[geeks] D'OH!

[Mike Hebel]

JC> Mike Hebel wrote:

>> I put in two 30A circuits myself for my systems.  Wired with 12/3 in
>> conduit no less.
>> (I figured a '50's cape cod style house I wasn't going to take chances
>> on the existing wiring being heavy enough.)
>> 
>> 'Course I also have a 25A that runs a sump pump, fridge, iron, small
>> fountain, and paraffin hand tub at once as well.
>> A little overkill for those...but hey, better safe than sorry!
>> 

JC> You're out on limb Mike. 12 ga. copper is only rated for 20A. For 30A
JC> you should be using 10ga cu. You probably won't be exceeding the
JC> built in safety overload factors, but you are exceeding the NEC or
JC> National Electrical Code. That "little book" that inspectors and your
JC> insurance company look at as the "bible".

_That_ I didn't know but probably should have.  (My mind is re-growing
brain cells after my two months of retail OKAY! ;-)

Still,  I'm thinking about re-wiring again so maybe I should go with
10ga wire.  The problem is that I think I'd have a hard time fitting
that into the existing conduit.  Thankfully this is no where near a
"finished" basement.  Probably won't be happening soon though - and I
happen to have half my systems in the process of being re-configured
so the load at the moment is quite light.

Mike                         mailto:nimitz at owc.net