Do switch legs count as current carrying conductors

[infinity]

Correct me if I am wrong here. Say you have the feed to 5 switch legs and the 5 switch legs in the same conduit and let's say the load is 15 amps. Let's also say that the 5 switch legs are carrying 3 amps each so we have 15 amps travelling on the 5 switched wires and 15 amps on the feed-- does that not create a lot of heat?

I see your point. If the raceway had only two conductors and 15 amps of load it would create a certain amount of heat. Now add 5 additional conductors (switch legs) with 3 amps on each and you would have an increase in heat. Now if the feed were in a different conduit then I don't see how the number of switch legs will really matter.

 

[Barbqranch]

One way to look at it is 5 #12 conductors have about the same total cross sectional area as a #5 conductor. Which at 15 amps wouldn't produce much heat.

 

[wwhitney]

One way to look at it is 5 #12 conductors have about the same total cross sectional area as a #5 conductor. Which at 15 amps wouldn't produce much heat.

Good point.

Another way to look at it is that 3 amps each on (5) different #12 conductors is like 15 amps total on 5 parallel #12s. And 5 parallel #12s have 1/5 the resistance of a single #12, so the power dissipation is 1/5 as much for the 15 total amps.

Cheers, Wayne