Ampacity

Ampacity is a portmanteau for ampere capacity dened by National Electrical Safety Codes, in some North
American countries. Ampacity is dened as the maximum amount of electrical current a conductor or device
can carry before sustaining immediate or progressive deterioration. Also described as current rating or currentcarrying capacity, ampacity is the RMS electric current
which a device or conductor can continuously carry while
remaining within its temperature rating.

Depending on the type of insulating material, common

maximum allowable temperatures at the surface of the
conductor are 60, 75, and 90 C, often with an ambient
air temperature of 30 C. In the United States, 105 C is
allowed with ambient of 40 C, for larger power cables,
especially those operating at more than 2 kV. Likewise,
specic insulations are rated 150, 200, or 250 C.

The allowed current in a conductor generally needs to be

decreased (derated) when conductors are in a grouping
or cable, enclosed in conduit, or an enclosure restricting
The ampacity of a conductor depends on:
heat dissipation. e.g. The United States National Electric Code, Table 310.15(B)(16), species that up to three
its insulation temperature rating;
8 AWG copper wires having a common insulating material (THWN) in a raceway, cable, or direct burial has an
the electrical resistance of the conductor material;
ampacity of 50 A when the ambient air is 30C, the con frequency of the current, in the case of alternating ductor surface temperature allowed to be 75C. A single
insulated conductor in free air has 70 A rating.
current;
Ampacity rating is normally for continuous current, and
ability to dissipate heat, which depends on conductor short periods of overcurrent occur without harm in most
geometry and its surroundings;
cabling systems. The acceptable magnitude and duration
of overcurrent is a more complex topic than ampacity.
ambient temperature.
When designing an electrical system, one will normally
need to know the current rating for the following:
All common electrical conductors have some resistance
to the ow of electricity. Electric current owing through
Wires
them causes voltage drop and power dissipation, which
heats conductors. Copper or aluminum can conduct a
Printed Circuit Board traces, where included
large amount of current without damage, but long before
conductor damage, insulation would, typically, be dam Fuses
aged by the resultant heat.
The ampacity for a conductor is based on physical and
Circuit breakers
electrical properties of the material and construction of
the conductor and of its insulation, ambient temperature,
All or nearly all components used
and environmental conditions adjacent to the conductor.
Having a large overall surface area can dissipate heat well
Some devices are limited by power rating, and when this
if the environment can absorb the heat.
power rating occurs below their current limit, it is not necIn cables dierent conditions govern, and installation essary to know the current limit to design a system. A
regulations normally specify that the most severe condi- common example of this is lightbulb holders.
tion along the run will govern each cable conductors rating. Cables run in wet or oily locations may carry a lower
temperature rating than in a dry installation. Derating is
necessary for multiple cables in close proximity. When 1 Current rating
multiple cables are in close proximity, each contributes
heat to the others and diminishes the amount of external For electronic components (such as transistors, voltage
cooling aecting the individual cable conductors. The regulators, and the like), the term current rating is moreoverall ampacity of insulated cable conductors in a bundle commonly used than ampacity, but the considerations are
of more than three cables must also be derated, whether broadly similar. However the tolerance of short-term
in a raceway or cable. Usually the derating factor is tab- overcurrent is near zero for semiconductor devices, as
ulated in a nations wiring regulations.
their thermal capacities are extremely small.
1

See also
American wire gauge (has table)
Aluminum wire
Cables
Canadian Electrical Code
National Electrical Code (USA)

External links
BS 7671:2008 Cable Sizing Tool
Online Cable Sizing Tool to IEC 60364-5-52:2009
online cablecalculation tool Cable++ mini

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Ampacity Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampacity?oldid=601943504 Contributors: Pengo, Beland, Pascalv, Atlant, Docboat,

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