Posted by John T on November 21, 2013 at 14:47:45 from (216.249.76.176):
In Reply to: Motor wire size posted by 37Chief on November 21, 2013 at 12:05:38:
Heres an engineering approach and answer:
1) HAVE TO KNOW THE FLA TO GIVE AN ANSWER
HOWEVER I can make some educated guesses as follows:
2) ASSUMING That 1/2 HP Motor draws around 10 Full Load Amps if operated at 120 VAC Single Phase
3) The smallest wire I would specify would have to have a MINIMUM ampacity of 125% x 10 or say 13 amps. (Radio is very small draw I'm assuming, less then an amp Im guessing, but no warranty absent the radio specs)
4) 14 Gauge wire (in general, subject to enclosure and insulation and temperature) is rated for 15 amps
THEREFORE 14 gauge will suffice and meet code
HOWEVERRRRRRRRRRR If I were designing the circuit I would over engineer it a bit and allow room for expansion and even less voltage drop and even a biggggggg radio lol and go for a more useable standard typical 20 amp shop branch circuit
ALSO if the motor draws 10 amps you don't have much excess wiggle room to plug another load (in addition to radio) into the branch circuit if 13 to even 15 amps is all it can handle.
SO I WOULD USE 12 GAUGE WIRE (and that even reduces voltage drop some small extent)
Of course, heck you could go with 10 or 8 gauge wire and it can work but theres such a thing as too much overkill unless you plan to use a MUCH bigger motor in the future. Also, if youre gonna wire a typical box and a 15 or 20 amp receptacle (are you????) that wire is kind of BIG to fit and terminate!!!!
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Third Brush Generators - by Chris Pratt. While I love straightening sheet metal, cleaning, and painting old tractors, I use every excuse to avoid working on the on the electrics. I find the whole process sheer mystery. I have picked up and attempted to read every auto and farm electrics book with no improvement in the situation. They all seem to start with a chapter entitled "Theory of Electricity". After a few paragraphs I usually close the book and go back to banging out dents. A good friend and I were recently discussing our tractor electrical systems when he stated "I figure it all comes back to applying Ohms Law". At this point
... [Read Article]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
