What size wire do you need to use to run 200 ft and have 40 amps of service?
To answer this question a voltage must be given. By using the
term service I will draw a conclusion that it is a North American
service of 120/240. A #6 copper conductor will limit the voltage
drop to 3 percent or less when supplying 40 amps for 200 feet on a
240 volt system. If the circuit voltage is 120 volts, then a #2
copper conductor will limit the voltage drop to 3 percent or less
when supplying 40 amps for 200 feet.
<<<<>>>>
Notice: The following calculations are wrong because a #10
copper conductor is only rated at 30 amps NOT 40 amps.
To compute voltage drop (independent of voltage supply)
10 gauge wire is .9989 ohms/1000 ft
to go 200 feet you need 400 ft of #10 conductor (out and
back)
just about 0.4 ohms
I*R =E
40a*0.4Ohm =16v lost in heating the wire ( 640W )
Gauge Drop(400')
#10 16v
#6 6.3v
#2 2.5v
safety has to do with the insulation
3.4 Watts/ft will melt most plastics (#10)
especially if its enclosed in conduit
or worse in a wall that is insulated.
bare conductors on ceramic insulators dont have a problem
if this is for a resistive load the figures are correct
if you are trying to run a single phase motor it may not start
with #6
(starting current perhaps 7 times the running current) 45V
drop
if you are trying to start a 3 phase motor with #6 it may be ok
only (19V drop)
I do know a 7A 240V submersible well pump will not run with #10
wire
(200' deep well 150' from the building)
The wire coming out of the pump is #12 BTW (sales
engineering)
it is a GOOD idea to do some arithmetic before buying the
wire....
the motor is marked with KVA class (start/run current)