Choosing Proper Wire size

PowerEight

What is the proper wire size for about 1600 watts, 20 amps? For about 35 feet...

Thank you!

HouseHelper

At least 12ga.

Is this a trick question?

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CowboyAndy

As HouseHelper said, 12AWG is perfectly fine for what you need. At 35 feet, voltage drop is NOT going to be an issue.

Just curious, what are you wiring up?

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PowerEight

Not really, I am a lay person... not LAME but... not an electrician anyhow. But I was reading online and someone wrote 12gauge wire only supports 360 watts. Anyway, I bought 14/2 so I guess I should return it. We're installing a outlet for a room we're gonna slowly work on to make a gym and sauna and hot tub and steam room... I can't wait... so all that power will surge the house and melt that 14 wire I think... my father in law says the lower #'s are the tougher ones...

CowboyAndy

Well, 14AWG can handle 1800 watts, so thats a bit close to the draw you plan on, so 12 would be a wise choice. What do you plan to plug into this outlet? Also, make sure in a situation like this that it is GFI protected.


And whoever informed you that 12awg wire supports 360 watts is flat out wrong.


whe you need to determine what wire size, you start with how many watts you are going to draw. once you have that, you use a wire that can handle a larger draw than what you expect... as in 1600 watts x 120v = 13.3, so 15amps /14awg wire is what it would be up to. but theres not any wiggle room there, so i would go up one more to 20amp, which requires a minimum of 12awg wire.

the formula for wattage is amps x volts... in this case it would be 15A x 120v = 1800 watts, 20a x 120v = 2400 watts.


at 360 watts, that would be an amp draw of 3 amps. whoever told you that should not give advice anymore!

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HouseHelper

The 12ga/20A circuit will support 2400W (20Ax120V), but you cannot support the sauna, hot tub, and steam room on the circuit unless all your heating comes from another source.

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BigJimmy

P=IV, I=P/V

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analogmusicman

just an observation: my whirlpool bath is on a 30A circuit.

tnx,

HouseHelper

But is it supposed to be?

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"Life is hard. Life is harder when you're stupid." John Wayne

frenchelectrican

Well if the 12 gauge wire is used for very long run like 250 feet run then it make sense due the voltage drop on long runs.

That why somecase you have to make a judgement call on very long runs.

I done alot of very long runs and depending on how much load it will be on the wires most percentage i useally bump up a size or more depending on distance.

Merci,Marc

CowboyAndy

Yes, i agree that voltage drop can and will at some point limit 12awg to alot less. But that wasn't my point. The OP was told by someone that "12awg wire will only support up to 360 watts". That statment is flat out wrong. While it is possible, it is not probable in the OP's situation, as he is only running about 35 ft. That's like saying "if you cross the street, you WILL get hit by a bus" Possible, but not probable.

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Holden McGroin

Use the following guide:
15 amps = 14ga.
20 amps = 12 ga.
30 amps = 10ga.
40 amps = 8 ga.
50 amps. = 4-6 ga.

analogmusicman

uh Holden...that your real name?

tnx,

Holden McGroin

Is Analog yours? Duh?

analogmusicman

touche!!!