Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
(OP)
For NEC Table 310-17, what is the definition of "free air"? A major manufacturer of motor control equipment has sized conductors to motor starters inside enclosures (such as a Hoffman NEMA 4 enclosure) based upon Table 310-17, ampacities in free air. I have always used this table for overhead conductors, such as festooning or other article 225 applications, not for wiring inside of an enclosure. The difference in ampacities is tremendous. For 75C wire, 350kcmil has an ampacity of 310A in a raceway (Table 310-16) and 505A in free air (Table 310-17). Is Table 310-17 the correct table for conductors in an enclosure?






RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
Gee, that's a good question. There is no actual definition in the code that I can find or recall -- I suppose, though, that since we're dealing with heat removal that the air must be free enough to carry the conductor's generated heat (without raising the ambient above the limit in the table) away from the enclosure by convection alone. If a starter cabinet is big enough and is ventilated by some louvers at the bottom and near the top, I can see where the ampacity of the conductors would be much higher than if the air were confined in a conduit or electrical duct. If it's NEMA 4, though, I think it would be iffy unless tested.
I would imagine that the manufacturer has to test the equipment to determine that the ambient remains within table limits and the conductor temperature remains within its temperature limit, in which case they can say they comply with the tables.... Transitioning to the higher ampacity conductor is permitted as long as the distance isn't far (I think it's 10 feet or 10 percent of circuit length).
I hope to see one of our compadres come up with a ruling from somewhere, this is curious to me!
Kindest regards,
Old Dave
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
I cannot imagine that overcurrent devices such as overload relays, fuses or breakers terminating tab310.17-rated cables being able to retain any imaginable accuracy in time-current function.
Sounds like a gross misapplication by any definition. Be sure and tell your friends.
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
Don
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
I think a free air rating should be applicable to those situations where the cable is NOT in a raceway. A raceway is defined in the Code so by process of elimination it can be decided if the free air or raceway ampacity applies.
However, if you use a free air rating for something that could place the conductors at an elevated ambient temperature ( such as within a piece of equipment) then you would need to apply temperature derating factors to the free air rating.
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
But I agree with resqcapt that conductors provided inside a manufactured item do not fall under NEC jurisdiction. If this enclosure has a UL or FM mark, then it is presumed to have been designed and tested appropriately. It is very common for wiring inside MCCs, starters, VFDs, etc to be much smaller than would be required for field wiring per NEC.
It's similar to the oft-encountered situation of seeing the local utility splice your service entrance cable, sized per NEC, to a conductor about half the size.
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
to qualify for free air rating ampacity the cables must be at least one diameter apart if installed in air, on tray racks etc. Of course subject to local authority....
ambient, sunlight exposure, etc.
In the past the "free air" rating was also used for direct buried, embedded, etc. cables if spaced more than 6" apart - this, hawever, is no longer accepted by the inspections.
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables
Also a comment in regard to someone else's comment about the size of the utility connection to the service entrance conductors. Utilities usually follow the NESC (National Electric Safety Code) and here in California G.O. 95 (General Order 95) which is published by the Public Utilities Commission. The NESC is a IEEE standard I believe.
RE: Definition of "Free Air" in Ampacity Tables