electrical question

[tkdc]

I have100' 10 awg extension cable running from my house to my garage. Now my controller has 12awg coming in and going out to my element. Will the difference in Size of the controller wire verses my extension cord act as a resistor and get to hot or will it be ok.

5500watt element. 220v using my clothes drier plug to run off. I don't have 220 in my garage.

[steve2md]

That element will pull 25 amps at its peak (probably closer to 18 amps on average). 12 ga copper wire is rated at 20 amps under load, 25 "free air". Realistically, you are probably still ok, but I'd consider it a fire hazard myself, and upgrade to 10 ga wire to connect your element. But I am occasionally "Captain Overkill". but what's 2-3 dollars in wire and a few connections compaired to explaining to the fire department why your still burned down your garage.

Your mileage may vary

[steve2md]

but using this site http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow you should be good to go with 12 ga the whole way. I'd err on the side of caution myself

[tkdc]

That's what I was thinking. Figured I ask before I toe my controller apart. Thanks

[Prairiepiss]

I personaly wouldn't use 12g for a 220v controller. I would use 10g for the controller. And a 100' run I would go up to the next gauge wire. At least.

[Bushman]

I personaly wouldn't use 12g for a 220v controller. I would use 10g for the controller. And a 100' run I would go up to the next gauge wire. At least.

+1, I am not an electrician but over engineering is a nice safety feature and that is what I did!!

[CH3CH2OH]

The biggest problem is that you will be running around 25 watts for an hour while you are heating the boiler up before you turn it down to run. even downgrading to a 4500 watt element will be pulling around 20.5 amps

Code only allows 80% of the wire rating to be used for the draw of what you are hooking up with every plug and connection after the first plug should have the rating devalued by another 2%. This means that anything on 12 guage wire that exceeds 18 amps continuous draw is not considered safe when you have only one plug connection.

If you think it is a pain to rewire a couple of connections from the controller to the element, how much of a pain is it to fix a melt down or fire???

Don't take this the wrong way but really, a 100' #10 extension cord to your garage to start with isn't the best idea. For every 50' of cable length, measured from the breaker, you are supposed to upgrade to the next size wire, as well . You should have minimum #8 wire (rated for 24 amps at 100') going to the garage to start with. This under rated extension cord, followed by under rated wire at the most critical connection AT THE BOILER WHERE YOU ARE MAKING FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND VAPOURS isn't the best idea. Maybe nothing will happen but codes are there for our safety and protection and with at least 2 code violations from your dryer plug to your boiler, and who knows what is happening from your breaker panel to your dryer plug. But hey, even Tickle has survived this long so I guess its up to you......

Nobody wants to read about a member in the distilling news "Local man arrested for making moonshine when fire marshall discovers illegal still after garage fire"

PLAY SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTRICITY, IT CAN KILL YOU IF YOU DONT RESPECT IT!!!!!!!

[Prairiepiss]

For a 220v controller. My suggestions are this. If an extension cord is needed. 10g is ok for up to around 25 foot. 25 to 50 foot I suggest 8g cable. For 50 to 100 foot I suggest 6g cable.

And for the controlling itself 220v should be 10g and a 110v controller can be 12g.

Now I am using a 20 foot 10g extension cord. That I made with good cable. I have about 80 foot a 6g cable. And that is what I will be using to wire in a plug in my distilling area. I don't need but 25 foot of it. But it is going to be a 50 amp plug.

Yes wire can be expensive. But using the correct size is priceless.

[Halfbaked]

Ive seen 6/4 SO cable go for 3 bucks a foot. Ive also seen 10/3 go for $1.50. It don't take much of that to get more expensive than a controller. It's fine stuff but DAMM!

[tkdc]

The electrician from work is going to stop by tomorrow to look at everything. He has 35 years of experience in high voltage. So that'll be a good place to start I think. Thanks for the help. Ill let ya know what he says

[CH3CH2OH]

Great plan tk