Can I use this wire?

[FlameOut]

Someone just gave me about 50' of wire that I'm hoping I can use to run from my house to my new garage.

I'm not sure what the wire is, but I got this off of the insulation: AWG 6 EU 3 CDR with AWG 10 Ground Type UF-B.

What does that all mean and if this is something I can use, what would be the max amps it could handle? (About a 40' run)

 

[Steevo]

6 GA copper wire is rated at 55 AMPs, and I think that the UF-B letters designate a direct-burial wire.

 

[FlameOut]

Ok thanks. Was hoping to run at least a 60 amp service out to the garage. Any idea what this hunk of wire would be worth? I like to give the guy something for it

 

[sberry]

This is another place I wouldn't personally lose sleep with a 60 ahead of this wire, I am sure one of the code guru's will give us the exact low down but this type of wiring is never continuously loaded, the main in a garage is generally there to provide short circuit interruption. A number 10 wire I wouldn't feel good about over breakering a bit but a 6 to a garage feed wouldn't bother me at all.

 

[Aceman]

Like Sberry said, you can only breaker it at 60 as long as the calculated load is less than 55 amps. Personally, I don't care for direct buried UF and would much rather run PVC and THWN wire. Some people try to get around direct burying UF by sleeving it in conduit but I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[FlameOut]

Like Sberry said, you can only breaker it at 60 as long as the calculated load is less than 55 amps. Personally, I don't care for direct buried UF and would much rather run PVC and THWN wire. Some people try to get around direct burying UF by sleeving it in conduit but I wouldn't recommend it.

I already ran 1" PVC a few weeks back in anticipation of running wire. I just had this wire given to me yesterday but I don't think this wire would fit inside the PVC/conduit

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I already ran 1" PVC a few weeks back in anticipation of running wire. I just had this wire given to me yesterday but I don't think this wire would fit inside the PVC/conduit

UF in this size is usually a "ribbon" type cable, with all the conductors lay flat and the insulation/jacket molded around them. Might not fit in 1". try it in a scrap piece and see how it does. If it goes, you could lube the daylights out of it and have one person pushing and one pulling and it might get thru. I pulled some #10 UF (no neutral, just two hots and a ground) thru 3/4 and had a bear of a time doing it.

Charles

 

[bward76]

I usually encourage people to not run UF in conduit. There is a potential that a substantial load on the conductors can cause heating on the wire with so much extra insulation jammed in the conduit. I'm not near my code book but I have heard that it's not legal. I would suggest running the UF cable next to the conduit and keep the PVC as a backup.

 

[Kevin54]

Someone just gave me about 50' of wire that I'm hoping I can use to run from my house to my new garage.

I'm not sure what the wire is, but I got this off of the insulation: AWG 6 EU 3 CDR with AWG 10 Ground Type UF-B.

What does that all mean and if this is something I can use, what would be the max amps it could handle? (About a 40' run)

AWG = American Wire Gage
6 = wire gage size
EU= Not sure
3 = number of wires
CDR = not sure
AWG 10 ground = 10 gage wire size for ground wire
Type- UF-B = Underground feeder direct burial

 

[Aceman]

I usually encourage people to not run UF in conduit. There is a potential that a substantial load on the conductors can cause heating on the wire with so much extra insulation jammed in the conduit. I'm not near my code book but I have heard that it's not legal. I would suggest running the UF cable next to the conduit and keep the PVC as a backup.

I disagree. You're an electrician, why don't you post some code articles as fact rather than relying on hearsay if you believe this to be true?

Truth of the matter is, multiconductor cable is pulled in conduit all the time, legally. VFD cable being another example.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

UF in this size is usually a "ribbon" type cable, with all the conductors lay flat and the insulation/jacket molded around them. Might not fit in 1". try it in a scrap piece and see how it does. If it goes, you could lube the daylights out of it and have one person pushing and one pulling and it might get thru. I pulled some #10 UF (no neutral, just two hots and a ground) thru 3/4 and had a bear of a time doing it.

Charles

I just can't resist....Do you use KY jelly???

 

[bward76]

Aceman, you are very correct, it is very legal. As I posted, i don't encourage due to what I have seen in the past. I have personally replaced a few feeders and branch circuits that were multiconductor cables pulled in conduit. After megging them, i found that the insulation had broken down and upon physical inspection was due to overheating of the conductors. To my knowledge, there was no forest fire in the conduit. I am very familiar with the code but thought i would offer information from experience as opposed to minimum requirements. I have been accused of overbuilding but have never failed an inspection. In this case, I have never looked up this application of use because it's a practice i never do. My apology if my opinions have wasted your time. Sorry to offend anyone and good luck with your projects. Bob

 

[Aceman]

Aceman, you are very correct, it is very legal. As I posted, i don't encourage due to what I have seen in the past. I have personally replaced a few feeders and branch circuits that were multiconductor cables pulled in conduit. After megging them, i found that the insulation had broken down and upon physical inspection was due to overheating of the conductors. To my knowledge, there was no forest fire in the conduit. I am very familiar with the code but thought i would offer information from experience as opposed to minimum requirements. I have been accused of overbuilding but have never failed an inspection. In this case, I have never looked up this application of use because it's a practice i never do. My apology if my opinions have wasted your time. Sorry to offend anyone and good luck with your projects. Bob

Nothing personal Bward, I just see a lot of advice given on this forum that is hearsay or "just good enough" with no mention of code compliance.

It's interesting that you've come across several multiconductor cables overheated in conduits. I've only been in the trade 5-6 years total now, so I definitely haven't seen it all and haven't seen one overheated myself. Of course 98% of the time on new installs we use individual wires rather than cable so I'm not surprised I haven't come across it.

I guess I'd wonder if the wire was sized properly to begin with or if the ambient temp might have played a part?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I guess I'd wonder if the wire was sized properly to begin with or if the ambient temp might have played a part?

I was just thinking, if the cable were sized properly to begin with, there is no way the cable would be overheated, even with 100% load on it all the time.

Charles