Circuit wire size 2

[jrick]

A family member is (in my opinion) about to make a mess at minimum and a disaster possibly.
In an attempt to use wiring that is already in place to create a mobile home 50 amp 4 pole RV connection. He plans to use a series of different types and sizes of wire by splicing together conductors that are in place but unused to complete a 125 foot run. From the breaker there will be two 10 awg romex wires each one will have both insulated wires twisted together the two bare wires to ground. A 6awg will serve as the white. Common what ever it is called, this runs 15 feet into attic. in a box splice the "four leads" 2 10 awg hot,
2 10 awg hot, 2 10 bare ground, 6 awg white common ,, , to to four 8 awg ran in 1" conduit 40 feet. The last leg outside is back to 2 10 awg direct burial and 1 number 8 as common simular to first of run.

WHEN you finish laughing or scratching your head please help me to exlain(if I am correct) why this is a bad idea as he should know more about this than I. It just sounds like a potential disaster to me. but I can not explain why.

I have been reading. He says that two 10 awg twisted together should handle 50 amp RV CIRCUIT. I read it should be 6 awg. And elsewhere that it would take 3 10's or 2 10's and a 12 to equal 6 awg. Another site said 4 conductors of 6awg required for rv connection that is over 100feet. One site said 4 conductors of 4awg. For four pole RV hookup 125 foot run

 

[Mbrooke]

You can only parallel sizes 1/0 and larger:

https://www.electricallicenserenewa...ation-Courses/NEC-Content.php?sectionID=297.0

I also doubt the breaker is rated for two wires under one lug.

So his idea is technically against code. Will it work safely? Probably provided you're not missing anything else. Should he do it? No.

 

[xnuke]

I hope he realizes that if his code violation causes a fire, his insurance company won't cover any damages. I'm not even going to get into the multiple other code violations that could be happening here, as the one previously pointed out is enough for a denial of any claim.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[bacon4life]

The current in parallel wires is rarely equally split between all conductors. A small difference in the length of cable or any asymmetry in the routing of conductors can cause one cable to carry much more than half of the current. If one of the paralleled conductors were to become open, the remain conductor would carry all of the current. Given that this person does not appear to care about electrical code issues, they likely do not care about the high level of workmanship required for successfully paralleling wires (when allowed by code).