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#1
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replacement wire size
When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am
replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. -- |
#2
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replacement wire size
On 6/21/2014 3:44 PM, kathleen ellis wrote:
When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. Are you changing the stove/range as well? If so, size it based on what it needs. The wire sizing isn't based on the number of conductors so use the same as is there if the requirements haven't changed. In general rule of thumb, the range will be on a 50A breaker and 8 ga copper wire. So the real answer is "we don't know" w/o additional information on the range and breaker/fuse on the circuit. -- |
#3
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replacement wire size
On 6/21/2014 4:44 PM, kathleen ellis wrote:
When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. Same size you have. |
#4
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replacement wire size
On Saturday, June 21, 2014 5:16:02 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 6/21/2014 3:44 PM, kathleen ellis wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. Are you changing the stove/range as well? If so, size it based on what it needs. The wire sizing isn't based on the number of conductors so use the same as is there if the requirements haven't changed. In general rule of thumb, the range will be on a 50A breaker and 8 ga copper wire. So the real answer is "we don't know" w/o additional information on the range and breaker/fuse on the circuit. -- +1 The wire size and breaker are determined by the appliance. You seldom replace or change the wiring without replacing the appliance, so this is a bit strange. The appliance install instructions should say what to use. |
#5
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replacement wire size
On Sat, 21 Jun 2014 20:44:01 +0000, kathleen ellis
wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. What size is there now? If you are using a 50 amp outlet you need #6. It will be 6-3 with ground. (red/white/black plus green or bare)What you have now will most likely be 6-2 with ground (black and white plus bare ground) |
#6
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replacement wire size
kathleen ellis wrote:
When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. Hi, If it is brand new stove, there it should be mentioned in the manual. 4 wires what I'd get with proper wire gauge. It will meet code for sure. |
#7
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replacement wire size
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#8
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replacement wire size
On Sat, 21 Jun 2014 20:00:53 -0500, dpb wrote:
On 6/21/2014 7:40 PM, wrote: On Sat, 21 Jun 2014 20:44:01 +0000, kathleen ellis wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. What size is there now? If you are using a 50 amp outlet you need #6. It will be 6-3 with ground. (red/white/black plus green or bare)What you have now will most likely be 6-2 with ground (black and white plus bare ground) By NEC except for the lowest-possible rated temperature rating cable made (which I'm not sure is even available any more) #8 is adequate for 50 A by my copy of the Tables. I don't recall ever seeing #6 just for a range altho I suppose some of the newer double ovens and all the bells and whistles might have 50 A demands... Apund here #6 for range and #8 for drier is common, IIRC. |
#10
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replacement wire size
On 6/23/2014 3:08 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Doesn't it also depend on the length of the run? 1. Determine the load in amps. 2. Select a cable to handle the amps. 3. Select a breaker to limit amperage and protect the cable. 4. Up-size the cable if the permissible voltage drop would be exceeded. |
#11
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replacement wire size
On Monday, June 23, 2014 8:55:13 PM UTC-4, Jack wrote:
On 6/23/2014 3:08 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote: Doesn't it also depend on the length of the run? 1. Determine the load in amps. 2. Select a cable to handle the amps. 3. Select a breaker to limit amperage and protect the cable. 4. Up-size the cable if the permissible voltage drop would be exceeded. You mean you want to do it the right way? |
#12
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replacement wire size
If it is a double oven stove or a stove with a warming drawer you need number 6 copper wire.
If it is a basic stove you can get by with #8 copper. The best thing is to check the stove installation instructions or the nameplate. When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. -- |
#13
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replacement wire size
On Thu, 26 Jun 2014 09:54:26 -0700 (PDT), John G
wrote: If it is a double oven stove or a stove with a warming drawer you need number 6 copper wire. If it is a basic stove you can get by with #8 copper. The best thing is to check the stove installation instructions or the nameplate. When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. -- Because you never know what the "next" stove might be, it is highly recommended to put the #6 cable in when replacing old cable to upgrade to "current code". It would be a pitty to have to do the job all over again next time you buy a new stove just because you "cheaped out" this time |
#14
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replacement wire size
Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location.
It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. |
#15
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replacement wire size
On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. |
#16
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replacement wire size
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#17
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replacement wire size
On Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:34:33 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 6/28/2014 9:18 PM, wrote: On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. But while he said he is running a new wire, he may not have to. Newer appliances have the 4 wire, but I think it is still code to adapt them to existing 3 wire systems. You need a new cord to do so. It might still be code today - but still a good idea to upgrade to the 4 wire if it's not too difficult to get at. |
#18
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replacement wire size
On Saturday, June 28, 2014 10:34:33 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 6/28/2014 9:18 PM, wrote: On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. But while he said he is running a new wire, he may not have to. Newer appliances have the 4 wire, but I think it is still code to adapt them to existing 3 wire systems. You need a new cord to do so. It's iffy. If the appliance has a plug on it and has instructions for wiring it to a 3 wire outlet then you may do that. If the appliance hardwires in then no. Probably got a stove that has 110v circuit in it as well as 220. Some newer stoves with electronics often do that. Not sure why since they could just as easily have their switching power supply for the electronics work on 220. In any case they probably need a 4 wire circuit and I'd go with #6 just so I never had to mess with it again. |
#19
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 9:32:48 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote:
On Saturday, June 28, 2014 10:34:33 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 6/28/2014 9:18 PM, wrote: On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. But while he said he is running a new wire, he may not have to. Newer appliances have the 4 wire, but I think it is still code to adapt them to existing 3 wire systems. You need a new cord to do so. It's iffy. If the appliance has a plug on it and has instructions for wiring it to a 3 wire outlet then you may do that. If the appliance hardwires in then no. NEw ovens typically have installation intructions for hard wiring it in to either a 3 wire or 4 wire installation. Every install manual I've seen covers wiring it in direct to 3 wire, if that's what's there. Given that the installation instructions specifically cover it, AFAIK, it's code compliant and you're not required to run new wiring back to the panel. Probably got a stove that has 110v circuit in it as well as 220. Some newer stoves with electronics often do that. Not sure why since they could just as easily have their switching power supply for the electronics work on 220. In any case they probably need a 4 wire circuit and I'd go with #6 just so I never had to mess with it again. Stoves have had 120V available on a 3 wire cord for 50+ years. You have the two hots, the third wire serves as both the neutral and the ground. It's permitted to carry current, that gives you 120V. And it's very common for stoves to have lights, receptacles to plug a coffe pot in, etc that are 120V. Stoves back in the 50s had them. What's different with 4 wires is that adds a separate dedicated ground, which doesn't carry current, instead of sharing the neutral as the ground, as is done with 3 wires. |
#20
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replacement wire size
On Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, kathleen ellis wrote:
When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. -- I prefer the 4 wire install, how many here would wire a outlet with the neutral being ground too? |
#21
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:20:06 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 9:32:48 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: On Saturday, June 28, 2014 10:34:33 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 6/28/2014 9:18 PM, wrote: On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. But while he said he is running a new wire, he may not have to. Newer appliances have the 4 wire, but I think it is still code to adapt them to existing 3 wire systems. You need a new cord to do so. It's iffy. If the appliance has a plug on it and has instructions for wiring it to a 3 wire outlet then you may do that. If the appliance hardwires in then no. NEw ovens typically have installation intructions for hard wiring it in to either a 3 wire or 4 wire installation. Every install manual I've seen covers wiring it in direct to 3 wire, if that's what's there. Given that the installation instructions specifically cover it, AFAIK, it's code compliant and you're not required to run new wiring back to the panel. Probably got a stove that has 110v circuit in it as well as 220. Some newer stoves with electronics often do that. Not sure why since they could just as easily have their switching power supply for the electronics work on 220. In any case they probably need a 4 wire circuit and I'd go with #6 just so I never had to mess with it again. Stoves have had 120V available on a 3 wire cord for 50+ years. You have the two hots, the third wire serves as both the neutral and the ground. It's permitted to carry current, that gives you 120V. And it's very common for stoves to have lights, receptacles to plug a coffe pot in, etc that are 120V. Stoves back in the 50s had them. What's different with 4 wires is that adds a separate dedicated ground, which doesn't carry current, instead of sharing the neutral as the ground, as is done with 3 wires. Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. Sure, they ran the analog clocks on 110 you used to see in the middle of them. |
#22
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote:
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:20:06 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote: On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 9:32:48 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: On Saturday, June 28, 2014 10:34:33 PM UTC-4, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 6/28/2014 9:18 PM, wrote: On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:42:10 -0700 (PDT), TimR wrote: Everyone is assuming the OP needs to run a new circuit to the stove location. It is also possible it is just a new cord and plug on the stove, in which case the answer is going to be different. From what I remember it was pretty plain the OP needed to provide a "4 wire circuit" for the stove. to replace the "3 wire circuit" that was currently installed. But while he said he is running a new wire, he may not have to. Newer appliances have the 4 wire, but I think it is still code to adapt them to existing 3 wire systems. You need a new cord to do so. It's iffy. If the appliance has a plug on it and has instructions for wiring it to a 3 wire outlet then you may do that. If the appliance hardwires in then no. NEw ovens typically have installation intructions for hard wiring it in to either a 3 wire or 4 wire installation. Every install manual I've seen covers wiring it in direct to 3 wire, if that's what's there. Given that the installation instructions specifically cover it, AFAIK, it's code compliant and you're not required to run new wiring back to the panel. Probably got a stove that has 110v circuit in it as well as 220. Some newer stoves with electronics often do that. Not sure why since they could just as easily have their switching power supply for the electronics work on 220. In any case they probably need a 4 wire circuit and I'd go with #6 just so I never had to mess with it again. Stoves have had 120V available on a 3 wire cord for 50+ years. You have the two hots, the third wire serves as both the neutral and the ground. It's permitted to carry current, that gives you 120V. And it's very common for stoves to have lights, receptacles to plug a coffe pot in, etc that are 120V. Stoves back in the 50s had them. What's different with 4 wires is that adds a separate dedicated ground, which doesn't carry current, instead of sharing the neutral as the ground, as is done with 3 wires. Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. |
#23
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:32:36 AM UTC-4, bob haller wrote:
On Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, kathleen ellis wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. -- I prefer the 4 wire install, how many here would wire a outlet with the neutral being ground too? Would you prefer it if it costs $1000 extra to run a new 4 wire cable back to the panel? The comparison with the outlet isn't a good comparison, because it's never been code to wire an outlet with the neutral and ground shared. In the case of existing oven circuits, it's permitted and common. From a technical perspective, a general purpose outlet is typically different than a dedicated hardwired oven or oven receptacle. In the case of outlets, there are typically multiple outlets, lights etc on a circuit, more places for connections to come loose or other problems to crop up. In the case of an oven, the shared neutral/grd is on a dedictaed 8 gauge or better cicuit from the panel to the appliance. Is 4 wire better and required for new circuit runs? Yes. Would I go changing an otherwise adequate 3 wire circuit to 4, just to replace an oven? No. Apparently all the oven manufacturers agree, because every oven install manual I've seen shows how to connect it to either a 3 wire or 4 wire circuit. |
#24
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replacement wire size
On 7/1/2014 10:27 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: .... Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. .... The point is, it _IS_ "to Code" and would be highly unlikely imo to find a local Code that isn't as well in this particular regard. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. And inspectors have been known to be wrong or overly zealous, too... -- |
#25
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replacement wire size
On 7/1/2014 9:32 AM, bob haller wrote:
On Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, kathleen ellis wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. .... I prefer the 4 wire install, how many here would wire a outlet with the neutral being ground too? I, for one...there's 75+ yr of existing practice that hasn't demonstrated any real problem. When had repair on the well a couple of summers ago, the well service guys used section of 4-wire cable to replace the torn up section because they said the current county Code req'd it as only they could run. Of course, they then clipped the ground conductor on both ends since there's nowhere for it to go, anyways. About as stupid as blindly replacing a 3-wire for a 4-wire in a range/electric dryer app. -- |
#26
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replacement wire size
dpb writes:
On 7/1/2014 10:27 AM, trader_4 wrote: On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: ... Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. ... The point is, it _IS_ "to Code" and would be highly unlikely imo to find a local Code that isn't as well in this particular regard. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. And inspectors have been known to be wrong or overly zealous, too... And anonymous posters on the internet are authoritative? I'd advise someone to get advice from a local professional, not from alt.home.repair. |
#27
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 2:44:02 PM UTC-4, Scott Lurndal wrote:
dpb writes: On 7/1/2014 10:27 AM, trader_4 wrote: On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: ... Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. ... The point is, it _IS_ "to Code" and would be highly unlikely imo to find a local Code that isn't as well in this particular regard. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. And inspectors have been known to be wrong or overly zealous, too... And anonymous posters on the internet are authoritative? Not always, but I'd say appliance installation instructions from dozens of manufacturers of ovens, ranges, dryers is. And they all say that you can hook it up to an existing 3 wire or 4 wire circuit. Also there is the NEC. I'd advise someone to get advice from a local professional, not from alt.home.repair. OMG, someone is gonna die! I guess we should all just pack up and close down AHR, because you don't know the answer. The same could be said of most of the questions on AHR. Good grief. |
#28
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replacement wire size
On 7/1/2014 1:44 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
writes: On 7/1/2014 10:27 AM, trader_4 wrote: On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: ... Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. ... The point is, it _IS_ "to Code" and would be highly unlikely imo to find a local Code that isn't as well in this particular regard. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. And inspectors have been known to be wrong or overly zealous, too... And anonymous posters on the internet are authoritative? .... What about "anonymous" posters who happen to have read/know what the NEC actually says? "250.140 Frames of Ranges and Clothes Dryers Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be connected to the equipment grounding conductor in the manner specified by 250.134 or 250.138. Exception: For existing branch-circuit installations only where an equipment grounding conductor is not present in the outlet or junction box, the frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be permitted to be connected to the grounded circuit conductor if all the following conditions are met. The supply circuit is 120/240-volt, single-phase, 3-wire; or 208Y/120-volt derived from a 3-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected system. The grounded conductor is not smaller than 10 AWG copper or 8 AWG aluminum. The grounded conductor is insulated, or the grounded conductor is uninsulated and part of a Type SE service-entrance cable and the branch circuit originates at the service equipment. Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as part of the equipment are bonded to the equipment." -- |
#29
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replacement wire size
On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 4:06:36 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 7/1/2014 1:44 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote: writes: On 7/1/2014 10:27 AM, trader_4 wrote: On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:49:12 AM UTC-4, jamesgang wrote: ... Some inspectors will consider a hardwired appliance a change to the wiring and require you to upgrade to code. Not all but some. ... The point is, it _IS_ "to Code" and would be highly unlikely imo to find a local Code that isn't as well in this particular regard. Maybe some inspector, somewhere will, but it's obviously the exception, otherwise all the manufacturers of ovens and stoves would not include instructions on how to wire the appliance into either 3 wire or 4 wire. If it was a code violation or not acceptable to most inspectors, it would be totally irresponsible. And inspectors have been known to be wrong or overly zealous, too... And anonymous posters on the internet are authoritative? ... What about "anonymous" posters who happen to have read/know what the NEC actually says? "250.140 Frames of Ranges and Clothes Dryers Frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be connected to the equipment grounding conductor in the manner specified by 250.134 or 250.138. Exception: For existing branch-circuit installations only where an equipment grounding conductor is not present in the outlet or junction box, the frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of the circuit for these appliances shall be permitted to be connected to the grounded circuit conductor if all the following conditions are met. The supply circuit is 120/240-volt, single-phase, 3-wire; or 208Y/120-volt derived from a 3-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected system. The grounded conductor is not smaller than 10 AWG copper or 8 AWG aluminum. The grounded conductor is insulated, or the grounded conductor is uninsulated and part of a Type SE service-entrance cable and the branch circuit originates at the service equipment. Grounding contacts of receptacles furnished as part of the equipment are bonded to the equipment." -- Ahmen to that brother! |
#31
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replacement wire size
On 7/1/2014 9:32 AM, bob haller wrote:
On Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, kathleen ellis wrote: When replacing the wiring for a stove what size wire should be used? I am replacing 3 wires with 4 wire. .... I prefer the 4 wire install, how many here would wire a outlet with the neutral being ground too? Besides the aforementioned Code exception that doesn't require and expressly permits the continued usage of 3-wire in existing applications, there are a number of alternatives for rework/existing work allowed by Code to add the ground if that is really, really, really wanted besides running a new 4-wire cable the full distance. These include pulling a separate ground and also exceptions that that added ground doesn't necessarily have to follow the same path or even be grounded at the same terminus. For the specifics see the Code or consult local Code gurus. -- |
#32
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replacement wire size
On 7/1/2014 11:52 AM, dpb wrote:
.... When had repair on the well a couple of summers ago, the well service guys used section of 4-wire cable to replace the torn up section because they said the current county Code req'd it as only they could run. Of course, they then clipped the ground conductor on both ends since there's nowhere for it to go, anyways. About as stupid as blindly replacing a 3-wire for a 4-wire in a range/electric dryer app. ADDENDUM to this story... I've not researched this point in detail but I think this is a place where the requirement quoted above is, in fact, a case of misinterpretation of the NEC requirements as there is for the well pump nothing but a single 240V load; there is no neutral current return from a 120V circuit as is the situation trying to be avoided by the update to the Code as there is in the case of the range or dryer. Turns out we may be forced to drill a new well before long; I'm certain to research this in depth (so to speak ) before spending an extra third for 4-wire down a 300-ft hole when there's nothing for that fourth conductor to do anyway except take up space and add to the expense. If I'd been on the NFPA Code Committee when this came up I'd have voted "no" simply on the cost/material basis of there being no demonstrable real problem being solved that justified the added expense. "Parsimony" is a virtue in engineering, too... -- |
#33
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replacement wire size
On Wednesday, July 2, 2014 6:06:27 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 7/1/2014 11:52 AM, dpb wrote: ... When had repair on the well a couple of summers ago, the well service guys used section of 4-wire cable to replace the torn up section because they said the current county Code req'd it as only they could run. Of course, they then clipped the ground conductor on both ends since there's nowhere for it to go, anyways. About as stupid as blindly replacing a 3-wire for a 4-wire in a range/electric dryer app. ADDENDUM to this story... I've not researched this point in detail but I think this is a place where the requirement quoted above is, in fact, a case of misinterpretation of the NEC requirements as there is for the well pump nothing but a single 240V load; there is no neutral current return from a 120V circuit as is the situation trying to be avoided by the update to the Code as there is in the case of the range or dryer. I would agree that the well situation is a misinterpretation of the code by someone. Even in cases where you think the code section is excessive on some point, I've always been able to see some point to doing it. To insert a section of 4 wire cable in the middle of a 3 wire and leave the 4th unconnected, obviously does nothing. Also, 240V loads are routinely connected and are code compliant without a neutral all the time. That's how wells are done here. So, I'd say either this is the well guys that don't know what they are talking about, or else some local inspector type that issued some edict either incorrectly or incorrectly interpreted, etc. Turns out we may be forced to drill a new well before long; I'm certain to research this in depth (so to speak ) before spending an extra third for 4-wire down a 300-ft hole when there's nothing for that fourth conductor to do anyway except take up space and add to the expense. I agree. If I'd been on the NFPA Code Committee when this came up I'd have voted "no" simply on the cost/material basis of there being no demonstrable real problem being solved that justified the added expense. "Parsimony" is a virtue in engineering, too... -- Do you have any reason to believe it's part of the NEC? A, as you say, it makes no sense at all from any physics B, wells here are put in with 240V, 2 hots + ground all the time and they pass electrical inspection. |
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replacement wire size
On 7/3/2014 6:37 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Wednesday, July 2, 2014 6:06:27 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote: ....big snip... If I'd been on the NFPA Code Committee when this came up I'd have voted "no" simply on the cost/material basis of there being no demonstrable real problem being solved that justified the added expense. "Parsimony" is a virtue in engineering, too... .... Do you have any reason to believe it's part of the NEC? A, as you say, it makes no sense at all from any physics B, wells here are put in with 240V, 2 hots + ground all the time and they pass electrical inspection. I was mixing both topics here and switched back once too quickly, apparently... No, I do _NOT_ think there's likely anything in NEC that justified the 4-wire cable in the well-hole; I have yet to discover from whence came the supposed edict referred to by the well service guys... What I was speaking of in the "voting against" comment is the new section that requires the 4-wire for the grounding of the oven/dryer branch circuit. There as you I do see there is at least an issue; I just don't agree that the disease is worth the cost of the cure given the history (or more correctly, the lack thereof) indicating it is a safety issue of any magnitude at all. I obviously wasn't in the room but I'd have had to seen an impressive litany of cases where it had been the root cause of a problem and if that were to have been demonstrated then I don't see how it could have been justified to leave the exception standing. Making the change was, imo, just bureaucracy doing what it does in this case. Most of the time NFPA does a pretty good job but I think they misstepped on this one. -- |
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