Commercial Wire and Raceway Chart

(1) (2) (3)

Overcurrent Copper Copper Maximum Copper (5)
(4) (3) (3)
Protection Wire Wire Continuous Raceway Ground Max. Continuous 1-Phase VA Load Max. Continuous 3-Phase VA Load
60°C Terminal 75°C Terminal
Size Ampere Load Wire 120 V 208 V 240 V 277 V 480 V 208 V 240 V 480 V
15 14 14 12 1/2" 14 1,440 2,496 2,880 3,324 5,760 4,323 4,988 9,976
20 12 12 16 1/2" 12 1,920 3,328 3,840 4,432 7,680 5,764 6,651 13,302
25 10 10 20 3/4" 10 2,400 4,160 4,800 5,540 9,600 7,205 8,314 16,627
30 10 10 24 3/4" 10 2,880 4,992 5,760 6,648 11,520 8,646 9,976 19,953
35 8 8 28 1" 10 3,360 5,824 6,720 7,756 13,440 10,087 11,639 23,278
40 8 8 32 1" 10 3,840 6,656 7,680 8,864 15,360 11,528 13,302 26,604
45 6 8 36 1" 10 4,320 7,488 8,640 9,972 17,280 12,969 14,964 29,929
50 6 8 40 1" 10 4,800 8,320 9,600 11,080 19,200 14,410 16,627 33,254
60 4 6 48 1" 10 5,760 9,984 11,520 13,296 23,040 17,292 19,953 39,905
70 4 4 56 1 ¼" 8 6,720 11,648 13,440 15,512 26,880 20,174 23,278 46,556
80 3 4 64 1 ¼" 8 7,680 13,312 15,360 17,728 30,720 23,056 26,604 53,207
90 2 3 72 1 1/4" (7) 8 8,640 14,976 17,280 19,944 34,560 25,938 29,929 59,858
(7)
100 1 3 80 1 1/4" 8 9,600 16,640 19,200 22,160 38,400 28,820 33,254 66,509
110 2 88 1 ½" 6 10,560 18,304 21,120 24,376 42,240 31,703 36,580 73,160
125 1 100 2" 6 12,000 20,800 24,000 27,700 48,000 36,026 41,568 83,136
150 1/0 120 2" 6 14,400 24,960 28,800 33,240 57,600 43,231 49,882 99,763
175 2/0 140 2" 6 16,800 29,120 33,600 38,780 67,200 50,436 58,195 116,390
200 3/0 160 2 ½" 6 19,200 33,280 38,400 44,320 76,800 57,641 66,509 133,018
225 4/0 180 2 1/2" 4 21,600 37,440 43,200 49,860 86,400 64,846 74,822 149,645
250 250 kcmil 200 3" 4 24,000 41,600 48,000 55,400 96,000 72,051 83,136 166,272
300 350 kcmil 240 3 1/2" 4 28,800 49,920 57,600 66,480 115,200 86,461 99,763 199,526
350 400 kcmil 268(6) 3 1/2" 3 32,160 55,744 64,320 74,236 128,640 96,549 111,402 222,804
(6)
400 500 kcmil 304 4” 3 36,480 63,232 72,960 84,208 145,920 109,518 126,367 252,733
400 600 kcmil 320 4" 3 38,400 66,560 76,800 88,640 153,600 115,282 133,108 266,035

(1)
Conductor size based on 60°C terminal rating. Ampacity based on four 90°C THHN current-carrying conductors [110.14(C), 310.15, Table 310.16].
(2)
Conductor size based on 75°C terminal rating. Ampacity based on four 90°C THHN current-carrying conductors [110.14(C), 310.15, Table 310.16].
(3)
Maximum continuous nonlinear load in an ambient temperature of 30°C limited to 80 percent of the overcurrent device rating [210.19(A), 240.6(A)].
(4)
To ensure ease of installation, raceways are sized to six THHN conductors (based on 75°C column, Note 3) in rigid nonmetallic conduit [Annex C10].
(5)
Copper equipment grounding conductor is sized in accordance with Table 250.122.
(6)
Maximum continuous load limited to 80 percent of 75°C conductor ampacity, because conductor ampacity is lower than the overcurrent protection device rating.
(7)
Raceway size is based on 75°C conductor size, not the 60°C conductor size.

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 Formulas
Conversion Formulas Note 1: Total resistance is always less than the smallest resistor
2
Area of Circle = πr RT = 1/(1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 +...)
Breakeven Dollars = Overhead Cost $/Gross Profit % Note 2: Total current is equal to the sum of the currents of all parallel resistors
Busbar Ampacity AL = 700A Sq. in. and CU = 1000A Sq. in. Note 3: Total power is equal to the sum of power of all parallel resistors
Centimeters = Inches x 2.54 Note 4: Voltage is the same across each of the parallel resistors
Inch = 0.0254 Meters
Inch = 2.54 Centimeters Series Circuits
Inch = 25.4 Millimeters Note 1: Total resistance is equal to the sum of all the resistors
Kilometer = 0.6213 Miles Note 2: Current in the circuit remains the same through all the resistors
Length of Coiled Wire = Diameter of Coil (average) x Number of Coils x π Note 3: Voltage source is equal to the sum of voltage drops of all resistors
Lightning Distance in Miles = Seconds between flash and thunder/4.68 Note 4: Power of the circuit is equal to the sum of the power of all resistors
Meter = 39.37 Inches
Mile = 5280 ft, 1760 yards, 1609 meters, 1.609 km Transformer Amperes
Millimeter = 0.03937 Inch Secondary Amperes 1-Phase = VA/Volts
Selling Price = Estimated Cost $/(1 - Gross Profit %) Secondary Amperes 3-Phase = VA/Volts x 3
Speed of Sound (Sea Level) = 1128 fps or 769 mph
Temp C = (Temp F - 32)/1.8 Secondary Available Fault 1-Phase = VA/(Volts x %impedance)
Temp F = (Temp C x 1.8) + 32 Secondary Available Fault 3-Phase = VA/(Volts x 3 x %Impedance)
Yard = 0.9144 Meters
Delta 4-Wire: Line Amperes = Phase (one winding) Amperes x 3
Electrical Formulas Based on 60 Hz Delta 4-Wire: Line Vo lts = Phase (one Winding) Volts
Capacitive Reactance (XC) in Ohms = 1/(2π f C)
Delta 4-Wire: High-Leg Voltage (L-to-G) = Phase (one winding) Volts x 0.5 x 3
Effective (RMS) AC Amperes = Peak Amperes x 0.707
Effective (RMS) AC Volts = Peak Volts x 0.707 Wye: Line Volts = Phase (one winding) Volts x 3
Efficiency (percent) = Output/Input x 100 Wye: Line Amperes = Phase (one winding) Amperes
Efficiency = Output/Input
Horsepower = Output Watts/746 Voltage Drop
Inductive Reactance (XL) in Ohms = 2π f L VD (1-Phase) = 2KID/CM
Input = Output/Efficiency
VD (3-Phase) = 3 KID/CM
Neutral Current (Wye) = A 2 + B 2 + C 2 − ( AB + BC + AC )
Output = Input x Efficiency CM (1-Phase) = 2KID/VD
Peak AC Volts = Effective (RMS) AC Volts x 2 CM (3-Phase) = 3 KID/VD
Peak Amperes = Effective (RMS) Amperes x 2 Code Rules
Power Factor (PF) = Watts/VA Breaker/Fuse Ratings – 240.6(A)
VA (apparent power) = Volts x Ampere or Watts/Power Factor Conductor Ampacity – 310.15 and Table 310.16
VA 1-Phase = Volts x Amperes Equipment Grounding Conductor – 250.122
VA 3-Phase = Volts x Amperes x 3 Grounding Electrode Conductor – 250.66
Watts (real power) Single-Phase = Volts x Amperes x Power Factor Motor Conductor Size – 430.22 (Single) 430.24 (Multiple)
Motor Short-Circuit Protection – 430.52
Watts (real power) Three-Phase = Volts x Amperes x Power Factor x 3 Transformer Overcurrent Protection – 450.3
Parallel Circuits
π (Pi) = (3.142 approximately), 2 = 1.414 (approximately), 3 = 1.732 (approximately), f = Frequency, r = radius, d = diameter, C = Capacitance (farads),
L = Inductance (henrys), CM = Circular Mils (Chpt. 9, Tbl. 8), VD = Volts Drop, K75°C = (12.9 ohms CU) (21.2 ohms AL), I = Amperes of load, D = Distance one way

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