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| I am running wire for a future hot tub and was wondering if 6 awg is enough? The hot tub calls for 4 wire, 240 volt, 50 amp. The run is 130' (110' indoor and 20' outdoor) using 1" liquid tight conduit. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| According to my calculations, at 130', you'll see a 2.5% voltage drop using 6 gauge copper wire with a 50A load. That should be just fine. I use http://www.nooutage.com/vdrop.htm as a calculator, so you can check my work. |
Here is a link that might be useful: www.nooutage.com
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| Thanks a ton Kurto. I have been getting many opinions and didn't feel that anything thicker that 6 guage was needed. |
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| Question: Is it a code violation to use single colored wires? |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 9:33
| For #6 and smaller wires, you must use white and green insulation for the neutral (if present) or ground, respectively. You're free to use any color but white and green for the hot legs (and there's no requirement that different legs be different colors). |
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| ronnatalie- In a situation like this, can you use a white wire for a hot leg if you wrap it at each end with colored electrical tape to "change" the color, or must the entire jacket be colored? |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 15:30
| You can mark a white wire black at the termination and all other points of access if you use it for a hot leg. You can not remark a wire white to use it for the neutral. |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 17:31
| You can't remark a green wire either. |
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| And you can only remark wire if it is part of a cable assembly and is to be used for switch loops, NOT individual conductors. |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Fri, Jan 28, 11 at 11:53
| Actually it doesn't have to be part of a switch loop (it does have to be part of a cable). The code says *IF* you use it for a switch loop, it can only be for the supply *TO* the switch not for the return to the outlet. Older code versions let you use white for the switch loop feed without even bothering to remark it. |
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| "And you can only remark wire if it is part of a cable assembly and is to be used for switch loops, NOT individual conductors." Not true at all, especially for larger wires. Wires pulled into conduit are routinely re-marked to indicate phases, neutrals, etc. Very large conductors are often available in ONE color --- BLACK. |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Fri, Jan 28, 11 at 17:51
| That only applies for larger than #6. |
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- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Fri, Jan 28, 11 at 17:53
| Nope actually brick, you can't EVER remark a white wire other than inside a cable. DOesn't matter if it's 0000. Greater than #6 you can remark the non-white, non-green wires to another color. |
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| That is not was was stated. While the cases for remarking a white or green are limited, the remarking of larger wires to indicate they are a neutral or ground is allowed outside of cables and for larger wire sizes, many of which only come in black. When I wanted bare 1500 MCM for a lightning down wire system luckily I needed enough to purchase an entire spool (the 4 foot wooden variety) because I had to get it made that way. It blended into the brick on the face of the building nicely, instead of being an ugly black line. |
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