Breaker Sizing Calculator for Arkansas
NEC 2020 breaker sizing math for EV charger installers working in Arkansas.
Every EVSE branch in Arkansas is treated as a continuous load per NEC 2020 Article 625 — the OCPD must be sized at 125% of the EVSE's listed maximum draw.
Worked example for Arkansas
A 80 A continuous EV load requires a breaker rated 100 A (80 × 1.25 = 100.0 A, rounded up to the next standard size). The conductor downstream must carry that 100 A after Arkansas's 0.82× ampacity correction.
Code & Utilities
Arkansas currently enforces the NEC 2020 edition, adopted in 2022. That includes Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) requirements: 125% continuous-load sizing on EVSE branch circuits, GFCI protection at outdoor receptacles, and provisions for energy management systems on shared circuits.
Major electric utilities serving Arkansas include Entergy Arkansas, Southwestern Electric Power, Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. Always verify the applicable tariff and any utility-specific requirements (CT cabinets, metering enclosures, demand limiters) at design time.
Climate & Ampacity
Plan EV feeders against a 96°F ambient in Arkansas — the resulting NEC 310.15(B) correction of 0.82× is what trims a #6 THWN-2 down to its true continuous rating. Because the correction is below 0.9, conductors that "look fine" on a 30°C ampacity table will not carry their nameplate current here — always derate explicitly.
Arkansas takeaway
Use a 100%-rated breaker only when the panel and breaker are both listed for 100% continuous duty — otherwise the 125% rule applies. Arkansas inspectors enforce this rigorously on Article 625 work.