tiny motor wires

[megloff11x]

I have yet to see a motor who own wires meet code for its rated current. Is there some special exemption for them? For example, I have a 60A-peak, 30A continuous rated motor that has 16AWG wires (10A max)on the motor itself. I've used smaller motors where the manufacturer's manual requires/suggests minimum 14AWG wires to the motor, but the motor itself has 22AWG wires. The wires in the windings are even smaller, but we won't go there.

It seems kind of silly to hook 6 to 10 AWG wire to something with 16AWG wire.

Any thoughts, commentary, or insights? Is there a special exemption that I haven't found in section 430?

 

[charlie b]

Re: tiny motor wires

No "exemption" is needed. The NEC simply does not apply to manufacturers. Specifically, Table 310.16 does not apply to the wiring inside an electrical component. The manufacturer has to have tested (or otherwise verified) the design before obtaining a UL listing. The wires you run to the motor are subject to a different physical condition then are the wires inside a motor. So there is no reason to expect the same limits to apply to both.