Replies

1. 
   locolobo | Oct 11, 2005 10:26pm | #1

   10/4 wire has 4 insulated wires WITH a bare copper ground, so in actuality it has 5 wires. 10/3 has 3 insulated and 1 bare wire. I don't mean to be rude, but when they ask for 10/4... they MEAN 10/4!

   And here, 10/4 Lumex is not stocked... we are forced to get "Tech" cable with all the expensive fittings etc.

    

   locolobo; Edmonton, AB

1. 
   maddog3 | Oct 11, 2005 10:43pm | #3

   loco,
   here 10/4 cord and 10/3 w ground are the same # of conductors"

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 11, 2005 10:57pm | #4

   Same here.

   Cords are total number of wires. Type NM is generaly total number of current carrying conductors and a WG designator for the bare ground.

    

   Dave

2. 
   locolobo | Oct 11, 2005 11:19pm | #6

   Cord and cable are 2 different things. You are comparing apples to oranges. I assumed he was being consistent with cable types.

   A single phase 120V transfer switch (1 phase plus neutral) requires a total of 6 insulated wires plus grounding

   A single phase 220V transfer switch (2 phases plus neutral)requires a total of 9 insulated conductors plus grounding

   A 3 phase delta transfer switch also requires 9 insulated condutors plus ground

   a 3 phase "Y" transfer switch requires 12 insulated conductors plus grounding

   10/4 "cord" means he is doing either 2 or 3 with separate runs from "shore"; "generator" and "load".

   10/4 cable means option 4 unless they combined the "shore" and "load" runs, in which case it is option 1.

   If he is doing option 1 with cord, he will have to run a separate grounding system.

   AND DON'T FORGET THE NEUTRAL BOND TO GROUND!!! or you'll blow up all your appliances!

   locolobo; Edmonton, AB

    

1. 
   maddog3 | Oct 12, 2005 01:04am | #8

   when someone says..." I need a piece of ten four"...my little brain automatically thinks .......cord, type SO or SOW cord specifcally, only because I don't like the 300 volt SJO.If he has 10/3 W / ground and that ground is the same size as the insulated wires, then to me that is the same thing in the context of the question...,

   I'm not forgetting anything, loco,
   I'm not hooking up his transfer switch......
   "

1. 
   locolobo | Oct 12, 2005 01:29am | #9

   And in my brain, when someone says 10/4; I think "TECH" I spent too many years doing commercial and industrial installations, I guess. SOW doesn't even register at these times. Oh well...

   locolobo; Edmonton, AB

2. 
   maddog3 | Oct 12, 2005 01:34am | #10

   .....talk to ya later"

2. 
   maddog3 | Oct 11, 2005 10:30pm | #2

   as long as the bare ground is the same size as the insulated conductors ......

   does the paperwork mention cord , or just 10/4 as the size to use?

   "
1. 
   bes21 | Oct 11, 2005 11:00pm | #5

   I went back and looked at the instructions (from Popular Mechanics a few years ago).  The instructions say 10/4 cable, but if I look carefully at their picture, it looks like a bare ground wire.  The instructions also say connect the "bare ground wire".  My conclusion is they're actually using 10/3 w/ground cable.  I plan to do the same.

   For the cord from the generator to the subpanel, they use 10/4 cord. 

   Thanks for your help maddog!

1. 
   Stuart | Oct 11, 2005 11:46pm | #7

   Are you referring to this Popular Mechanics article, and is your transfer switch a typical home unit rated 30 amps at 120/240VAC?
   http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_improvement/1275631.htmlIf so, they are a little misleading when they talk about 10/4 wire...on page 5 of the story, they should have said to use 10/3 with ground Romex or individual red, black, white, green #10 wires. Otherwise, it's pretty good, and in fact I've referred people to that article before when they've asked about how to set up a generator and transfer switch.