new 200 amp service


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Old 02-20-07, 10:45 AM
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new 200 amp service

I am putting in a new 200 amp service panel. I have some awg 4 600 volt aluminum wire. An electrician told me it was fine to run from the meter to the panel. Any thoughts?
 
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Old 02-20-07, 11:05 AM
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AWG 4 aluminum wire? Sorrry, that's way too small.

4-0 aluminum, that's what you want for a 200 amp service.
 
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Old 02-20-07, 11:12 AM
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First, #4 is too small. If it's actually #4/0 (appx 5/8" diameter), then it may be okay.

We need some more information about the insulation of the wire before we can say for certain. Please post back all of the printed information the wire itself. You're looking for a line that goes something like this, possibly with different letter codes:

"600V 4/0 AWG AL XHHW-2"
 
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Old 02-20-07, 11:14 AM
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Aluminum bothers me anyway. I originally was going to buy 2/0 copper. That's the top of the scale for a 200 amp service. I was told that 4/0 would be fine if the 200 amp was overkill for my house load (and it is). What would be the recommendation? Do I need to run it in conduit? It's 25 feet from the outside meter along floor joists to the new 200 amp panel.
 
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Old 02-20-07, 11:37 AM
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> What would be the recommendation?

A 200A service of reasonable distance (<100') is just fine with either #2/0 copper or #4/0 aluminum. Given the price of copper, it's hard not to recommend aluminum. The only special considerations with the termination of aluminum wire are that it must be shined up with a wire brush, coated with non-oxidation grease, and torqued to the panel manufacturer's specs (which really should be done with copper too).

> Do I need to run it in conduit?

Service entrances need to be in either metal conduit (EMT, IMC, RMC) or schedule 80 PVC conduit (RNC). Standard schedule 40 PVC is not acceptable, nor are flexible conduits. If the service wires attach to a conduit mast above the roofline, then you need to contact your power company for structural requirements of the mast.

The (3) #2/0 copper conductors require a minimum of 1-1/2" conduit, and the (3) #4/0 aluminum conductors require a minimum of 2" conduit. However, local or power company rules frequently overrule national code on service entrances -- check with your electrical inspector and/or power company.

> It's 25 feet from the outside meter along floor joists to the new 200
> amp panel.

If the service entrance runs 25' into the house, you will need to either install a main disconnect outdoors or redesign the conduit run to follow the exterior of the building. It is no longer legal to have un-fused conductors run through a dwelling for more than 5'. This issue needs to be resolved first, because it will determine if you need to install (hot-hot-neutral) conductors to the house panel or (hot-hot-neutral-ground) conductors.
 
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Old 02-20-07, 12:07 PM
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Good info. Thank you.
 
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Old 03-01-11, 07:47 AM
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Hey *****, This Thread is 4 years old ! ! !
 
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Old 03-01-11, 08:07 AM
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I am locking this thread. If you have a similar question please start a new thread.
 
 

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