For Motor #2, the minimum tap conductor size is which AWG or kcmil?

For Motor #2, the minimum tap conductor size is which AWG or kcmil?

• A. 4
• B. 3
• C. 2
• D. 1

Answer: (D)

Tap conductors must be sized to carry the motor’s full-load current with an appropriate margin, typically around 125% of the motor’s FLC, while also meeting temperature and voltage-drop considerations. For Motor 2, the required ampacity based on its full-load current is high enough that only 1 AWG meets or exceeds that demand. The smaller gauges listed would not provide enough current-carrying capacity under starting and running conditions, so they wouldn’t satisfy the safety and performance requirements. Therefore, the smallest conductor size that fits the need is 1 AWG.

Tap conductors must be sized to carry the motor’s full-load current with an appropriate margin, typically around 125% of the motor’s FLC, while also meeting temperature and voltage-drop considerations. For Motor 2, the required ampacity based on its full-load current is high enough that only 1 AWG meets or exceeds that demand. The smaller gauges listed would not provide enough current-carrying capacity under starting and running conditions, so they wouldn’t satisfy the safety and performance requirements. Therefore, the smallest conductor size that fits the need is 1 AWG.