50A rigs and wire sizing
A post yesterday about a burnt neutral wire got me to wondering...
If;
A 50A rig has all 120v appliances and loads,
A 120v 10A load will measure the same amperage draw on both the hot side and the neutral side,
A properly wired 50A service will measure 240v from L1 to L2,
And L1 and L2 will each measure 120v to neutral,
50A load max on L1 and 50A max on L2,
The neutral is shared with both,
The load amps from each of the hot lines are additive on the neutral,
Potential load on the neutral wire could max out at 100A.
Question;
Why isn't the neutral wire at least a #2 as per the wire sizing charts?
Wouldn't cords need to be constructed with two #6 for each of the hot lines, one #2 for the neutral, and then the ground?
Is this why we see neutrals frequently have heat damage?
I'm not an electrician. I know rarely both L1 and L2 would run at max. But the amperage charts seem to be pretty clear about what "code" requires.
If;
A 50A rig has all 120v appliances and loads,
A 120v 10A load will measure the same amperage draw on both the hot side and the neutral side,
A properly wired 50A service will measure 240v from L1 to L2,
And L1 and L2 will each measure 120v to neutral,
50A load max on L1 and 50A max on L2,
The neutral is shared with both,
The load amps from each of the hot lines are additive on the neutral,
Potential load on the neutral wire could max out at 100A.
Question;
Why isn't the neutral wire at least a #2 as per the wire sizing charts?
Wouldn't cords need to be constructed with two #6 for each of the hot lines, one #2 for the neutral, and then the ground?
Is this why we see neutrals frequently have heat damage?
I'm not an electrician. I know rarely both L1 and L2 would run at max. But the amperage charts seem to be pretty clear about what "code" requires.
