Subpanel feeder

I am adding a 100amp subpanel next to my 200amp service panel, there is no more room in the service panel. The feeder wire I am using is 2 awg Al wire. After running the grounding wire (bare copper) and the 3 wires from my Al feed wire. I realized that the nuetral, which is uninsulated AL, contacts the box itself. This is between the knockout (entrance to the box) and the lugs to dog it down.

I know that the grounding bus and the nuetral bus need to be isolated, and they are. My question is:

The bare Al wire making contact with the box seems to contradict the concept of isolating the two buses. Is this correct, and do I need to insulate the bare AL wire? If so, what is the best method? would white electrical tape work.?

Thanks

 

You cannot use an uninsulated wire for the neutral in a feeder. You cannot insulate it with tape. You need to buy an insulated wire.

 

What you will require is "SER" cable. It contains three insulated conductors plus a bare ground in an overall sheath. This cable is not very expensive and is available at most home centers by the foot.

You can also run three individual insulated conductors plus a bare ground if in conduit.

It is worth tossing the cable you already bought to do it legal.

Juice