Electric motor wire size
Electric motor wire size
(OP)
What gauge wire do I need to run a 5HP 230 volt single phase hydraulic pump motor? Motor nameplate says 23 amps and the run is approximately 50 feet. Would 10 gauge wire be sufficient, or do I need to go to 8 gauge? And until I'm able to get a magnetic starter, would plugging it directly into a 50 amp outlet do any harm? This gets very intermittent use on an anchor hauler.
TIA, Acseatsri
TIA, Acseatsri





RE: Electric motor wire size
If you plug a motor into the socket without any protection such as fuses, motor overload contactor etc then you may find a flash as you insert it. If the motor turns (it probably would) you run it at a risk of that taken by people from 3rd world countries. That however is a safety issue and possibly a fire hazzard.
Conclusion - Respect electricity, buy the right parts and save yourself the cost of a rewind or health care (yours or others). Good job you asked before acting out your impulses at least.
RE: Electric motor wire size
This would just be a temporary setup, maybe for a one-time 15-30 minutes of use or so- definitely not a permanent set-up. The motor is sized correctly for the pump it's driving, so there should be no overload.
I'm just a go-between here. I know just enough about electrical wiring to get myself in trouble, short of electrocution!
RE: Electric motor wire size
A lot of people take chances but it does not make it safe. There is a lot of thing worst than electrocution such as bad Electrical burns can causing slow death from gangrene. I know of electricians that have died this way. It's not pretty.
Motors can fault at any time. Spend the money and get the right setup. Electrical wiring is something you should leave to the electricians.
RE: Electric motor wire size
RE: Electric motor wire size
Unless loosing (yours or others) a limb, eye or life or getting a severe burn is not worth waiting (whatever use you may have) or the money you need to spend for the little starter, do not try plugging a 5HP motor with a cord.
Motor branch circuit condutor is sized to 1.25% of its FLA in this case it will be 29A. So a #10, copper is sufficent.
Buy a manual starter (they are HP rated) with a 60A fused disonnect and use 50A fuses (or 35A dual element fuses).
Be safe!
RE: Electric motor wire size
RE: Electric motor wire size
acseatsri (Mechanical) Aug 18, 2003
What gauge wire do I need to run a 5HP 230 volt single phase hydraulic pump motor? Motor nameplate says 23 amps and the run is approximately 50 feet.
///If the motor does not have very high inrush current, e.g. the motor is standard or ordinary, the suggested #10AWG copper conductor will suffice. If the motor has some high Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) or inrush current, the conductor may be #8AWG.\\\
Would 10 gauge wire be sufficient, or do I need to go to 8 gauge?
///See my comment above.\\\
And until I'm able to get a magnetic starter, would plugging it directly into a 50 amp outlet do any harm?
///Assuming, that you pump iron occassionally, there will be no problem. The outlet better be dry and some isolating mat and gloves would improve the safety.\\\
This gets very intermittent use on an anchor hauler.
RE: Electric motor wire size