What is the minimum size wire required for a 15 hp, three-phase motor with an FLA of 20 amps at 460 volts?

To determine the minimum size wire required for a 15 hp, three-phase motor with a full-load amperage (FLA) of 20 amps at 460 volts, it's important to reference the National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines, specifically the wire sizing for motors.

In this case, 20 amps is the FLA for the motor. For motors, the NEC requires that conductors be sized based on the FLA, where typically, the minimum copper wire sizes can be found in NEC Table 310.16. For three-phase motors, adjustments may be necessary based on application and installation conditions, which can include factors such as ambient temperature and insulation type.

When looking specifically at a 20 amp motor circuit, according to NEC provisions, the minimum size for conductors would generally suggest using a wire that can safely handle the load without overheating or causing voltage drop. Based on NEC recommendations, for a 20 amp continuous load, a conductor size of at least 10 AWG is often considered adequate in standard conditions.

However, determining the correct answer also involves considering the distance and load (as motors can require larger conductors to reduce voltage drop) and allows for slight variations in specific installation conditions. Therefore, using 10 AW