Code Quiz

April 17, 2008
What is the minimum cubic inch area required for a terminal housing supplied with a generator?

Q. What is the minimum cubic inch area required for a terminal housing supplied with a generator? The conductors installed within the terminal housing are as follows: four No. 6 AWG THHW branch-circuit conductors and four No. 8 AWG MTW insulated conductors.

  1. This calculation does not apply to a terminal housing supplied with the generator.
  2. 20 cubic inches minimum. This applies only to the branch circuit conductors.
  3. 12 cubic inches minimum
  4. 32 cubic inches minimum

Answer: A

The 2008 NEC added generators as one of two items that do not have to comply with the requirements set forth in 314.16 when the terminal housing is supplied with the generator. The other item that does not have to comply with 314.16 is the motor terminal housing supplied with the motor.

Owen is the owner and president of National Code Seminars and the holder of master electrician certifications in 46 states. He can be reached at [email protected].

About the Author

Steven Owen

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

How to Calculate Labor Costs

Most important to accurately estimating labor costs is knowing the approximate hours required for project completion. Learn how to calculate electrical labor cost.

8 Types of Electrical Conduit and Their Uses

Electrical conduit is a tube or raceway used to house and protect electrical wires within a building or structure. From data centers to underground subways to ports and bridges...

A Powerful Duo: Fiberglass conduit and solar applications

Learn how strong, durable fiberglass conduit excelled in an environment with dense cable and helped make a complex burial much simpler for the contractor to help this customer...

Champion Fiberglass® Conduit Protects Cabling For New York's First Offshore Wind Farm

Learn how fiberglass conduit supported a heavy cable load and a buried installation to help this project reach a successful outcome.