Wire size for 60' run

[burleymike]

My dad is going to run wire for his laundry room. The total run will be 60', is this too long of a run to use 10 gauge NM?

 

[Gary S]

Too long for what load?

 

[PRH44]

Can not imagine that length to long for any properly sized residential branch circuit

 

[burleymike]

Sorry for the lack of details, right when I started the thread my wife said "dinner is ready" I was very hungry.

The load is the dryer. He is moving the laundry room to the garage which already has a nice little heated room with plumbing. He wants to run a circuit to that room for the dryer. From the breaker panel to the spot on the wall in that room it will be 60'. About half of that will be in the attic which does get quite hot in the summer. Will 10/3 be good or does he need to go up to 8/3?

 

[contactme_11]

10/3 is fine.

 

[pattenp]

More information leads to more comments... wire ran in the attic if perpendicular to the ceiling joist needs to be a least 7' from any access point, otherwise the wire needs to be placed along running boards for protection.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The greater issue here is possible derating due to heat in the attic. You would need to look at the rating of the wire, if say, NM-B, which carries a 90°C rating, and for the purposes of temp derating, you get to start with the 90°C column of the chart, which is 40 amps for #10. Then, temps above 86°F cause the derating. Lets say the attic can reach temps of 125°F in the summer, which is quite possible. Our correction factor is .75 thus 40 amps times .75 equals..... drumroll please!........ 30 amps...........

However, if you think the attic is hotter than this............. say, 149°F, then your correction factor is .47 and this gives you a maximum circuit capacity of 19 amps, and THIS could be a problem.

I'll let you decide

Charles

 

[Stuart in MN]

Electric dryer or gas dryer?

 

[jvitez]

Electric dryer or gas dryer?

Try this voltage drop calculator.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/voltagedropcalc.html

 

[burleymike]

Thanks guys for the info and links. I sent him an email link to this thread so he can read it over.

 

[Steevo]

Thanks guys for the info and links. I sent him an email link to this thread so he can read it over.

So, "Here you go, Pops, figure it out yourself" is good enough for your dad?

Not that I'm judging, hell, I'd hand my dad two bare wires and tell him "hold these and tell me if you feel anything" . . .