In article . com, "CJ" wrote:
On Feb 9, 1:50 pm, (Dave Martindale) wrote:
"CJ" writes:
I bought a four wire electric oven pigtail (two hots, a neutral and a
ground)
and was wondering what the gauge rating for each of the four wires
should be?

The two hots and neutral should be whatever is appropriate for a 40 A
circuit, probably 8 gauge copper. I don't know if the ground can be
smaller.

It can. So can the neutral, for that matter, since the heating elements are
240V and don't use the neutral at all. The neutral wire is used for the
control circuits, ignitors, lights, fan (if there is one), etc. which are all
120V, but the total load of all that won't be more than 5 amps or so.

The oven is on a 50 AMP circuit, so is 8 gauge enough. the next one
up would be 6 gauge?

Yes, the next size up is 6 gauge, but it's doubtful that you need that. Check
the rating plate on the oven, and match the pigtail to that (not the the
breaker rating).

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.