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PSA: A call box fire in a Phoenix high-rise made me rethink our whole wiring approach.
We had a 10th floor panel meltdown because the original install used undersized wire for the emergency circuit. Some guys say we should always upsize by one gauge for safety, others say it's a waste if the prints are correct. What's your shop's rule on this?
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mason4175mo ago
Some guys say we should always upsize by one gauge for safety." That's how you blow the budget on copper for no real gain. If the prints are correct and the load calc is right, the listed wire size is safe. Why add cost and make terminations harder if the engineering is sound?
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keithward5mo ago
Oh man, I've been that guy oversizing everything. My last panel looked like a jungle gym of extra copper, just because I got nervous.
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jakerivera4mo ago
Oversizing can actually create heat issues in tight panels by blocking airflow. More copper crammed together sometimes runs hotter than properly sized wire with space around it. You might be trading one safety margin for another hidden problem.
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