30 CFR Part 18, Appendix I
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
| Table No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Portable power cable ampacities—600 volts. |
| 2 | Portable cord ampacities—600 volts. |
| 3 | Portable power cable ampacities—601 to 5,000 volts. |
| 4 | Normal diameter of round cables with tolerances in inches—600 volts. |
| 5 | Nominal dimension of flat cables with tolerances in inches—600 volts. |
| 6 | Nominal diameter of heavy jacketed cords with tolerances in inches—600 volts. |
| 7 | Nominal diameter of three-conductor portable power cables with tolerances in inches—601 to 5,000 volts. |
| 8 | Fuse ratings or instantaneous settings of circuit breakers for short-circuit protection of portable cables. |
| 9 | Specifications for portable cables longer than 500 feet. |
| 10 | High voltage trailing cable ampacities and outside diameters. |
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | Single conductor | 2-conductor, round or flat | 3-conductor, round or flat | 4-conductor | 5-conductor | 6-conductor |
| 8 | 45 | 40 | 35 | 30 | 25 | 20 |
| 6 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 35 | 30 |
| 4 | 85 | 70 | 65 | 55 | 45 | 35 |
| 3 | 95 | 80 | 75 | 65 | 55 | 45 |
| 2 | 110 | 95 | 90 | 75 | 65 | 55 |
| 1 | 130 | 110 | 100 | 85 | 75 | 65 |
| 1/0 | 150 | 130 | 120 | 100 | 90 | 80 |
| 2/0 | 175 | 150 | 135 | 115 | 105 | 95 |
| 3/0 | 205 | 175 | 155 | 130 | 120 | 110 |
| 4/0 | 235 | 200 | 180 | 150 | 140 | 130 |
| 250 | 275 | 220 | 200 | 160 | | |
| 300 | 305 | 240 | 220 | 175 | | |
| 350 | 345 | 240 | 235 | 190 | | |
| 400 | 375 | 280 | 250 | 200 | | |
| 450 | 400 | 300 | 270 | 215 | | |
| 500 | 425 | 320 | 290 | 230 | | |
| Conductor size—AWG | 1-3 conductor | 4-6 conductor | 7-9 conductor |
| 14 | 15 | 12 | 8 |
| 12 | 20 | 16 | 11 |
| 10 | 25 | 20 | 14 |
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | 3-conductor types G-GC and SIIC-GC 2,000 volts | 3-conductor type SHD-GC 2,001-5,000 volts |
| 6 | 65 | 65 |
| 4 | 85 | 85 |
| 3 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | 115 | 115 |
| 1 | 130 | 130 |
| 1/0 | 145 | 145 |
| 2/0 | 170 | 170 |
| 3/0 | 195 | 195 |
| 4/0 | 220 | 220 |
| 250 | 245 | 245 |
| 300 | 275 | 275 |
| 350 | 305 | 305 |
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | Single conductor | 2-conductor | 3-conductor | 4-conductor—Types W & G | 5-conductor—Types W & G | 6-conductor |
| Types W & G twisted | Type PG, 2 power | Type PCG, 3 power, ground | Types W & G | Type PG, 3 power, ground | Type PCG, 3 power, 2 control, ground | Type w | Tolerance |
| 8 | 0.44 | 0.81 | 0.84 | 0.94 | 0.91 | 0.93 | 1.03 | 0.99 | 1.07 | 1.18 | ±0.03 |
| 6 | 0.51 | 0.93 | 0.93 | 0.98 | 1.01 | 1.03 | 1.18 | 1.1 | 1.21 | 1.31 | ±.03 |
| 4 | 0.57 | 1.08 | 1.08 | 1.1 | 1.17 | 1.2 | 1.29 | 1.27 | 1.4 | 1.52 | ±.03 |
| 3 | 0.63 | 1.17 | 1.17 | 1.2 | 1.24 | 1.27 | 1.31 | 1.34 | 1.48 | 1.61 | ±.03 |
| 2 | 0.66 | 1.27 | 1.27 | 1.29 | 1.34 | 1.34 | 1.39 | 1.48 | 1.61 | 1.75 | ±.03 |
| 1 | 0.74 | 1.44 | 1.44 | 1.44 | 1.51 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.68 | 1.88 | 2.05 | ±.03 |
| 1/0 | 0.77 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.65 | 1.68 | 1.68 | 1.79 | 1.96 | 2.13 | ±.04 |
| 2/0 | 0.82 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.75 | 1.79 | 1.79 | 1.93 | 2.13 | 2.32 | ±.04 |
| 3/0 | 0.87 | 1.77 | 1.77 | 1.77 | 1.89 | 1.93 | 1.93 | 2.07 | 2.26 | 2.49 | ±.05 |
| 4/0 | 0.93 | 1.92 | 1.92 | 1.92 | 2.04 | 2.13 | 2.13 | 2.26 | 2.46 | 2.71 | ±.05 |
| 250 | 1.03 | 2.16 | 2.16 | 2.16 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.66 | | | ±.06 |
| 300 | 1.09 | 2.32 | | | 2.56 | | | 2.84 | | | ±.06 |
| 350 | 1.15 | 2.43 | | | 2.68 | | | 2.98 | | | ±.06 |
| 400 | 1.2 | 2.57 | | | 2.82 | | | 3.14 | | | ±.06 |
| 450 | 1.26 | 2.67 | | | 2.94 | | | 3.26 | | | ±.06 |
| 500 | 1.31 | 2.76 | | | 3.03 | | | 3.4 | | | ±.06 |
| Conductor size—AWG | 2-conductor | 3-conductor—Type G |
| Type W | Type G | Major | Minor |
| Major | Minor | Major | Minor | O.D. | Tolerance | O.D. | Tolerance |
| O.D. | Tolerance | O.D. | Tolerance | O.D. | Tolerance | O.D. | Tolerance |
| 8 | 0.84 | ±0.04 | 0.51 | ±0.03 | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | 0.93 | ±.04 | 0.56 | ±.03 | 1.02 | ±.04 | 0.56 | ±.03 | 1.65 | ±0.06 | 0.67 | ±0.05 |
| 4 | 1.05 | ±.04 | 0.61 | ±.03 | 1.15 | ±.04 | 0.61 | ±.03 | 1.85 | ±.06 | 0.75 | ±.05 |
| 3 | 1.14 | ±.04 | 0.68 | ±.03 | 1.26 | ±.04 | 0.68 | ±.03 | 1.99 | ±.06 | 0.77 | ±.05 |
| 2 | 1.24 | ±.04 | 0.73 | ±.03 | 1.35 | ±.04 | 0.73 | ±.06 | 2.1 | ±.06 | 0.81 | ±.05 |
| 1 | 1.4 | ±.04 | 0.81 | ±.03 | 1.55 | ±.04 | 0.81 | ±.03 | 2.43 | ±.06 | 0.97 | ±.05 |
| 1/0 | 1.51 | ±.04 | 0.93 | ±.03 | 1.67 | ±.04 | 0.93 | ±.03 | | | | |
| 2/0 | 1.63 | ±.04 | 0.99 | ±.03 | 1.85 | ±.04 | 0.99 | ±.03 | | | | |
| 3/0 | 1.77 | ±.04 | 1.03 | ±.03 | 2 | ±.04 | 1.03 | ±.03 | | | | |
| 4/0 | 1.89 | ±.04 | 1.1 | ±.03 | 2.1 | ±.04 | 1.1 | ±.03 | | | | |
| Conductor size—AWG | 2-conductor | 3-conductor | 4-conductor | 5-conductor | 6-conductor | 7-conductor |
| Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance |
| 14 | 0.64 | ±0.02 | 0.67 | ±0.02 | 0.71 | ±0.02 | 0.78 | ±0.03 | 0.83 | ±0.03 | 0.89 | ±0.03 |
| 12 | 0.68 | ±.02 | 0.72 | ±.03 | 0.76 | ±.03 | 0.83 | ±.03 | 0.89 | ±.03 | 0.98 | ±.03 |
| 10 | 0.73 | ±.03 | 0.8 | ±.03 | 0.84 | ±.03 | 0.9 | ±.03 | 1 | ±.03 | 1.07 | ±.03 |
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | Type G-GC (nonshielded) 2,000 volts | Type SHC-GC (shielded overall) 2,000 volts | Type SHD-GC (individually shielded power conductors) 2,001-3,000 volts | Type SHD-GC (individually shielded power conductors) 3,001-5,000 volts |
| Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance | Diameter | Tolerance |
| 6 | 1.25 | + 0.10, −0.06 | 1.39 | + 0.11, −0.07 | 1.62 | + 0.13, −0.08 | 1.78 | + 0.14, −0.09 |
| 4 | 1.4 | + .11, −.07 | 1.55 | + .12, −.08 | 1.77 | + .14, −.09 | 1.9 | + .15, −.10 |
| 3 | 1.48 | + .12, −.07 | 1.62 | + .13, −.08 | 1.84 | + .15, −.09 | 1.98 | + .16, −.10 |
| 2 | 1.55 | + .12, −.08 | 1.71 | + .14, −.09 | 1.92 | + .15, −.10 | 2.09 | + .17, −.11 |
| 1 | 1.74 | + .14, −.09 | 1.89 | + .15, −.09 | 2.04 | + .16, −.10 | 2.18 | + .17, −.11 |
| 1/0 | 1.84 | + .15, −.09 | 2.02 | + .16, −.10 | 2.18 | + .17, −.11 | 2.34 | + .19, −.12 |
| 2/0 | 1.99 | + .16, −.10 | 2.16 | + .17, −.11 | 2.29 | + .18, −.12 | 2.46 | + .20, −.12 |
| 3/0 | 2.12 | + .17, −.11 | 2.3 | + .18, −.11 | 2.45 | + .20, −.12 | 2.62 | + .21, −.13 |
| 4/0 | 2.3 | + .18, −.12 | 2.48 | + .20, −.12 | 2.62 | + .21, −.13 | 2.76 | + .22, −.14 |
| 250 | 2.46 | + .20, −.12 | 2.7 | + .22, −.13 | | | | |
| 300 | 2.63 | + .21, −.13 | 2.84 | + .23, −.14 | | | | |
| 350 | 2.75 | + .22, −.14 | 2.97 | + .24, −.15 | | | | |
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | Ohms/1,000 ft. at 25 °C. | Maximum allowable fuse rating (amperes) | Maximum allowable circuit breaker instantaneous setting (amperes) 1 |
| 14 | 2.62 | 20 | 50 |
| 12 | 1.65 | 30 | 75 |
| 10 | 1.04 | 40 | 150 |
| 8 | 0.654 | 80 | 200 |
| 6 | 0.41 | 100 | 300 |
| 4 | 0.259 | 200 | 500 |
| 3 | 0.205 | 250 | 600 |
| 2 | 0.162 | 300 | 800 |
| 1 | 0.129 | 375 | 1,000 |
| 1/0 | 0.102 | 500 | 1,250 |
| 2/0 | 0.081 | | 1,500 |
| 3/0 | 0.064 | | 2,000 |
| 4/0 | 0.051 | | 2,500 |
| 250 | 0.043 | | 2,500 |
| 300 | 0.036 | | 2,500 |
| 350 | 0.031 | | 2,500 |
| 400 | 0.027 | | 2,500 |
| 450 | 0.024 | | 2,500 |
| 500 | 0.022 | | 2,500 |
1 Higher circuit-breaker settings may be permitted for special applications when justified.
| Conductor size—AWG or MCM | Max. allowable length (feet) | Normal ampacity at 60 °C. copper temperature (40 °C. ambient) | Resistance at 60 °C. copper temperature (ohms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 550 | 50 | 0.512 |
| 4 | 600 | 70 | 0.353 |
| 3 | 650 | 80 | 0.302 |
| 2 | 700 | 95 | 0.258 |
| 1 | 750 | 110 | 0.22 |
| 1/0 | 800 | 130 | 0.185 |
| 2/0 | 850 | 150 | 0.157 |
| 3/0 | 900 | 175 | 0.13 |
| 4/0 | 1,000 | 200 | 0.116 |
| 250 | 1,000 | 220 | 0.098 |
| 300 | 1,000 | 240 | 0.082 |
| 350 | 1,000 | 260 | 0.07 |
| 400 | 1,000 | 280 | 0.061 |
| 450 | 1,000 | 300 | 0.054 |
| 500 | 1,000 | 320 | .050 |
1 Fuses shall not be used for short-circuit protection of these cables. Circuit breakers shall be used with the instantaneous trip settings not to exceed the values given in Table 8.
| Power conductor | Ampacity * | Outside diameter **(inches) |
|---|---|---|
| Size AWG or kcmil | Amperes per conductor | SHD-GC 2001 to 5000 volts | SHD-CGC 2001 to 5000 volts | SHD-PCG 2001 to 5000 volts |
| 6 | 93 | 1.56 | 1.62 | |
| 4 | 122 | 1.68 | 1.73 | |
| 3 | 140 | 1.78 | 1.82 | 1.94 |
| 2 | 159 | 1.87 | 1.91 | 2.03 |
| 1 | 184 | 1.95 | 1.98 | 2.12 |
| 1/0 | 211 | 2.08 | 2.1 | 2.26 |
| 2/0 | 243 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| 3/0 | 279 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 2.58 |
| 4/0 | 321 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.76 |
| 250 | 355 | 2.69 | 2.69 | |
| 300 | 398 | 2.81 | 2.81 | |
| 350 | 435 | 2.95 | 2.95 | |
| 500 | 536 | 3.31 | 3.31 | |
* These ampacities are based on single isolated conductor in air, operated with open-circuited shield for a 90 °C conductor temperature and an ambient temperature of 40 °C.
** Tolerances for the outside diameter are + 8%/−5%.
[33 FR 4660, Mar. 19, 1968; 33 FR 6345, Apr. 26, 1968, as amended at 42 FR 8373, Feb. 10, 1977; 75 FR 17549, Apr. 6, 2010; 75 FR 20918, Apr. 22, 2010]