Electrical – Continuous Load Definition for Feeder Wire

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I understand that for feeder wire from a service entry panel to a subpanel the conductor wires need to be sized according to 125% of the continuous load plus 100% of the non-continuous load. I've also found various definitions (CEC and non-residential NEC) for continuous loads being those on for more than 1 hour in a 2 hour period.

For residential usage, I generally won't have all the continuous loads running simultaneously (ex. lights, an EV charger, HVAC, etc.), so do I still have to sum all the continuous loads or can I size for an average continuous load?

EDIT:
The question also applies to non-continuous loads. Do I need to sum all of them, even if not all will be active simultaneously?

Best Answer

Under the NEC there is no differentiation between residential and non-residential with regard to continuous loads. A continuous load has a very clear definition that most people interpret wrong. It's not any load that "is on" for a certain amount of time. It is a load that is expected to run at maximum current for a certain amount of time, three hours.

Continuous Load.

A load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more.

The key words here are "expected" and "maximum current".