100 amp wire size for automatic generator

#100 amp wire size for automatic generator generator#
#100 amp wire size for automatic generator portable#

It's plenty.ħ) You can easily run burners on an electric range with a 4400 genset. So don't worry about the 10 gauge being too small or the 30 amp being too small. Your 30 amp breaker on the genset feed will allow 30 amps of 120 power down each leg which is 3600 watts. Be sure your panel is balanced as best you can.Ħ) Your 4400 watt genset can only provide 2200 to each side of the panel so it is reasonably easy to overload the genset. This means when you load one side a lot, the voltage will drop on that leg and rise on the other. So you will be loading the genset unevenly and the cheaper 240 generators only regulate the voltage such that the sum of the legs is 240.

#100 amp wire size for automatic generator portable#

The portable genset interlock world is built around a 30 amp feed.ĥ) Finally, when you backfeed a panel with 240 you are only able to feed half of the genset wattage to each side of your panel.

#100 amp wire size for automatic generator generator#

That matches the generator inlet breaker, matches your 10 gauge wire, and matches the commercially available extension cord that you run between the inlet and your genset. Forget about it.ģ) Plan on flipping off breakers to the automatic load circuits like electric water heaters, hot tubs, or anything else undesirable that might want to turn on when you're on genset power.Ĥ) The power inlet plug L14-30 you chose is obviously rated for 30 amps. You need a four wire cable.Ģ) Voltage drop in a residential application is a non-issue. It is of course a minimum but 10/3 is fine. If your generator inlet breaker is a 30 amp breaker then 10 gauge is the corresponding correct size. I actually have an interlock panel as well and have been through this.ġ) The breaker protects the wire.

At 24 amps, the maximum length increases to 71.5 ft. The southwire voltage drop calculator tells me I could have up to 57.18 ft and still limit the voltage drop to 3% or less for 120V 1 phase with 30amps. I will connect the generator to the inlet using a 20ft 10gauge flexible connector.Ĭan I use 10ga 3-wire for the internal romex wire or do I have to step up to 8gauge? My generator is only rated for 4400 watt (surge), generating up to 18amp on each 120V leg, so 10gauge should be fine for my usage, but I want to meet the code-compliant requirement, but that seems to be as clear as mud.ĭoes the NEC require to size the house wiring with 50 ft in mind only, or also consider the 20ft flexible cord for 70ft total? Is the continuous amperage used in a L14-30 connector allowed to be 30 amps, or is it supposed to be limited to 80% of the listed amperage? My wire length between inlet box and service panel is 50 ft. I'm installing a 30amp L14-30 reliance inlet box into the wall of my garage, and connecting it to my service panel and will be using an interlock device (QO panel & interlock kit).