BOATBUILDER'S HANDBOOK

Electrical Systems - Manufacturer Requirements


FEDERAL LAW

183.435 - Conductors in Circuits of 50 Volts or More

(b) Where the nominal circuit voltage of each of three or more current carrying conductors in a duct, bundle, or cable is 50 volts or more, the amperages of each of those conductors must not exceed the value in table 5 multiplied by the correction factor in Note 2 to Table 5 for the number of conductors that carry 50 volts or more.

To select the right bundling correction factor, count only the current carrying conductors that are in circuits of 50 volts or more. Other conductors in the same bundle do not have to be counted, such as grounding conductors, conductors from senders to gauges, and conductors in low voltage circuits less than 50 volts. For example, if a bundle contains a total of ten conductors:

3 - 12 volt system
1 - oil pressure gauge
2 - grounding conductors
4 - 120 volt AC system
10

then the bundling factor is based only on the 4 current carrying conductors in the 120 volt AC system.

Tables 5B through 5E contain tabulated values for allowable amperage in 50 volts and over circuitry in which 3 or more current carrying conductors are bundled. See the correct table for the bundling being selected: 5B = 3; 5C = 4 to 6; 5D = 7 to 24; and, 5E = 25 or more. These tables incorporate all necessary correction factors as noted in both 183.425 and 183.435. Also see sample calculations in the discussion of 183.435(a).

 

FEDERAL LAW

183.435 - Conductors in Circuits of 50 Volts or More

(c) This section does not apply to communication systems; electronic navigation equipment; resistance conductors that control circuit amperage; conductors in secondary circuits of ignition systems; and pigtails of less than seven inches of expose length.


 

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