markfive510 wrote:Does using a heavier gauge power cord enable the motor to draw less current (thus less heat)?
Yes.
A load (effective power) is the quantity of electricity, measured in amperes, multiplied by the electric pressure, measured as voltage available at the load, and is expressed in watts.
The motor rating is supplied by the manufacturer in watts. It is then typically simply split in two, divided by the average voltage and the result is the average amps (full load amps -- FLA).
Wire resistance affects the voltage first. A conductor will never supply the full voltage to the load as was available at the supply. When a conductor is undersized, either by gauge, loose connections, or by length [including the hard wiring from the breaker], the motor voltage is decreased. The load (motor) is however still requiring it's total amount of watts and the amperes increase proportionally and generate more heat.
There is a thermostatic overload protector inside the motor which trips on excessive heat and interrupts the flow of electricity until the temperature returns to a safe level.
This internal overload can also be a cause of premature shutdown either by being defective or it itself can be getting hot by excessive current draw, before the motor can physically be classified as hot.
Motor voltage needs to be measured at the motor (best with a full load) and the connections at the terminal block need to be verified solid (tight).
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