Question on wire size for 30a
I need to install a 30a RV outlet on the side of our house for our trailer. I need to go about 60 feet from the panel. Would 10/2 Romex be sufficient, or should I go bigger?
Forum Discussion
I HATE Romex for near capacity operation where ambient temperatures can approach 40c. Yes it means using EMT.
The way for doubters to learn the hard way (like whacking a mule between the eyes with a 2X4) is to successfully out-smart themselves and actually "do it" the cheap way and suffer the consequences. The first ten years (of fifty) getting whacked until I saw stars, taught me to stop and think before cherry picking the answers and issues I demanded to see out of a MOUNTAIN OF INFORMATION, then proceeded to get a royal butt-kicking. Also known as honorable School of Hard Knocks.
"But I done did it, so you can count on my advice" is one of the lamest forms of advice a person can encounter.
Go to Google and ask an intelligent question like...
TIPS FOR SIZING ELECTRICAL WIRE FOR CIRCUITS WITH ELECTRICAL MOTORS
CORRECT WIRE SIZE is always calculated on a WORST CASE scenario, and NOT on wishful thinking.
WuuWee, down here houses have a 30 amp breaker, on perhaps 12 gauge wire, leading from an 8-gauge service drop.
The single phase 127vac passes to another 30-amp breaker inside the house and from this single breaker passes through the house using 14AWG "Duplex". No earth ground. The house I'm in at the moment is 1/2" plywood over 24" spaced 2X4s and 2X6's. This is a high-wind area.
Thirty amp breakers for 14 gauge wire?
Ever see a box of Diamond brand kitchen matches go up? The house owner laughed and laughed when I substituted a 15 amp whole house breaker. At my expense.
A lot of things can be cured but in the case of my rental house "Stupid" ain't one of them.
Getting back on track, I would select 8 AWG to a straight line distance of 50' at fifty feet one inch, 6-gauge would be used.
When I wired a trucking company shop, 3 phase 257vac a few decades ago, the CFE lineman who showed up almost fell out of his cherry picker bucket.
At the connect-point Black, Red and Blue plus White 4 gauge conductors were waiting for him. The facility was wired with green earth ground. Oh yeah I forgot to mention, down here, transformers are Wye not Delta, hence the white.
More work however I EMT wired 3 phase 600 volts with 240 and 120 transformers, main and sub panels for a large machine shop. Doing the work was no challenge. BALANCING the 3 incoming phase amperage was the challenge. Topping it all off was a 25 horsepower 600 volt DIRECT current bridge crane. Yes I had to do a lot of research. Like how to do a high voltage Scott Connection, and the best legal and intelligent way to convert high amperage AC to DC. The California electrical code inspector arrived and spent 3-hours verifying code. "Flawless" he remarked and the jittery machine shop owner lost a bet and paid through the snot-box for a 5 star 5 course lobster dinner.
I never hesitate to research. It saves lots of money and lots of red faces.
The way for doubters to learn the hard way (like whacking a mule between the eyes with a 2X4) is to successfully out-smart themselves and actually "do it" the cheap way and suffer the consequences. The first ten years (of fifty) getting whacked until I saw stars, taught me to stop and think before cherry picking the answers and issues I demanded to see out of a MOUNTAIN OF INFORMATION, then proceeded to get a royal butt-kicking. Also known as honorable School of Hard Knocks.
"But I done did it, so you can count on my advice" is one of the lamest forms of advice a person can encounter.
Go to Google and ask an intelligent question like...
TIPS FOR SIZING ELECTRICAL WIRE FOR CIRCUITS WITH ELECTRICAL MOTORS
CORRECT WIRE SIZE is always calculated on a WORST CASE scenario, and NOT on wishful thinking.
WuuWee, down here houses have a 30 amp breaker, on perhaps 12 gauge wire, leading from an 8-gauge service drop.
The single phase 127vac passes to another 30-amp breaker inside the house and from this single breaker passes through the house using 14AWG "Duplex". No earth ground. The house I'm in at the moment is 1/2" plywood over 24" spaced 2X4s and 2X6's. This is a high-wind area.
Thirty amp breakers for 14 gauge wire?
Ever see a box of Diamond brand kitchen matches go up? The house owner laughed and laughed when I substituted a 15 amp whole house breaker. At my expense.
A lot of things can be cured but in the case of my rental house "Stupid" ain't one of them.
Getting back on track, I would select 8 AWG to a straight line distance of 50' at fifty feet one inch, 6-gauge would be used.
When I wired a trucking company shop, 3 phase 257vac a few decades ago, the CFE lineman who showed up almost fell out of his cherry picker bucket.
At the connect-point Black, Red and Blue plus White 4 gauge conductors were waiting for him. The facility was wired with green earth ground. Oh yeah I forgot to mention, down here, transformers are Wye not Delta, hence the white.
More work however I EMT wired 3 phase 600 volts with 240 and 120 transformers, main and sub panels for a large machine shop. Doing the work was no challenge. BALANCING the 3 incoming phase amperage was the challenge. Topping it all off was a 25 horsepower 600 volt DIRECT current bridge crane. Yes I had to do a lot of research. Like how to do a high voltage Scott Connection, and the best legal and intelligent way to convert high amperage AC to DC. The California electrical code inspector arrived and spent 3-hours verifying code. "Flawless" he remarked and the jittery machine shop owner lost a bet and paid through the snot-box for a 5 star 5 course lobster dinner.
I never hesitate to research. It saves lots of money and lots of red faces.
