2. The ampacity of a conductor is defined by the NEC to be the maximum current, in amperes, a conductor can carry under the conditions of use without exceeding ______. A. it’s temperature rating B. the allowable voltage drop limitations C. its melting point D. its rated voltage
A - You will find this definition in Article 100 of the NEC®. To get a better understanding of ampacity, perhaps we might consider it as current- carrying capacity, or the maximum amperage a conductor can carry continuously without damaging the conductor and/or its insulation. When determining the ampacity of a conductor, or sizing a conductor, some factors needed to be taken into consideration are, the ambient temperature, the number of current-carrying conductors contained in the raceway or cable, the temperature rating of the terminations and the environment the conductor will be subject to.
