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I have 15 kW electrical motor that will be connected to a 50 V battery. I'm trying to determine the wire gauge/AWG. Looking at AWG created confusion from as every chart has different recommendation. I would like to know how can I determine the wire gauge ?
Additional Information:
You're gonna get some. How much is acceptable?
If you decided in percentage, convert that to volts by multiplying the percentage x your voltage. Now, apply Ohm's Law:
(Tolerable) Voltage (drop) = current x resistance
X volts tolerable = 315A x resistance
X /315A = max resistance per 3m
Now divide both sides by 3
X / 315A / 3 = max resistance per m
now multiply both sides x 1000m since most wires are rated in resistance per 1000m
X / 315A / 3 * 1000 = max resistance per 1000m
X / 315A / 3 * 1000 / 3.28 = max resistance per 1000 feet
Generally your local electrical codes, or appliance design standards, will specify a maximum current for a particular size of wiring. So for instance, when I did your calculation, I got this result based on resistance alone:
for 4% (2 volt drop) I get 0.0063 ohms. 2.116 ohms per 1km. 0.645 ohms per 1000'. That gives 6 AWG aluminum (17 mm2) or 8 AWG copper (8.3 mm2).
That won't work! Those wires are only allowed 50A! (at 75C thermal). In fact I once saw an installation of #6 copper where the insulation had melted so completely that it extruded into the strands of wire. Don't do that.
In your case, your wire run is so short that your question will be decided by the thermal/safety minimums of the wire.
For instance in North America: for in-wall wiring, for 315A you'd need 500 kcmil aluminum (250 mm2). However for outdoor pole line wiring, 250 kcmil aluminum (125 mm2) is acceptable at 315A. (because it will cool better in free air).
If you have a huge wire, or any significant distance to go, don't blow money on copper conductors. Go over into AC mains distribution parts bin and use aluminum wire. America has long experience with aluminum, and has it dialed in.
The crux is two things: First, always use lug connectors whose bodies are made of aluminum to connect aluminum wires. They work great on copper too -- thermal characteristics work favorably there. Second, (and America found this to be an issue for copper also, in fact it was discovered in a copper context!), set torques with a torque wrench. Use of antioxidant can help too, but it's not important enough to be a Code requirement.
