[Amps] AC wiring

[Tony King - W4ZT]

Technically speaking you're right about not exceeding the 15 amp rating 
placed on the wire and breaker but since you're less than 15% from the 
maximum rating, I wouldn't even consider it.  The rating is considered a 
maximum, not the current you want to run the thing at.  As I stated in 
my earlier post, the cost of the wire isn't anything compared to the 
cost of the amp and the rest of your station. If you have no other 
choice and your entire house is already wired with #14, including your 
240 outlet in the shack, do what you gotta do, but that's not what I'd 
do. If you're pulling wire for a new circuit, pull something bigger than 
what you think you will need.  I prefer the safe practical approach to 
running things rather than pushing them to their limits. After all, the 
discussion was pushing IR drop and when you're trying to prevent that, 
bigger is better.  Thanks for your comments.

73, Tony W4ZT

Bill Coleman wrote:
> 
> On Oct 15, 2005, at 10:22 AM, Tony King - W4ZT wrote:
> 
>> Now let's try 240 volts
>> which would give us 2944/240=12.3 amps.  If your line voltage is  low and
>> you have 220 volts the current would be 2944/220=13.4 amps. From this
>> example it is obvious you can't run a full legal limit amp on even  a 20
>> amp, #12 wire, 120 volt circuit much less any 120/240 volt, 15 amp #14
>> wire circuit.
> 
> 
> Seems to me that 12.3 A and 13.4 A are both less than 15 A. So a #14  
> circuit seems adequate for your example.
> 
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>