A 44 A continuous load terminates on equipment whose terminals are listed for 75°C only. What is the smallest copper conductor from Table 310.16 that can be used?
Not quite. The answer is B: 6 AWG
Minimum ampacity is 44 A × 1.25 = 55 A. Because the terminals are only rated 75°C, the conductor must be sized from the 75°C column even if its insulation is 90°C-rated (110.14(C)(1)). 8 AWG reads 55 A on the 90°C column but only 50 A on the 75°C column — short of the requirement. 6 AWG reads 65 A at 75°C, which clears it. Reading the higher 90°C figure instead of respecting the equipment's termination limit is the exact mistake this rule is designed to catch.
Reference: NEC 2023 110.14(C)(1) (Temperature Limitations — Equipment Terminal Ratings)
Checked against multiple published sources
Two independent secondary sources agree on the requirement; neither is the code text. Both sources were written against an earlier table number (310.15(B)(16)); the 110.14(C)(1) temperature rule is the same, and the ampacity table is Table 310.16 in the 2023 NEC.