Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 31

Thread: How many wires in 1/2" conduit?

  1. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Thanks, Kent.

    Rob,

    That’s pretty confusing. One part of the code says you can run (9) #12 in ½” EMT. But after (3) 20-amp circuits (6 conductors), I’d have to pull #10 conductors for any additional circuits due to the ampacity derating table.

    Assuming all is #12 so I don’t get further confused… On this one particular run, I would like to pull at least (3) circuits through (1) section of ½” conduit.

    a)shop lights
    b)garage door openers
    c)furnace

    That’s (6) conductors initially. However, one of the circuits will be switched (shop lights) into two zones… so there is going to be an extra hot making it (7) conductors. So, according to the code I’d have to pull that 7th hot as a #10?

    Now in reality, the furnace and the door opener circuits will be #14, 15-amp, so I will probably be alright, but I want to stick to your 20-amp example so I can better understand this. After the shop/garage is wired, I will have the rest of the house to do. Because I’m the guy bending and installing conduit, it would obviously be of great benefit to know how to plan additional runs.

    Thanks to you, and all others, for your expertise!

    Paul

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Paul,

    It can be confusing.

    The maximum number of conductors in a raceway (conduit) is so there is adequate air space to allow for heat dissipation.
    The derating for bundled conductors is similar. If you have a lot of current carrying conductors next to each other, you need to make sure the conductors don't heat up.

    The first calculation for sizing your conduit is simply saying how many conductors of a given type and size you can fit in the available raceway cross-section. If 1/2" EMT can take (9) THHN/THWN conductors, that's simply saying that you can fit those conductors in the pipe.

    Next, you have to look at the circuits that you want to run and ensure that your conductors have adequate ampacity (current-carrying capacity) for the circuits that you want to run. There are a lot of rules that can affect the amount of current a conductor is allowed to carry. These factors include:
    • conductor size (gauge), i.e. #12 vs. #14
    • conductor material, i.e. copper vs. aluminum
    • conductor type, i.e. insulation and single conductor vs. cable
    • temperature ratings of the terminals the conductors attach to
    • etc.
    When you bundle current-carrying conductors, you make them run hotter. Put too many conductors together and you need to find a way to cool them off. You do that by using a larger conductor which has a higher ampacity and will run cooler. There is a table that specifies how much you have to derate (reduce the ampacity of) conductors when you bundle them for more than 24". Remember that the neutral is a current-carrying conductor. The derating factors in Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) Adjustment Factors for More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in a Raceway or Cable are as follows:

    4 - 6 current-carrying conductors - 80%
    7 - 9 current-carrying conductors - 70%
    10 - 20 current-carrying conductors - 50%
    21 - 30 current-carrying conductors - 45%
    31 - 40 current-carrying conductors - 40%
    41+ current-carrying conductors - 35%

    #12 THHN/THWN conductors have a normally rated ampacity for the devices we'd use (switches, receptacles, etc.) of 25 amps. That's using the 75°C column in Table 310.16 Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors Rated 0 Through 2000 Volts, 60°C Through 90°C (140°F Through 194°F), Not More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in Raceway, Cable, or Earth (Directly Buried), Based on Ambient Temperature of 30°C (86°F). When you determine the ampacity of a conductor for your specific application, one of the criteria is the temperature rating of the terminals on the devices or equipment you're connecting the conductors to. There are (3) temperature ratings - 60°C, 75°C and 90°C. Take a circuit breaker and look at the teeny print on it - it'll say that it's rated for 60°C/75°C connections. I've never seen anything with a temperature rating higher than 75°C other than the wire itself.

    I know that we always think of #12 as being good for a 20 amp circuit. That's because Nonmetallic Cable (aka "Romex"), which is what most of us use for wiring, is restricted to the 60°C column in the conductor ampacity table (310.16) and it's therefore limited to 20 amps for #12 Romex. That restriction is in section 334.80, which is the article that's specific to the installation and use of NM Cable.

    The bottom line is that you use the 60°C column in table 310.16 for Romex but can use the 75°C column for THHN/THWN, which yields higher ampacities for the individual conductors in our applications.

    So - #12 THHN/THWN has an ampacity of 25 amps using 75°C rated connections. If you bundle (3) 120v circuits in a raceway, that means (6) current-carrying conductors. Again - remember that the neutral is a current-carrying conductor when you're figuring out how many current-carrying conductors you have. From the derating table above, (6) current-carrying conductors means a derating factor of 80%. 25 amps * 80% = 20 amps. In other words, you can bundle (3) 120v 20-amp circuits run through THHN/THWN in raceway because the derated ampacity of the conductors is 20 amps.

    If you ran another 120v circuit through that same raceway you now have (8) current-carrying conductors. Based on the derating table above, the derating factor will now be 70%. That derating factor is applied to ALL current-carrying conductors in that raceway, not just the extra one(s) you added to push yourself to the next derating level in the table. If you run #12 THHN/THWN, which has a normal ampacity of 25 amps, with the 70% derating those conductors will be rated for 17.5 (18) amps. You can't run 20 amp circuits through conductors rated for 18 amps (well, there are times you can, but let's not go there now) - so you have to use a larger conductor. #10 THHN/THWN has a normal ampacity of 35 amps using the 75°C column. 35 amps * 70% = 24.5 amps which is plenty of ampacity for your 20 amp circuit.

    Does the above make sense to you?

    One other thought I'd add is that I wouldn't run #12 conductors, derated such that you can only run 15-amp circuits. You may understand the derating thing now, but a following homeowner may not. I know it's not your responsibility, but I wouldn't want to put in an installation that could be easily overloaded because a future homeowner sees the #12 and thinks it's safe to put in 20-amp breakers, not knowing about what we're discussing here.

    Rob
    Last edited by Rob Russell; 11-11-2006 at 8:02 AM. Reason: Clarifications, additional info.

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Rob,

    Thanks for the time you have put into this for me.

    Does it make sense? Yes and no.

    >>> One other thought I'd add is that I wouldn't run #12 conductors, derated such that you can only run 15-amp circuits. You may understand the derating thing now, but a following homeowner may not. I know it's not your responsibility, but I wouldn't want to put in an installation that could be easily overloaded because a future homeowner sees the #12 and thinks it's safe to put in 20-amp breakers, not knowing about what we're discussing here.

    Pulling # 10’s to derate for (4) 20-amp circuits in one raceway (1/2” EMT) would also prompt a future HO think 30-amp breakers are ok for the #10.

    So why are (9) conductors allowed in ½” EMT per the same code? The only so-called non-current carrying conductor would be a ground (still a potentially current carrying conductor).

    Conductors (wires) are in-and-in-themselves current carrying…. Yet the code says (9) of them are allowed in ½” EMT and (17) in ¾”. I could understand derating conductors in order to exceed the tables limit… but there are only (6) #10 allowed in ½” EMT.

    The only raceway where ALL conductors could potentially be active at the same time would be my 220 v. run for shop machinery. Dust collection + at least one other machine and likely the compressor running from time to time during a machining session. I was planning to run either two ½” conduits or one ¾” (4 dedicated circuits) to a junction/distribution box. ½” EMT with one circuit from there to each respective need.

    Here’s one chart: http://www.westernextralite.com/resources.asp?key=47

    Initially I hired an electrician to install the main panel and the meter hook-up. I’ve asked him twice about how many #12’s I can run in ½” EMT, and twice he told me (9).

    I am now fairly confused…

    … but will call the Inspector Monday for a definitive answer and will go with his instruction. I have no problem pulling three circuits (6 wires) per raceway, even if the NEC table says I can pull more.

    Thanks again.

    Paul

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Mont. Co. MD
    Posts
    973
    Quote Originally Posted by Kent Fitzgerald
    4. Multiwire branch circuits don't allow downstream GFCI protection.

    In my non-professional opinion, there are just too many drawbacks to justify the small savings in materials.
    To do GFI properly for these circuits you have to have a 2 pole GFI which are expensive. I wired my last kitchen using a multibranch circuit as described so that each socket in each outlet would be on separate circuits. It was overkill, and probably unnecessary but after living with a kitchen that was on a single 15A circuit for everything... well it made sense at the time.

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Paul,

    An example of where you'd have (9) #12 conductors in 1/2" EMT is specifically what you mentioned - (3) 120v branch circuits but where each had an equipment grounding conductor. An example of where that would be used is a hospital or patient care environment and the EGC is isolated and not bonded to the device yoke. In some cases, you could have (4) wires going to a receptacle, where only (2) are considered current-carrying. If you were wiring a space that required isolated EGCs and used plastic because of rust or corrosion, you'd need (2) grounding conductors - (1) for the grounding pin on the outlets and a (1) for the device yoke.

    While any conductor can carry current, a "current-carrying" conductor is one that is normally carrying current vs. something like an equipment grounding conductor. The derating calculations pertain to those conductors that are normally carrying current and would therefore be normally subject to heating up. Conceptually, you could overstuff a raceway with nothing but EGCs and nothing would happen because those conductors only carry current in the event of a problem, which wouldn't normally happen. The NEC doesn't allow that, of course.

    Derating conductors isn't so you can exceed the conduit fill tables. Derating conductors has to do with preventing heat build up based on bundling. You can run into the very same derating limitations just by running too many "Romex" cables in a parallel bundle.

    I didn't post it, but I wouldn't run circuits in my house where I had to use #10 for 20-amp circuits either and for a couple of reasons, but we don't need go into those details.

    Rob

  6. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Thanks Rob,

    It is getting a little clearer. For #12 I’ll stick to 6 conductors and run a parallel conduit as needed for addition wires. (6) 12’s is pretty tight anyway.

    Do you feel it would be safe to run (4) 110v # 14 circuits, 15 amp, through ½’ EMT? A lot of my lighting is going to be on 15 amp circuits because they will be relatively small. Each circuit should yield 1650 watts… more than enough for our kitchen and dining area, with 10 100 watt cans, for example. Everything else in the kitchen will have separate 20 amp (outlets, deposer, fridge/freezer, hood, etc.

    Do you think I’d need to run #12 for three garage door openers all on same circuit? Or would #14 be alright? I don’t know what typically three garage doors would draw. With the way the conduit is installed, it would be no problem to pull #12 to be safe, and once the door openers arrive, check the amperage on each motor. If a 15 amp breaker can handle it, I’ll us a 15 amp breaker and keep the #12 where it is.

    So how many current carry conductor can I stuff in 3/4” or 1” raceway? Ideally I’d like to use a once installed raceway as a means to move voluminous conductors from one portion of the house to another … maybe in two places… then split off to a bedroom or a bathroom, etc. I do NOT want to run single 1/2” EMT from the main panel to each respective location/s. I’d like to get the bulk of the conductors up and over to where they can be branched off up into their respective 12” EMT runs. If I could pull 4 or 5 circuits from the main panel to the upstairs, in ¾” or even 1” EMT, this would save me from having to bend and install 2, or 3. ½” side by side EMT runs.

    On my shop machinery I will have a minimum of 4 220 v circuits (3 conductors per machine… hence only two machines per ½” EMT run. I can handle this easily enough. I will also have a 220 volt compressor, but I will probably just run a line over there from the sub panel

    I think I can easily achieve my needs by sticking to the (6) #12 conductors in EMT for the shop.

    Thanks for the help!

    Paul

  7. #22
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Paul,

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    It is getting a little clearer. For #12 I’ll stick to 6 conductors and run a parallel conduit as needed for addition wires. (6) 12’s is pretty tight anyway.
    If (6) #12's is a bit tight, remember that you might also have an Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) for a total of (7) conductors. The EGC is optional - EMT is acceptable itself as the EGC per 358.60, although I would still run a EGC if I could. That way a loose conduit connection doesn't jeopardize your EGC. Running (7) #12's is well within code for 1/2" EMT but - if that's "pretty tight" - consider going to 3/4" EMT just to make the pulling easier. Upsizing the conduit also gives you the ability to rip out the #12 conductors and pull #10's if you ever, in the future, decided that you needed to run an additional circuit and didn't want to tear the walls open to run new conduit.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    Do you feel it would be safe to run (4) 110v # 14 circuits, 15 amp, through ½’ EMT?
    Nope.

    Unless you're running multiwire circuits and therefore using a shared neutral (which I wouldn't do) - (4) 120v, 15-amp circuits can't run on bundled #14. If you're running separate neutrals for each circuit, which is what I'd do, you're limited to (3) 15-amp circuits running on bundled #14.

    The reason is that the ampacity for #14 THHN/THWN is 20 amps using the 75°C column in table 310.16. The derating factor for 4-6 bundled current-carrying conductors is 80%. 20 amps * 80% = 16 amps, which is fine for your 15 amp circuit.

    If you try to run (4) circuits with #14, that would mean (8) current-carrying conductors. The derating factor for 7-9 bundled current-carrying conductors is 70%. 20 amps * 70% = 14 amps, which isn't sufficient to run your 15 amp circuits.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    Do you think I’d need to run #12 for three garage door openers all on same circuit? Or would #14 be alright? I don’t know what typically three garage doors would draw. With the way the conduit is installed, it would be no problem to pull #12 to be safe, and once the door openers arrive, check the amperage on each motor. If a 15 amp breaker can handle it, I’ll us a 15 amp breaker and keep the #12 where it is.
    I would run a 20-amp circuit. That way, if you install (3) heavy-duty door openers that draw 5 amps each and you open all (3) doors at the same time, you won't pop the breaker. In reality, you wouldn't necessarily pop the breaker even if you did have (3) 5-amp loads running off of a 15-amp circuit, but I'd rather have the extra capacity. If you're going to run the #12, you might as well put in a 20-amp breaker.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    So how many current carry conductor can I stuff in 3/4” or 1” raceway? Ideally I’d like to use a once installed raceway as a means to move voluminous conductors from one portion of the house to another … maybe in two places… then split off to a bedroom or a bathroom, etc. I do NOT want to run single 1/2” EMT from the main panel to each respective location/s. I’d like to get the bulk of the conductors up and over to where they can be branched off up into their respective 12” EMT runs. If I could pull 4 or 5 circuits from the main panel to the upstairs, in ¾” or even 1” EMT, this would save me from having to bend and install 2, or 3. ½” side by side EMT runs.
    I'm going to start to sound like a broken record ...

    Remember that - as you "stuff" more and more conductors into a single raceway(conduit) - you have to derate the ampacity of the conductors more and more. That really starts to take away the reason to run lots of conductors in a raceway.

    If you have a lot of circuits that you want to run for the upstairs in your house, it might be practical to install a subpanel "upstairs". You could run a single 1" conduit to feed a 100 amp subpanel. From that subpanel you'd run your branch circuits. Assuming I did the math correctly using Tables 4 [Dimensions and Percent Area of Conduit and Tubing] and 5 [Dimensions of Insulated Conductors and Fixture Wires],1" EMT can take (3) #3 THHN/THWN conductors + (1) #6 THHN/THWN conductor (for your EGC). #3 THHN/THWN is rated for 100 amps, using the 75°C column in table 310.16, and per Table 250.122 Minimum Size Equipment Grounding Conductors for Grounding Raceway and Equipment, a #8 THHN/THWN is all you need as an EGC for the subpanel, but you can fit the #6 if that's what you wanted to run.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    On my shop machinery I will have a minimum of 4 220 v circuits (3 conductors per machine… hence only two machines per ½” EMT run. I can handle this easily enough. I will also have a 220 volt compressor, but I will probably just run a line over there from the sub panel

    I think I can easily achieve my needs by sticking to the (6) #12 conductors in EMT for the shop.
    Unless you're planning to run 120v loads off of those 240v circuts, you don't need a neutral conductor. That means you only have (2) current-carrying conductors per 240v circuit. You'd still need (2) 1/2" EMT runs for the (4) 240v circuits if they are being wired as 20-amp/240v circuits using #12 THHN/THWN.

    Your profile doesn show it - but do you live in Chicago? That's one of the areas where local codes prohibit "Romex".

    FYI, I am not a licensed electrician. Your local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) is the final word in terms of what you can and can't do according to code in your area.

    Rob
    Last edited by Rob Russell; 11-14-2006 at 1:15 PM.

  8. #23
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Rob,
    I ran (4) #14 curcuits 1l2” emt… so I will have to pull one of them out of there and reroute. Other than that I’m ok… Little work to get it straight.

    So the rules for BOTH #14 and #12, is (3) circuits plus a green ground. (6 hot) (1) not. If (4) circuits must run in that line, all must be changed to #12 during the hot spot, for 15 amp ciruicts ITMT, I'm sticking with (3) #14 and #12 cicuits per conduit.


    Got it.

    Thanks again.

    Paul

    EDIT: My subpanel doe not hav (EGC)... just the two hot #4's and a # 4 neutral running back to the main panel. The 1" EMT is the ground. For my 220 hookups, I was istructed to run the thrid wire (normally grounded) to the subpanel's neutral. So in my case, I've have three cuncucting wires per 220v circuit. Ithought I'd keep each 220v circuit within its own 1/2" emt, unless (6) 20 amp #12's coukld safely fit.

    >>> Unless you're planning to run 120v loads off of those 240v circuts, you don't need a neutral conductor. That means you only have (2) current-carrying conductors per 240v circuit. You'd still need (2) 1/2" EMT runs for the (4) 240v circuits if they are being wired as 20-amp/240v circuits using #12 THHN/THWN.

    What am I missing here?
    Last edited by Paul Simmel; 11-15-2006 at 3:25 AM.

  9. #24
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    Rob,
    I ran (4) #14 curcuits 1l2” emt… so I will have to pull one of them out of there and reroute. Other than that I’m ok… Little work to get it straight.

    So the rules for BOTH #14 and #12, is (3) circuits plus a green ground. (6 hot) (1) not.
    This is correct, with a clarification. It's not so much that the "rules" are that you can only run (3) circuits plus [green] Equipment Grounding Conductor in 1/2" EMT - but that's what you get when you do apply the conduit fill and conductor ampacity derating rules.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    If (4) circuits must run in that line, all must be changed to #12 during the hot spot, for 15 amp ciruicts ITMT, I'm sticking with (3) #14 and #12 cicuits per conduit.
    I take it you mean if you have a section of 1/2" EMT where you must run (4) 15-amp circuits - then, yes, you'd need to upsize the conductors in that section of raceway to #12.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    EDIT: My subpanel doe not hav (EGC)... just the two hot #4's and a # 4 neutral running back to the main panel. The 1" EMT is the ground. For my 220 hookups, I was istructed to run the thrid wire (normally grounded) to the subpanel's neutral. So in my case, I've have three cuncucting wires per 220v circuit. Ithought I'd keep each 220v circuit within its own 1/2" emt, unless (6) 20 amp #12's coukld safely fit.

    >>> Unless you're planning to run 120v loads off of those 240v circuts, you don't need a neutral conductor. That means you only have (2) current-carrying conductors per 240v circuit. You'd still need (2) 1/2" EMT runs for the (4) 240v circuits if they are being wired as 20-amp/240v circuits using #12 THHN/THWN.

    What am I missing here?
    First, connecting your Equipment Grounding Conductor to the neutral bus in your subpanel could kill you.

    Seriously - all it would take is a high draw, 120v device on that subpanel and there is voltage potential on whatever is connected to the EGC. If you touched a machine and made a path to ground that was lower resistance than your house wiring, you'd become the current return path. That would be a bad thing.

    The EMT is fine as the Equipment Grounding Conductor for your subpanel. However, the neutral has to be isolated in the subpanel. All EGCs connect to the EGC bus in your subpanel. All neutrals connect to the isolated neutral bus in the subpanel. If you are running a 240v-only circuit, you have (2) hots and an EGC - not (2) hots and a neutral.

    I'm curious, what size breaker is protecting the #4 conductors - IOW, what is the amperage rating of your subpanel?

    Rob
    Last edited by Rob Russell; 11-15-2006 at 8:30 AM.

  10. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Rob,

    I have a Square-D, 100 amp sub panel.

    I do not have a separate, independent grounding bus. I have two neutral busses, one on each side (right/left of breakers).

    I am confused…

    The same electrician who installed the main panel, also installed the sub. I asked him twice about my 220 hookups… I told him specifically that the hookups were to be for shop machinery. Two hots and a ground. He told me to use the neutral for the third wire… twice.

    I’m not saying you are wrong… I’m saying that maybe, the electrician was thinking DRIER. I don’t know. Driers have two hots, one neutral, and one ground. I frankly at this point do not know what the difference is between 220v driers, and 220v shop machinery… I thought they were the same but apparently not.

    In any event, in my last shop all my 220v hookups were (2) hots and a green ground connected to the conduit runs. That past sub panel also did not have an independent grounding bus.

    I’d appreciate your opinion on how you would proceed to run your 220v shop machinery given the above.

    I obviously do not understand what the difference is… in this case… between running a (green) ground from my 220v outlets back to the sub panel’s metal box, grounding to the metal conduit which runs back to the sub panel’s metal box, or a neutral (white) back to the sub panel’s metal box… all of which runs back via metal conduit and a #4 neutral to the main panel which is in turn all grounded (neutral busses and grounding rod all tied together… not separate or independent from one another.

    I put in a call to the Inspector today but haven’t heard back from him.

    Please explain why there is a neutral on drier hookups and not for 220v shop hookups. Sorry, I really need to know this for my own sanity.

    Thanks for your input!

    Paul

  11. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Paul,

    I generally won't quote specific NEC articles in this post to keep things briefer. The local codes in your area may be markedly different than the base NEC, but from your last post it sounds to me as if your subpanel is incorrectly installed. Everything I'm posting is based on the unmodified NEC.

    First, there is an entire chapter in the NEC devoted to the rules on Grounding and Bonding. The gist of the rules that you need to know about right now are:
    • The neutral conductor (properly called the "groundED", as in intentionally grounded conductor) and EGC (also called the "groundING" conductor) are tied together at one and only one point. This is called Bonding and is done at the "Service Equipment", which is the point where you have a disconnect from the power company's supply lines. For most of us, this is our main service panel.
    • As noted above, there is only one Bonding point in our residential services. That means that there can be no connections between the neutral/grounded and EGC/grounding conductors/busses at any other point in the wiring system.
    • A subpanel has to have an "isolated" neutral/grounded buss. In your main panel, there will be a screw that bonds the neutral buss to the metal panel box. You would also notice that the neutrals and EGCs can land on the same busses. In the subpanel, the neutrals and EGCs need to be separated. This means that a 240v, single-phase subpanel has a 4-wire supply (or 3 current-carrying conductors and something like EMT that acts as the EGC).
    • If your subpanel is wired such that the neutral busses are electrically connected to the EGC, then it's installed incorrectly.
    • If your subpanel was wired with EMT and the EMT has good continuity between the main and sub panels, then you can correct the neutral problem fairly easily. You would need to make sure that the neutral busses are isolated - in other words insulated from the metal subpanel box. The 2 neutral busses need to be tied together and connected to the neutral feed from the main panel. You would need to add separate EGC busses and move all of the EGCs to those busses. The EGC busses would mount directly to the subpanel box.
    • Dryers used to run with the (2) hot conductors and a neutral because so many dryers had a light in the drum. The neutral also was connected to the dryer chassis, in theory to ground the dryer chassis. Anyway - the 3-wire feed is no longer allowed - as you noted, current code requires a full 4-wire feed for new dryer circuits (and ranges - similar situation).
    • Your 240v machinery should be run with (2) hots and an EGC that ties to the EGC/groundING buss, not the neutral/groundED buss.
    • FYI, #4 THHN/THWN is really only good for 85 amps. There is a table [310.15(B)(6)] that allows for smaller conductors for services and feeders, but the conductors that run between your main panel and the subpanel are not feeders. This is actually a fairly common mistake. Here's a link to a "Code Question of the Day" archive question that is specific to this topic - CQD Link.
    Have I explained this clearly enough, or just managed to confuse you more?

    Rob

  12. #27
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Mazon, Il
    Posts
    375
    Rob,

    Thank you for your time and effort.

    No, I understand completely.

    My neutral busses on the sub panel are not bonded, so I’m isolated there. Rather than bond them, my solution is going to be to pull a #6 green from the main panel and install an isolated grounding buss and run my machinery greens to that.

    Thanks for the info on the # 4’s. The sub panel is fed by a 60-amp breaker at the main panel. All is safe now and clear to me.

    Thanks,

    Paul

  13. #28
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    South Windsor, CT
    Posts
    3,304
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    No, I understand completely.

    My neutral busses on the sub panel are not bonded, so I’m isolated there. Rather than bond them, my solution is going to be to pull a #6 green from the main panel and install an isolated grounding buss and run my machinery greens to that.
    Paul,

    You wouldn't bond the neutral busses in the subpanel - only the main panel.

    The subpanel housing needs to be connected to your EGC busses. You do not use isolated/insulated busses for the EGCs. You can use the EMT as the EGC, provided there is continuity from your main panel to the subpanel along that EMT path. You can certainly pull a #6, but for a 60-amp subpanel you only need a #10 EGC (per table 250.122). If you do pull a #6 EGC, you could upsize 60-amp breaker if you chose to do so (see below).

    Bottom line, running an new conductor as your EGC is redundant to the EMT - which is fine and guarantees that you'll have contunuity on your EGC - but all of the panel casing, EGC busses and EGCs need to tie in together.

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Simmel
    Thanks for the info on the # 4’s. The sub panel is fed by a 60-amp breaker at the main panel. All is safe now and clear to me.
    For a 60 amp subanel, the electrician could actually have run #6 THHN/THWN. The #4 is actually upsized, which means you'll have lower voltage drop and motor loads will have more amperage available to them on startup (sort of like having a bigger straw to suck a thick milkshake through).

    FYI, #4 THHN/THWN is good for 85 amps. If you run a #6 EGC, you could actually increase the size of the breaker feeding your subpanel if you wanted to, up to a 75 or 80 amp breaker.

    Rob
    Last edited by Rob Russell; 11-17-2006 at 7:28 AM.

  14. #29
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Geneva, Swisscheeseland
    Posts
    1,501
    All of this electrical technobabel... I think I am going crosseyed!!!

    A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.

  15. #30
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Mpls, Minn
    Posts
    2,882
    Just a thought, your running one circuit for lights I see, kinda depends on how many lights you have, but you might want to think of running at least two circuits.

    That way if you have to work on your lighting you can still keep one circuit on for light.
    Also in my case I'll have about 10-12 fixtures when done, and would like the ability to run just what lighting I need, so I have three seperate circuits and at least 5 switches controlling them.
    Bit overkill for most I bet, but it works for me.


    Al

Similar Threads

  1. Electrical question, conduit, boxes
    By Alan Tolchinsky in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 07-19-2006, 3:11 PM
  2. Electrical circuit and conduit question?
    By Alan Tolchinsky in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 05-04-2006, 4:11 PM
  3. Electrical question: conduit and wiring
    By Alan Tolchinsky in forum Off Topic Forum
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 02-11-2006, 10:08 AM
  4. Running Electrical Wires Through Furniture?
    By John Stevens in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 10-11-2005, 5:45 PM
  5. Thick electrical conduit for wood rack
    By Eric Apple - Central IN in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-02-2003, 9:23 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •