Guidelines for a Safety-Oriented Application

VFD Cable Selection Guide

VFD Motor Properties Selection Chart for VFD Cables per NEC
Small motor properties AWG size selection chart for VFD cables:
VFD XLPE TR, VFD Combo XLPE, VFD Symmetrical XLPE, and VFD XLPE Auto
Drive HP 230 V 3Ø
AWG
460 V 3Ø
AWG
575 V 3Ø
AWG
1/4 - 3 14 16 18
5 14 14 16
7 1/2 12 14 14
10 10 14 14
15 8 12 14
20 6 10 12
25 4 8 10
30 3 8 10
40 2 6 8
50 1/0 4 6
60 2/0 3 4
75 3/0 2 3
100 300 MCM 1/0 2
125 500 MCM 2/0 1/0
150 -- 3/0 2/0
200 -- 300 MCM 4/0
250 -- 400 MCM 300 MCM
300 -- -- 400 MCM
350 -- -- 500 MCM
400 - 500 -- -- --
Note: The above table references the suggested wire AWG to use based on Horse Power (HP) and the Full Load Current (FLC) times 125% per NEC Art. 430-22 (G) (1) and (2) for small motors. For special motor types NEC Art. 430-22 (A) - (G) may give additional restrictions for conductor sizes.
Amperes (FLC) were determined from NEC Art. 430-250.
VFD Cable Selection Guide - 1pr
Drive HP 230 V 1pr
AWG
460 V 1pr
AWG
575 V 1pr
AWG
1/4 - 3 14 16* 16*
5 14 14 14
7 1/2 10 14 14
10 8 14 14
15 6 10 12
20 -- 8 10
25 -- 8 8
30 -- 6 8
40 -- -- 6
50 -- -- --
* If the circuit is protected according NEC 43022 (G) (1) (1) or (G) (1) (2).
* Otherwise AWG 14.
VFD Cable Selection Guide - 2pr
Drive HP 230 V 2pr
AWG
460 V 2pr
AWG
575 V 2pr
AWG
1/4 - 3 14 14 16*
5 12 14 14
7 1/2 10 14 14
10 8 12 14
15 4 10 10
20 -- 8 10
25 -- 6 8
30 -- 6 6
40 -- -- 6
50 -- -- --