What cable size is required for a current of 1000 amps?

Answer 1

AWG-8 wire can safely carry 30 amps to a load 100 feet away.

Answer 2

The quick way is to find a cable size table and look it up. The calculation is complicated so most people use tables of pre-calculated values.

It complicated because the current you can run through a cable depends on the cooling of the cable. Current passing through a cable with greater than zero resistance, which is normal, will generate heat in proportion to the square of the current and the resistance of the wire.

If you can keep the cable cool enough to stop it melting then it will carry that current. But cooling a cable depends on a lot of factors, especially the insulation on the cable. Electrical insulation, to keep the electricity inside the cable, also keeps heat inside the cable, so most power distribution cables run quite warm to the touch. They are limited by the softening and melting point of the plastic insulation that is commonly used.

Even overhead cables, insulated and cooled by air, run warm, but its not recommended to try and touch them.

Answer 3

Use no smaller than 8 gauge for that long a distance.

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This is a voltage drop question and a voltage needs to be stated.

For 240 volts - a 2/0 copper conductor will limit the voltage drop to 3% or less when supplying 30 amps for 1000 feet on a 240 volt system.

For 120 volts - a 300 MCM copper conductor will limit the voltage drop to 3% or less when supplying 30 amps for 1000 feet on a 120 volt system.

Answer 4

To do a voltage drop and cable size calculation, need to know what the voltage is.

Answer 5

Need to know the voltage the circuit operates on.

For the typical house voltage, I would recommend an 8 gauge wire, but you could probably get by with 10.

Answer 6

I would recommend you use #8 due to the distance.