What Size Cable For 200 Amp Service

What Size Wire For 200 Amp Service Surreptitious?

Choosing the right wire for 200 amp service is a matter of safety. The wire that yous utilize for 200 amp service depends on the material, and you'll need #iv/0 wire if it is aluminum. Whether it be copper, copper-clad, or aluminum, let's have a look at what size wire y'all demand for 200 amp service.

What Size Wire for 200 Amp Service Underground

If you are running an clandestine 200 amp service, then you lot may be wondering what size wire to utilise in your installation. We're going to answer that question for you, however, keep in mind that you may demand a let and that a professional should exercise the installation.

For a iii″ conduit, a #4/0 AWG aluminum/copper-clad wire or a #ii/0 AWG copper wire is needed for a 200 amp electric service. In virtually states, this is non a DIY projection as hiring an electrician and obtaining certain permits is required in order to accept your wire installed co-ordinate to your local electric codes.

Electrical piece of work tin be a daunting task if you practise not know all of the requirements, codes, and permit rules. Y'all should first past finding out what codes and permits are needed in your surface area.

This information is provided equally our informed opinion and does not constitute actual communication from a licensed professional.

Wire Size for 200 Amp Service

Inside a 3′′ conduit, a 200 amp electrical service requires #ii/0 AWG copper wire or #iv/0 AWG aluminum or copper-clad wire.

A 200 amp electrical service is not a exercise-it-yourself project. It oft necessitates obtaining a permit and having a skilled electrician install it according to local electrical codes.

However, you can always check with your local authorities to meet what exactly is required for your region. The table beneath shows the size, voltage driblet, and length of the wiring:

Service/Feeder Rating (Amperes)	Copper-Clad Aluminum/Aluminum Wire (AWG or kcmil)	Copper Wire (AWG or kcmil)
100	4	two
110	3	1
125	2	1/0
150	1	2/0
175	1/0	three/0
200	ii/0	4/0
225	3/0	250
250	four/0	300
300	250	350
400	400	600

Video: What Size Wire for Your Electric Console

Using Copper Conductors

We suggest using copper conductors if information technology fits into your budget. Copper is ameliorate than aluminum for many reasons. It has been the most widely used type of wire for 200 years and holds upwardly well over time.

If your home has a large load capacity, then using copper will assistance brand sure that everything that your house runs, will hold upwards to the 200 amp service y'all are installing. If you are worried about the copper wire turning black, don't exist. It is natural for copper wires to get discolored through the process of oxidation.

Reasons to Use Copper Wiring

When it comes to wiring, copper is favored. Copper wire has a number of advantages, including:

Copper tin reach farther. Copper's strong conductive qualities and heat resistance allow it to be used beyond longer distances.
Copper wire is more heat resistant than aluminum wire considering of its conductive qualities. Because copper wire does not aggrandize and contract like aluminum, the wire connections on lugs stay tight.
Copper is more flexible. Considering copper is extremely conductive, the wire strands are thinner, assuasive the wire to bend more than easily without breaking.
Copper wire is 2d only to silver in terms of electrical electrical conductivity. Copper has a better electrical load carrying capacity, needing less insulation and a smaller wire gauge. For the aforementioned conductivity, copper wiring is well-nigh one-half the size of aluminum wiring.
Corrosion Resistant. Copper is a corrosion-resistant metal. Patina, a tarnish that forms on copper due to oxidation, has no effect on its electrical conductivity.

Using Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum

Aluminum will work if you are on a budget. Information technology is cheaper than copper, but does not bear electricity also, and could be less than ideal if your domicile has a large load capacity. For this reason, if you are using aluminum, nosotros suggest copper-clad aluminum.

It helps the aluminum acquit ameliorate and keeps it from corroding as much. You volition spend a little bit more, but yous will be happy that you did.

Aluminum expands and contracts with heat, this can crusade the wiring to loosen over time, and could eventually cause a fire chance.

Why Employ Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire?

For a diverseness of reasons, aluminum wire is preferred for service entry wire, including:

Faster Installation. Because aluminum is lightweight and flexible, it tin be installed more quickly than copper, saving time and money.
Aluminum is lightweight. Despite the wire gauge being near twice the size of copper, aluminum is lightweight and relatively flexible, making information technology easier to work with.
Aluminum wire is preferred since information technology is less expensive. When compared to copper wire, aluminum wiring is less expensive to manufacture. Copper-clad aluminum wiring is recommended, however, it is more expensive than aluminum wiring.
It is more suitable for residential settings. Aluminum service wiring is made out of smaller solid aluminum strands rather than a single solid wire, making it suitable for usage in residential settings.

How Many Feet of Wire Are You Running?

Yous will also need to consider how many feet of wire you will exist running. This can be a deciding factor, in whether or non y'all will use copper or aluminum wire.

While both wires are rated to be used with 200 amp service, copper can exist used at longer lengths. This is considering it conducts better and does not aggrandize and contract like aluminum.

With long distances, aluminum can interfere with the flow of electricity. At that place are precautions y'all tin take if you are going with aluminum, such every bit using copper-clad aluminum and using special copper fittings on the ends of the aluminum wire.

The Distance the Service Wire is Running

Wire made of aluminum and copper is rated for 200 amps of service. The aluminum judge, on the other manus, will exist college due to its lower conductivity and heat resistance. Copper wire tin be used over a greater altitude.

One thing you should consider is how long the service wire will get from the meter to the electric panel when you determine the wire size. The greatest voltage drop is iii%. The voltage drib will oft determine whether copper or aluminum wire can be used, likewise as the guess required.

Distances may differ depending on where you are:

Service Wire Size	Distance (Approximate) to Maintain 3% Voltage Drop
Aluminum #4/0 Wire	50 feet
Aluminum 300kcmil	100 anxiety
Copper #2/0 Wire	50 feet
Copper #3/0 Wire	100 feet
Copper #4/0 Wire	150 anxiety

How Load Impacts Voltage Drop

Every bit the load on a excursion increases, the voltage drop increases, and overload on a circuit volition contribute to excessive voltage drib.

Put just, if you have too many loads on a circuit and surpass the standard 80 percent safe chapters, you will be adding superfluous voltage driblet. To avoid this, maintain the total load on the excursion to lxxx per centum or less of the total capacity.

Sizing Conductors

It is recommended by the National Electrical Lawmaking (NEC) to use a maximum voltage drop of iii percent for individual household circuits, or branch circuits. This number is likewise a good guide for sizing the conductors for an underground run.

Cheque the Codes

The codes tin vary past country, or location, so e'er brand sure that you check your local codes earlier having whatsoever electric work done. The codes volition permit you know what AWG wire you lot should utilise, for whatever amount of amps.

While the wire sizes we accept provided should be expert plenty to run your 200 amp service, in that location may be extra rules that utilise to use them in your location.

If y'all are unsure of how to check the codes, or what they hateful, make certain that yous have a professional making the terminal decision. This can save yous time and coin, by avoiding mistakes early on on.

Do You Need a Permit?

You may need a permit to install a 200 amp service. The final matter yous want to practice is go your functioning shut downwardly for not using the correct permits. Near large electrical operations, such as a 200 amp service, require a permit.

You will demand a licensed professional to pull your let. We suggest ever using a professional when doing something of this magnitude. Electric piece of work can exist dangerous, even if you know a picayune bit almost it. An underground 200 amp service has a lot of power, parts, and work that must be done properly.

Cost to Install 200 Amp Electric Service

The price of installing a 200 amp service will vary depending on your region and local textile costs. The toll will also be decided by the amount of piece of work required. A 200 amp electrical service usually entails the installation of a 200 amp service wire, conduit, meter base, and a 200 amp electric console.

Co-ordinate to several electricians that we reached out to for quotes, a complete 200 amp electric installation will cost between $1,600 and $six,400, with a median cost of around $3,800, and will include the following:

200-amp Service Wire Costs: Between $1000 and $1500 on average, with a median of $1250.
The boilerplate cost of a 200 amp service panel: Betwixt $500 and $4000, with a typical price of $2000.
The average price of a 200 amp meter base: Betwixt $100 and $650, with a typical cost of $450.

Tips for Installing a 200 Amp Service Hugger-mugger

Here are a few tips that volition help make up one's mind what is needed for installing a 200 amp service. These are best practices that you should effort to follow.

Use a licensed professional. Do not cutting corners when it comes to electrical work of this size, ever use a professional. Performing electrical piece of work is incredibly dangerous and should only be done by a certified expert.
You volition need an inspector for a 200 amp service. Since this is a big performance, you will take to take a let and an inspector.
Never take chances with safe. Practice not perform whatsoever of this work if you are not a licensed professional, this guide is meant to teach yous only what is involved.
Use special fixtures with aluminum. If you are using aluminum wire, consider using special copper fixtures that are pigtailed onto the ends of the aluminum.

As always, working with electricity requires special caution. It is crucial that you NEVER effort any sort of electrical work without the necessary experience.

Follow the above best practices, and y'all volition be well underway to getting your 200 amp service, with the correct wiring.