![]() Installation Methods: The way a wire is installed affects its ability to dissipate heat.Higher temperatures can reduce the ampacity of a wire. Temperature: Like insulation, the ambient temperature around the wire also affects its ability to dissipate heat.The higher the insulation temperature ratings, the higher ampacity the wire can achieve. Insulation: The insulation used around the wire affects its ability to dissipate heat. ![]() For example, copper is a better conductor of electricity than aluminum, meaning copper wires can carry more current than aluminum wires of the same size. Material: Different materials offer varying resistance to electrical current flow.We’ve arranged the factors from the most important to the least, respectively. The maximum amount of electrical current that a wire can safely carry is affected by several factors. Simply multiply the 4 gauge wire amp rating in our tables by 80 %: Some calculations that you may be doing on your own would be the 80% limit for continuous loads. These calculators have taken correction factors into account and can be modified based on the conditions you need. If you cannot find numbers that satisfy your specific conditions on our list, you can easily calculate yours using an online calculator. They usually come in the form of a 4 gauge wire amp kit and are made with either pure copper (oxygen-free copper, or OFC) or copper-clad aluminum (CCA). This is to account for heat that may otherwise affect the operation of the overcurrent protection device.Ĥ gauge wire is also used for wiring car amplifiers, RV connections, for marine applications like boats, and combining batteries to increase capacity. Most equipment at home is connected to a panelboard that is rated at 600 volts or less, so the wire ratings will be restricted to the 140⁰F current ratings even if these wires are rated for higher applications.Īlso, take note that when the wire is used for continuous loads (like a refrigerator), the current rating will be reduced to 80% of the capacity of the wire. For different applicationsĤ gauge wire can be used in a residential setting for high-powered appliances like electric heaters and furnaces. ![]() The same can be extended to a 4/2 Romex amp rating. For example, Southwire’s Romex 4/3 wire amp rating is the same as a single copper conductor – at 70 amps. Examples of these are 4/2 cables (cable with two 4 gauge current-carrying conductors) and 4/3 (cable with three 4 gauge current-carrying conductors).įor smaller wire sizes like 4 gauge wire, the current rating of a multi-conductor cable is generally the same as the current rating of a single conductor. These cables have multiple insulated 4 gauge wires in a sheath. Maximum wire length of 4 gauge wire at different voltagesĪ lot of 4 gauge wires are seen in the form of multi-conductor cables. They are listed at 12V and at 24V DC, as well as at 120V and at 240V AC: Here is a summary of the maximum length you may use at different temperatures and wire materials for conductors in a raceway, cable, or direct burial with not more than 3 current-carrying conductors. The NEC recommends a limit of 3% voltage drop to minimize equipment performance issues. However, 4 AWG wire used for long distances may be limited by a voltage drop due to the wire’s additional resistance. Wire length does not change a wire’s current rating. Includes RHW, ZW, XHWN, and USE among othersĬurrent rating of wire a raceway, cable or direct burial with not more than 3 current carrying conductors Includes PFA, SIS, TBS, XHHW-2 and ZW2 among others Include RHW, ZW, XHWN, and USE among others These are based on the NEC’s wire gauge amp chart at 140⁰F, 167⁰F, and 194⁰F in free air and in a raceway, cable, or direct burial with not more than 3 current-carrying conductors. Here is a summary of the current ratings comparing two of the most common material for 4 gauge wires, copper and aluminum. Aside from the two, we’ve listed other factors for you to consider: 1. We will discuss the two factors in detail in the succeeding section, but we’ve listed the current ratings from the US National Electric Code below. Wire material and insulating materials are the most important factors when rating 4 gauge wires. Notable ones are the material and the length of the wire, the type of insulation, the ambient temperature, and the application. Maximum Current Rating or Ampacity of 4 Gauge WireĪs we mentioned earlier, the maximum amperage a 4 gauge wire can carry depends on various factors. ![]()
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