Cable size for motors

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janne

Member
Dear forum members,

We make equipment that we market in USA and we need to clarify on wire sizes. We have several small three phase motors (pumps and fans) that are all inside a housing made from sheet metal. Currently we connect the motors with type SO rubber cable with size AWG 14. The cables are all six feet or shorter. The smallest pump is 1/2 HP, only 1.5Amps. Is it allowed to use thinner cables under these circumstances? There is limited space available in the motor?s connection area, using a thinner cable would make life a lot easier... The motors are protected by circuit breakers (motor starters). We make the units for both 230 and 460V.

Thank in advance.

Janne
 
R

roger deas

Member
Location
North_Carolina
Re: Cable size for motors

This may not be, and probably isn't an NEC issue with the exception of a "listing".

If you are marketing these units in the USA you will find that you are going to have to have these third party tested. (UL, ETL, CSA, etc...)

Manufactured equipment would be regulated under other standards such as NEMA and wouldn't necesarilly have to abide by NEC requirements such as wire size.

Roger
 
J

janne

Member
Re: Cable size for motors

> This may not be, and probably isn't an NEC
> issue with the exception of a "listing".
OK, NEC applies to installations and similar?

> If you are marketing these units in the USA
> you will find that you are going to have
> to have these third party tested.
> (UL, ETL, CSA, etc...)
OK...

> Manufactured equipment would be regulated
> under other standards such as NEMA and wouldn't
> necesarilly have to abide by NEC requirements
> such as wire size.
OK, anyway, I would be happy to hear anybody's knowledge about this. Any ideas about what NEMA standard to look for or web site to visit to inquire about this?
 
J

janne

Member
Re: Cable size for motors

OK,

Foe a while I thought that this was a forum with helpful people, but obviously I was wrong...
Now, there do I click to unregister?
 
B

bphgravity

Senior Member
Location
Florida
Re: Cable size for motors

Just go away! Why do you have to be so rude? Electricians do not build motors nor does our code regulate them. We provided what we could. You act like you had to pay something and then got ripped off. How dare you! :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
R

roger deas

Member
Location
North_Carolina
Re: Cable size for motors

Bob and Bryan, thank you both for the support.

Janne, don't worry about unregistering, we will forget about you if you just don't post anymore. :roll:

Roger
 
tom baker

tom baker

First Chief Moderator & NEC Expert
Staff member
Location
Bremerton, Washington
Occupation
Master Electrician
Re: Cable size for motors

Janne the replies given to you are entirely appropiate and correct. This is a listing issue, not an NEC issue.
Also the equipment will have to be listed, or it won't be able to be installed. See 90.4 in the NEC.

[ May 09, 2003, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: tom baker ]
 
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