electrical questions

Hi I work as a manager in a 14 condo project in mexico. It is REALLY hard to get good maintenance down here so i guess this is the first of may inquiries... we have wired the whole place with a cable number 8 and were now told that we need to change the cable in the whole building!! that is a very big expenss. I was wondering if anyone can help me calculate how big a charge can a cable take? and for how long? I figure that is the only way to find out if im being fooled or not! thank you

Reply to
gilboa_arnon
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Since you ask su pregunta en Inglès, yo creo que quiere una respuesta Americana. In the U.S. a number 8 conductor is good for 40-50 amps depending upon temperature rating

Reply to
RBM

Yes, #8 wire is rated for 40-50 Amps(actually 55 depending on the wire type). This is from table 310.16, the 2005 National Electric Code for the U.S. However, it completely depends how the original electrician wired the building. Also, is the wire copper OR aluminum? If it's aluminum, it will carry less amps. Will people be living full time in the condos? Will they be cooking, using a washing machine, dishwasher, hot water heater, individual air conditioning unit?

Is the number 8 wire running to supply each condo? Did anyone calculate the load for each unit? I would think you need 75 to 100 Amp service per unit. If each unit needs 75 amps, you probably need number

4 wire (copper) running to them. If 100 amps, number 3 wire. So, yes, somebody may have made un gran error! But, it all depends.

And after that the wiring in the units to receptacles, etcetera is 14,

12, or 10?

Bottom line: Get a real electrician to help you before somebody gets hurt!

Reply to
capinj2101

Reply to
buffalobill

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