Will 4/C 8AWG Festoon Cable work for my air compressor?

[Stainless169]

Hello all.. I was given some damaged festoon cable but the salvageable pieces are over 60'. I need to run a dedicated line about 50 foot from my house electrical panel to my garage to wire up my new compressor (which hasn't arrived yet).

This cable is called "Flat Flex Festoon Cable 4/C 8 AWG -40 600v. The compressor I bought was a Quincy 5hp 2V41C60VC. The one listed here:http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-2V41C60VC-Air-Compressor/p855.html

Surely this cable is more than capable of running up from my electric box through about 5' of conduit. Then through the attic and back down into my garage into a new sub-panel?

I'm fairly familiar with wiring 110 and 240 up but just want the expertise of you guys to make sure I'm not undercutting myself by using this wire and endangering my house. This compressor will not run all the time.

One other thing, is a 40A breaker typically the largest an 8g should have on it?

 

[Norcal]

Nope. Flexible cords* are not intended to replace perm. wiring, & that cable is not intended to be attached to a building surface or concealed either.....

* Flexible cord is not a totally correct definition, but festoon cable is intended to be supported between two points, or used as a hoist cable, which would be supported at multiple points for a mobile hoist.

 

[Stainless169]

Out of curiosity.. what's the difference between this stuff and romex other than it doesn't have solid core wire? The yellow shielding looks very similar.