Wire Gauge Size 100 AMP Service From Meter box to Main Breaker Box - Mobile Home
#1
07-26-15, 01:48 AM
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Wire Gauge Size 100 AMP Service From Meter box to Main Breaker Box - Mobile Home
We are at the end of a mobile home trailer move and I'm not entirely sure who I'm dealing with is giving me the right information, so I turn to you guys who've always done me right in the past.
What gauge ALUMINUM (and what wire assembly) goes from meter box to the main principal breaker box in the mobile home trailer?
What gauge COPPER (and what wire assembly) goes from meter box to the main principal breaker box in the mobile home trailer?
The person doing the installation is an a/c man (a friend), but he is doing it with #4 ALUMINUM from the meter pedestal to the main principal breaker box in the trailer home.
If that is too small a gauge? What will happen? Will electronics start to break? or breakers just trip if there is too much load?
Please help. The installation should be wrapping up 7/27/2015 and I can't let it be completed if its wrong. Thanks.
What gauge ALUMINUM (and what wire assembly) goes from meter box to the main principal breaker box in the mobile home trailer?
What gauge COPPER (and what wire assembly) goes from meter box to the main principal breaker box in the mobile home trailer?
The person doing the installation is an a/c man (a friend), but he is doing it with #4 ALUMINUM from the meter pedestal to the main principal breaker box in the trailer home.
If that is too small a gauge? What will happen? Will electronics start to break? or breakers just trip if there is too much load?
Please help. The installation should be wrapping up 7/27/2015 and I can't let it be completed if its wrong. Thanks.
#3
07-26-15, 05:44 AM
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#5
07-26-15, 07:17 AM
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#4 copper and #2 aluminum is permitted for 120/240 volt single phase services and feeders for dwellings under NEC 310.15(B)(7) (2011). These rules have not changed for many years. The 2014 NEC only changes the calculations how it is calculated, the results are the same.
If using aluminum, be sure to use anti-oxidation paste.
If using aluminum, be sure to use anti-oxidation paste.
#7
07-26-15, 07:20 AM
#2 Al minimum for the two hots and neutral and #6 for the ground but it depends on wire type. What type wire is he using? What is the wiring method, mobile home quadplex, individual conductors in conduit or what? He is using four wires isn't he?
#8
07-26-15, 09:50 AM
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[QUOTE]#4 copper and #2 aluminum is permitted for 120/240 volt single phase services and feeders for dwellings under NEC 310.15(B)(7) (2011). These rules have not changed for many years. The 2014 NEC only changes the calculations how it is calculated, the results are the same.
[/QUOTE]
This is correct per the NEC, but local codes could be different.
This is DEFINITELY WRONG! Under a heavy load the #4 aluminum could burn up before the 100 amp breaker ever trips.
You must have a 4-wire feeder between the 100 amp breaker at the meter and the mobile home.
[/QUOTE]
This is correct per the NEC, but local codes could be different.
The person doing the installation is an a/c man (a friend), but he is doing it with #4 ALUMINUM from the meter pedestal to the main principal breaker box in the trailer home.
You must have a 4-wire feeder between the 100 amp breaker at the meter and the mobile home.
#9
07-30-15, 08:11 AM
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Sorry to scare everyone. Been a while since I referred to my cable gauges and noted the right terms.
I forgot that #4 is different than #4/0 - lol - Big difference. I don't even know the correct "english speaking way" to say "4/0 gauge wire" - do you just say: " 4 slash zero gauge wire" ???
Anyways, to correct this post... he had 4/0 cable with 4 big fatty 4/0 cables in it - aluminum... even the ground was/is 4/0 and didn't need to be. AND it wasn't 100amp service, it was 200amp... with a separate feed to the a/c for mobile home (single wide trailer 15.5ft x 80ft) service. I was relying on info from a/c guy and I should've looked myself as I normally do.
See photos for the Meter box outside Pre-Hookup. Not sure why all these photos are showing turned 90 to the left from my phone, but they should be 90 degrees to the right .. as that is upright.
I was very relieved to find that 4/0 can handle 200 amp service when I thought we were running 100amp service.. but I really don't ever see the trailer utilizing 200amps of service anyway, so I think the occupant has plenty of bandwidth (if thats the right term to say) for power now.
I forgot that #4 is different than #4/0 - lol - Big difference. I don't even know the correct "english speaking way" to say "4/0 gauge wire" - do you just say: " 4 slash zero gauge wire" ???
Anyways, to correct this post... he had 4/0 cable with 4 big fatty 4/0 cables in it - aluminum... even the ground was/is 4/0 and didn't need to be. AND it wasn't 100amp service, it was 200amp... with a separate feed to the a/c for mobile home (single wide trailer 15.5ft x 80ft) service. I was relying on info from a/c guy and I should've looked myself as I normally do.
See photos for the Meter box outside Pre-Hookup. Not sure why all these photos are showing turned 90 to the left from my phone, but they should be 90 degrees to the right .. as that is upright.
I was very relieved to find that 4/0 can handle 200 amp service when I thought we were running 100amp service.. but I really don't ever see the trailer utilizing 200amps of service anyway, so I think the occupant has plenty of bandwidth (if thats the right term to say) for power now.
#10
07-30-15, 09:16 AM
The correct way to write it is "0000". This led to people calling it "four oh" and that led to it being informally abbreviated 4-0. (Or that's my explanation and I'm sticking to it till someone proves me wrong.
)
)
#13
07-30-15, 10:36 AM
4 aught is also the common pronunciation around here, but as with many terms of the trade I'm sure it will be different around the country.
#14
07-30-15, 06:59 PM
Group Moderator
Think buckshot. You say double aught buckshot, not Double oh, right? 
It's four aught wire.
the connections look to be missing anti oxidation paste. That should be used any time terminating aluminum wire.
It's four aught wire.the connections look to be missing anti oxidation paste. That should be used any time terminating aluminum wire.
#15
07-31-15, 03:15 AM
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