Tap conductors are the short wires that branch off from your main feeder to supply individual motor circuits. Think of the feeder as a highway, and the tap conductors as the on-ramps to each motor.
We need to size them correctly so they:
The sizing method depends on how long your tap conductor is:
Use the same size as the branch circuit conductor it connects to.
Simple Rule:
If the branch conductor is #8 AWG, then the tap conductor is also #8 AWG.
You must pick the larger of:
Example:
Now compare:
Pick the bigger → #1 AWG
The tap must be the same size as the feeder.
If the feeder is 3/0 AWG, then the tap is 3/0 AWG too. No exceptions.
Rule 4-006 applies to Tap Conductors!
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