[TowerTalk] RE: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 25, Issue 139

[Gary Schafer]

Why do you think the wire rating should be any different than in the house?
Wire size should be rated for the full amount of the breaker. A 15 amp 
breaker will not trip at 15 amps immediately. It takes several minutes. 
Some it takes almost twice that to ever trip them.
An electric water heater is a pretty constant load.

73
Gary  K4FMX


Keith Dutson wrote:
> Barn wiring is pretty simple.  Your wire needs to be rated at a bit above
> half the breaker amperage to handle the anticipated constant amperage.  Max
> current only happens when lights are first turned on and motors/fans start.
> It's not like a house where you would be running several appliances at one
> time.
> 
> Keith NM5G
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike Maddox
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 3:34 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] RE: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 25, Issue 139
> 
> 
> 
> A funny story along this line...
> 
> I was looking out the window toward the barn one night and saw all lights
> going from bright to dim for a second or two, then back to bright, etc.
> They were so dim it is almost as if someone was flicking the light switch.
> My XYL had just finished riding horses with some friends, and they were
> taking saddles off and putting the horses back in the stalls.
> 
> Later while we were having supper I remarked about the lights.  She said it
> was the water heater.  Seems she installed one of those "instant" water
> heaters.  The next day I went out to see the heater.  It is 230/240V, 50A.
> The mains to the barn is ONE 50A circuit on 10 gauge romex!
> 
> No, my XYL is not a ham.  I'll let you guess the color of her hair. <grin>
> 
> The heater now has its own 50A circuit.
> 
> Keith NM5G
> 
> 
> Hope you are now using 6 gauge wire for a 50 amp circuit.  10 is rated for
> 30 amps.  There are a lot of those kind of set ups around.  Maybe it's the
> horse<sense>!  I've got a horse fanatic nearby that only has a 60 amp
> service to her house (a total electric house) and 60 amps going to her barn.
> Can't understand why parts of her walls get hot, and electric appliances
> don't seem to last very long.  Gave up trying to explain it to her.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> 
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> _______________________________________________
> 
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> 
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>