By ampacity alone, a 50 A circuit needs 8 AWG copper (or 6 AWG aluminum) at the 75 °C column. But past a certain distance, voltage drop — not ampacity — picks the size. The chart below shows the real answer.
| One-way distance | 120 V copper | 240 V copper | 240 V aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 8 AWG | 8 AWG | 6 AWG |
| 50 ft | 6 AWG | 8 AWG | 6 AWG |
| 75 ft | 4 AWG | 8 AWG | 6 AWG |
| 100 ft | 4 AWG | 6 AWG | 4 AWG |
| 150 ft | 2 AWG | 4 AWG | 3 AWG |
| 200 ft | 1 AWG | 4 AWG | 2 AWG |
| 300 ft | 2/0 AWG | 2 AWG | 1/0 AWG |
| 500 ft | 4/0 AWG | 1/0 AWG | 3/0 AWG |
Short runs are governed by ampacity; long runs by drop. For this load the crossover happens where the table first steps above 8 AWG. For a 5% total budget the distances stretch 1.67×. Continuous loads (3+ hours) must also be breakered at 125% — size the overcurrent device accordingly.
Only where the drop stays acceptable. 8 AWG copper handles 50 A thermally, but on a long run the voltage drop will exceed 3% — check the distance chart or the calculator above.
The conductor must be protected at or below its ampacity (per NEC 240.4); continuous loads are calculated at 125%. Breaker sizing is a separate check from voltage drop.