What size wire for 50 amp? When designing a circuit, accurate wire sizing is required for a specific breaker rating. That way, you can avoid overheating the wire, which can lead to more serious electrical problems.
Then, what size wire do I need for a 50 amp breaker? A 6-gauge wire (0.162 inches in diameter) or larger is the answer. However, if you are wondering how we got this figure, read on for details below.
What is the recommended gauge wire for a 50 amp breaker?
Generally, a NEC (National Electrical Code) wire size chart will help determine the recommended wire sizes for each circuit. It includes a list of different wire sizes, conductors and wire temperature ratings for different sizes of circuit breakers.
Also, remember that you may only need to refer to a column that states the wire is rated at 140℉ (60℃). This is because code enforces that equipment less than 100 amperes must be used at the minimum temperature rating of the wire.
As a result of the chart, you can see that a typical 55 or 50-amp breaker wire size is 6 gauge. Using the same chart, you can also calculate different wire ratings by considering the next size up, such as 60 amps, not to exceed the stated rating.
However, in addition to checking the NEC chart, there are other factors you may want to consider, as this may change the recommended wire size depending on your application.
For additional information, here are the factors that can affect the recommended wire size.
Other factors to consider
1. length of wire
Longer wire requirements typically lead to increased resistance and higher voltage drop. A 20% voltage drop may be experienced for every additional 100 feet. As a result, there may be insufficient energy in the circuit to activate the device, causing it to malfunction or be damaged.
In this case, the wire size of the 50a breakers will change depending on the length of the wire.
For example, you need 200 feet of wire for a 50-amp circuit. You must first divide the circuit rating by 80% of the safe operating rating to get its standard amp rating. So, a 50 amp circuit divided by 80% is 62.5 amps.
As mentioned, you’ll need 6-gauge wire for the 50-amp breaker. However, as the wire is 200 feet long, you need to multiply the gauge by 40% voltage drop, so 6 x 40% equals 2.4. Continue multiplying this result by 62.5A, and you learn that the actual amp rating is 150A.
Based on the total amp rating calculated above, refer to the NEC chart and determine the correct gauge size. From this we know that the best gauge size for 200 feet of wire carrying a 50 amp circuit is 3/0 AWG.
Also, consider the heat dissipation of the wire inside its enclosure, such as conduit, as this may affect the capacitance of the wire. Typically, multiple current conductors inside an enclosure generate more heat but the temperature should not exceed 30 °C.
2. Types of conductors used in wire
Another thing to consider is the conductor used in the wire. Generally, copper and aluminum are the primary conductors of wiring for a circuit installation. Although they are both effective conductors, they differ in terms of efficiency.
Compared to copper wire, aluminum wire is less expensive and much lighter. However, in terms of current capability rating and resistance, copper is superior to aluminum. This also means that aluminum wire has a much larger size than regular wire size equivalent to copper.
Therefore, if your wire material is aluminum or copper-clad aluminum, a 4-gauge conductor size would be appropriate.
50 Amp Wire Size Description: Gauge, Breaker, 220/240V
50 amp is one of the most common amperage that we need a gauge, breaker or wire for. Major questions regarding 50 amp wire include:
- What is the wire size for 50 amp 240 volt? (50 amp wire gauge; NEC code applies)
- Wire size for 50 amp sub panel 100 feet away? (Here we have to account for voltage loss)
- What electrical equipment can you run with 50 amp wire? (wattage will depend on voltage)
Let’s clear up AWG wire gauge sizes first:
if you checkwire gauge ampacity chart here, you can see that there are 3 AWG wire sizes that have an ampacity near 50 amps. These:
- 8 AWG wire with 50A ampacity (very small).
- 6 AWG wire With 65A ampacity (just right).
- 4 AWG wire with 85A ampacity (very large).
Now, choosing 8 AWG wire with 50A ampacity seems like a good choice as a 50 amp wire size, doesn’t it? However, in almost all cases,Correct 50 amp is the wire size 6 AWG with 65A ampacity, This is true for any voltage; 12V, 110V, 115V, 120V, 220V, 240V, you name it.
Why so?
We have to account for the 80% breaker rating rule set by National Electrical Code (NEC) regulations. The maximum loading for any branch circuit is 80% of the circuit’s rating for the ampacity of the wire for any load.
Let’s take a quick look at how you can choose the right AWG gauge wire for 50 amps (or any amps, for that matter). Later, we’ll also see why 6 AWG wire is not adequate as 50 amp wire (due to voltage loss over distance), and what you can run with 50 amp 110 V or 220/240 V circuits:
50 amp wire size (using NEC 80% rule)
You cannot use 50A ampacity wire to make a 50 amp circuit. If you do this, chances are you’ll fry the circuit.
The 80% rule serves as a safeguard. You should have an extra 20% on top of at least 50A ampacity.
Here’s how you calculate the minimum ampacity a 50 amp wire should have:
Wire ampacity for 50 amps = 50A / 0.8 =62.5A wire
This means that you should use a wire that can handle 62.5A as a 50 amps wire. We no longer have 62.5A wire. The closest wire we have is 6 AWG wire with 65A ampacity.
Comment: You can always use the bigger wire but never the smaller one. For 50 amps, you can use 4 AWG wire with 85A ampacity (a little overkill but it’s ok), but you can never use 8 AWG wire with 50A ampacity (you’ll fry the circuit) .
In most cases, 6 AWG is almost the perfect size wire for a 50 amp breaker. In limited cases, you’ll probably need to use the larger 4 AWG wire. This happens when you have a long circuit and are sending electric current over some distance (100 feet or more).
50 Amp Wire Size 100+ Feet Away (Account for Voltage Drop)
Even you are sending power through long distances (for example, to a 50 amp sub panel 100 feet away), you have to account for voltage drop.
A good rule of thumb for voltage drop is:
The voltage drops by 20% for every 100 feet.
To get the same wattage (power) on a sub panel 100 feet away, you would have to increase the amps by 20% (to balance out the 20% drop in voltage).
Of course, this means you’re dealing with more current (more amperes) and you’ll need to choose a larger wire size.
Example: 50 amp wire is usually 6 AWG (we need at least 62.5A and 6 AWG can handle 65A). If you need to power an electrical device 100 feet away, you need 20% more amperes. Instead of 62.5A, you’re seeing 62.5A × 1.2 = 75A.
In this situation, 6 AWG gauge wire with 65A will not suffice. We need at least 75A. The next wire size that can handle more than 75A is 4 AWG gauge wire. It can handle over 85A and is commonly used as a 50 amp wire size for sub panels up to 100 feet away.
There are a lot of questions regarding 50 amp and different voltages. Let’s also deal with:
What size wire do I need for 50 amps on 110-240V?
A common misconception about 50 amp wire is that we need different wire sizes for different voltages. For example, we don’t need a larger (or smaller) wire size for 50 amps at 240V than for 50 amps at 110V.
In all cases (with the exception of when we have to account for voltage loss) we use 6 AWG wire for 50 amperes.
Now, the wire size and amps can be the same. With different voltages, we don’t get different amps; We get different power (wattage).
Which gauge wire for 50 amp 220V?
For example, a 50 amp wire (you’ll need 6 AWG wire) on a 220-volt circuit can handle up to 11,000W of power (this is a very common power setting for RVs). Here’s how you can calculate it:
Wattage = amps × volts = 50A ×220 V =11,000 W
If you have a 110V circuit, 50 amps will produce 5,500W of power.
FAQs:
How far can you run 50 amp wire?
Due to the percentage of voltage loss, you can only use 6 gauge wire 50 amp for distances less than 100 feet.
Remember that the voltage drop rating increases by 20% for every 100 feet of cable length. In this example, you want a larger wire with a higher rating for every 100 feet of length.
Can 6 or 8 gauge wire handle 50 amps?
As stated above, the recommended wire for 50 amp 240 volt is 6 gauge wire. This circuit is primarily used for high powered appliances such as large ovens and electric dryers.
Even though an 8 gauge wire can hold a 50 amp current rating, it can overheat. I would suggest using 8-gauge wire for a 40 amp 240 volt circuit.
related to:
- what size gauge wire for 40 amp breaker
- Ideal wire size for 80 amp breaker
Can I put a 50 amp breaker in a 100 amp panel?
To determine if you can add a 50 amp 220v circuit to a 100 amp panel, you must first know your total load.
In this case, you may need to calculate the total amperage of all the appliances you use in your home. Also, consider that you should not exceed 80% of the total load of the panel rating.
That way, you’ll know if you can still add up to the said ratings of a circuit. If your panel can’t add any more 50 amp circuits, you can upgrade your panel box to a much higher current.
What wire size do I need for a 30 amp 220V circuit?
For 30 amp circuits, you can use the recommended size of 10 gauge wire. This wire size allows you to set up a circuit for a maximum length of 150 feet.
However, it is also safe to use a 30 amp breaker wire size of 8-gauge, especially in very long uses. In most cases, many licensed electricians recommend this setup for a more secure circuit, even within short circuit distances.
In conclusion
Size matters when it comes to wiring for a 50 amp device. Using the wrong wire can lead to a less efficient electrical system, or even an unsafe one. When selecting the right-sized wire for your project, consider the size of your appliance and how much power it will require while in operation. Additionally, be sure to adhere to NEC code requirements as well as any local codes that may apply. It is always best practice to err on the side of caution and select a wire size that may be slightly larger than you think you need just to be sure your system has the capacity needed for safe operation. With the right tools and some due diligence anyone can safely wire their own 50 amp appliance.