of the label of the cord and the equipment nameplate would be in order.
 
T

Toros

Senior Member
Location
Tujunga, CA
petersonra said:
The answer is that you need to match the ampacity of the cordset to how much current the equipment draws. The voltage rating is about the insulation.

It seems unlikely you would have a piece of equipment that operates at exactly 500 A.

I have also never seen a cord set that is factory labeled as 400 A. The plugs might be labeled that way, but not the cord set.

Perhaps a picture of the label of the cord and the equipment nameplate would be in order.
Click to expand...

that label is on head /plug of the cord:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Toros said:
that label is on head /plug of the cord:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Click to expand...
So that means the connector is rated 400 amps. Is possible only 325 amacity is needed, but 400 amp plug is next standard size, only 325 amp conductor would still be sufficient in many cases.
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
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petersonra said:
The answer is that you need to match the ampacity of the cordset to how much current the equipment draws. The voltage rating is about the insulation.

It seems unlikely you would have a piece of equipment that operates at exactly 500 A.
Click to expand...
But would you chance it? Even if NEC allowed it?
I think the question has been answered with a simple "no".
The very fact that the question was asked suggests that a more complex answer would be superfluous.
The KISS principle comes to mind.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Besoeker said:
But would you chance it? Even if NEC allowed it?
I think the question has been answered with a simple "no".
The very fact that the question was asked suggests that a more complex answer would be superfluous.
The KISS principle comes to mind.
Click to expand...

I don't think we know enough about the particulars to make any firm judgement. But in general I agree that if something is stated to be a 500 A load it would be a bad idea to use cords that are only good for 400 A.

incidentally, it is pretty common for people using Camlok style plugs to use conductor ampacities that far exceed what the NEC would allow. It is not clear to me that this is especially unsafe given how prevalent it is.
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
UK
petersonra said:
I don't think we know enough about the particulars to make any firm judgement.
Click to expand...
We know that the cord-set is rated at 400A according to the OP.
Would you even remotely consider running it at 500A?

For me, and others it would seem, the answer is a simple one word response. That's the sum and substance of it.

It's easy to overthink a point.
Kiss principle applies.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Besoeker said:
We know that the cord-set is rated at 400A according to the OP.
Would you even remotely consider running it at 500A?

For me, and others it would seem, the answer is a simple one word response. That's the sum and substance of it.

It's easy to overthink a point.
Kiss principle applies.
Click to expand...

I don't know what the 500 A thing means. I never heard of a 500A plug and it would not be a standard ampacity of any cable I can remember seeing. Therefore it suggests it is just something someone made up, especially being an even number like that.

I am not suggesting running 500 A thru a cord set that is unsafe to run at that level of current. But I am not sure what the OP actually has given the peculiar ratings he is stating.
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
UK
petersonra said:
I don't know what the 500 A thing means. I never heard of a 500A plug and it would not be a standard ampacity of any cable I can remember seeing. Therefore it suggests it is just something someone made up, especially being an even number like that.
Click to expand...
I could be made up. Or theoretical. The answer remains the same.
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
The only thing OP has confirmed is the cord connector is rated 400 amps. We don't know if the load is actually 500 amps or if it is 500 amp overcurrent protection - which could be to allow for motor starting though the full load is under 400.
 
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