On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 06:41:48 GMT, "CalifBill"
wrote:


"Jack Goff" wrote in message

Think of it this way... your home wiring is usually 14ga for normal 15
amp branch circuits. Not unusual to have a 100ft run between the
breaker box and the outlets. Some voltage drop is expected, and
safety factors are built into everything you buy.

Jack


15 amp circuits are 14 gauge,

Yup, that's what I said.

and few run 100' inside a house. More like
50' at most.

Depends on the size house, and it's layout. My house is two story,
with a two car garage and "day basement" under that (it's built on a
sloping lot). The two breaker panels are located in the basement, so
probably half of my branch circuits are well over 50 feet.

Contractors use 12 gauge because you can move the cord. And
most saws and tools are built to run in a 15 amp circuit, not draw 15 amps.
Most are in the 7-8 amp range.

These saws are called 15 amp saws because that's the maximum current
they'll pull when under a heavy load. They use the least when free
wheeling, and the most under load. Worst case is with the blade
stalled. You're right, they'll run on a 15 amp circuit without
tripping the breaker, but doing the maximum amount of work the motor
is rated for, it'll pull 15 amps. However, it's rare that anyone
would work one that hard.

Jack