What Type Wire For 100 Amp Service Inside A House

If you want to install a 100 amp electrical service for a detached garage or a new room addition, you must use the proper gauge wire. To consummate the skilled work, you'll need a allow. Check with your local building section to see if you can get the permit or whether you'll require the assistance of an electrician.

Installation of 100 amp electrical service or subpanel needs a #iv AWG copper wire or #2 AWG aluminum or copper-clad wire inside a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule forty or fourscore PVC electric conduit for hole-and-corner service. Wiring 100 amp service for a garage or room addition does crave an electric permit and professional installation by a qualified electrician post-obit local electric codes.

Homes today have a 200 amp meter box connecting to the main feeder billow disconnect and so to a secondary panel (subpanel). A 100 amp secondary circuit breaker panel has private circuit breakers bringing additional circuits to a designated expanse, like a garage, shop, shed, pool business firm, or improver.

Size Wire for 100 Amp Service

AWG, American Wire Gauge, is the United states of america standard for sizing electrical wiring.

Wiring a 100 amp breaker panel requires either #four copper wiring or #two aluminum or copper-clad wiring. Which wire used is determined past the voltage drop and length of the wiring.

The following tabular array reflects wiring size, length, and voltage driblet:

Service or Feeder Rating	Copper Wire	Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire	Minimum Conduit Size
100 Amps	#4 AWG	#2 AWG	1.25 inch
110 Amps	#iii AWG	#1 AWG	1.25 inch
125 Amps	#2 AWG	#ane/0 AWG	ane.25 inch
150 Amps	#1 AWG	#ii/0 AWG	1.25 inch
175 Amps	#1/0 AWG	#3/0 AWG	i.5 inch
200 Amps	#2/0 AWG	#4/0 AWG	1.5 inch
225 Amps	#3/0 AWG	250 kcmil	1.5 inch
250 Amps	#four/0 AWG	300 kcmil	2 inch
300 Amps	250 kcmil	350 kcmil	2.five inch
350 Amps	350 kcmil	500 kcmil	3 inch
400 Amps	400 kcmil	600 kcmil	three inch

Source: National Electrical Code

Many licensed electricians use #two copper-clad or aluminum wire size. Because it has a lower conductivity than copper, aluminum wiring requires a larger diameter wire. You'll need a #two guess wire for both aluminum and copper-clad aluminum wire.

To resist corrosion, the connection terminals of aluminum wiring require an antioxidant coating. At the connection terminals, copper-clad aluminum does not need an antioxidant layer.

Aluminum wiring appeals to many since information technology is less expensive, lighter, and more flexible than copper. Fifty-fifty though copper is acknowledged to be a superior conductor, it is however cheaper, lighter, and more than flexible than aluminum.

For copper wiring, you'll need a #four AWG copper wire that is ordinarily used for electrical wiring since it is more than estrus resistant than aluminum. Copper doesn't rust and is unaffected by oxidation.

Why Copper Wiring is Preferred over Aluminum

Copper conductors are popular amongst electricians and homeowners alike for branch circuits. Copper wiring has several advantages, including:

Conductivity: Copper wire is a highly conductive textile, second just to argent. Copper tin handle a greater electrical demand, and then yous may use a lower gauge wire. For the aforementioned level of conductivity, copper wire is around half the bore of aluminum wire.
Heat Resistant: Copper wire is more heat-resistant than aluminum wire since it has better estrus conductive properties. The connections on the lugs stay tight due to the fact that copper wire does not aggrandize and contract like aluminum.
Corrosion Resistant: Copper is resistant to corrosion. The color of the outer surface of copper changes when it patinas. Oxidation causes patina, which does not affect conductivity.
Malleability: Copper wire is more than malleable and conductive than aluminum wire. Considering copper is highly conductive, the wire strands are thinner, allowing for greater malleability without hazard of breaking.
Distance: Copper may be used over greater distances owing to its highly conductive characteristics and rut tolerance.

Pros of Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire

Stranded aluminum or copper-clad wire is more popular on service entry cablevision for a variety of reasons, including:

Upkeep Friendly: Due to its lower cost, aluminum wiring is pop. Aluminum copper-clad wire is superior in terms of cost but less expensive than aluminum wiring. Aluminum wiring is a lot more affordable than copper-clad and copper wires.
Installation is Quicker: Aluminum is lighter than copper and much more malleable in terms of wire gauge. Electricians savour working with it because it is lightweight and readily passes through the electric conduit, resulting in faster installation and lower material and labor costs.

When calculating wire size, you must know the length of the service line from the meter base to the electrical panel. The maximum voltage drop permitted is three%, and we volition discuss it in greater depth presently. Choosing betwixt aluminum or copper wire depends on how far your service entry wire needs to travel.

The Length Your Service Wire Runs Matters

When calculating wire size, you must know the length of the service line from the meter base to the electrical panel. The maximum voltage drop permitted is three%, and we will discuss information technology in greater depth shortly. Choose between aluminum or copper wire depending on how far your service entry wire needs to travel.

Depending on the location, distances may vary. Check with your local building department for regulations.

You lot can use aluminum or copper for a 100 amp service entry wire. The aluminum wire'due south reduced conductivity and heat resistance will increase the gauge. Yous can apply copper wiring for greater distances.

What is Voltage Driblet?

Voltage driblet is the loss of voltage that occurs over the wire due to natural resistance.The greater the length of a wire, the more voltage is lost. Increase the wire gauge to offset voltage loss.

The voltage at an private circuit billow should be 120 volts. Using a voltage meter, take a reading at the appliance or the farthest device. Voltage drop shouldn't exceed 3% (117 volts on a 120-volt excursion or 233 volts on a 240-volt circuit).

How Many Wires You Need for 100 amp Service

Your electrical current load requirements determine the correct gauge wire you'll need. The iii-wire cablevision run from the meter base to the main disconnect box or main service panel consists of ii hot wires and one neutral wire. Electric bonding joins the bars on the neural and basis bars.

The feeder cable is a 4-wire, comprising two hot feeder wires, one neutral wire, and 1 ground wire. You don't bond the neutral and footing bars in subpanels.

What Size Conduit You Need for 100 Amp Service

A 100 amp service volition demand a minimum of i.25 inches, schedule forty or 80 PVC grey electric conduit. Yous tin use a larger conduit if necessary to maintain the inner make full of forty% or less. A ane.five or ii-inch conduit is best if running iii or more electrical wires inside the same electric conduit.

In Affiliate ix, Tabular array 5A of the 2020 NEC, #2 Aluminum stranded insulated conductors take up 112.9mm² of fill space. If you multiply 112.9mm²by three gives you a total of 338.7mm² of make full space used by the entire feeder.

According to Chapter 9, Table 4 of the 2020 NEC, a 1.5″, Schedule 80 PVC conduit has 442mm^two usable make full in rigid schedule 80 PVC conduit.

For instance, you may apply a 1.5-inch conduit or go larger if you desire to pull the wires more easily. If 2 or more wires are present, the surface area of the cables must not exceed xl% of the piping'south internal book.

You'll demand to bury the conduit 24 inches deep in most areas. Some areas may require a deeper trench. A trenching tool similar a ditch witch tin can speed the trenching process.

When choosing an electrical conduit, Schedule 80 PVC is thicker and can handle more pressure than Schedule twoscore PVC. The outer diameter is the same for both pipes. All the same, because Schedule lxxx PVC is thicker, yous'll have less inner fill up space.

Check Local Electrical Codes & Permit Requirements

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the authority for electrical codes, only they may differ by location. Using a licensed electrician familiar with your metropolis's local rules and requirements, such as 100 amp electrical service, ensures that it meets them.

The 100 amp wire size mentioned in this post is from the NEC lawmaking and may differ from your local building code. The NEC standards periodically modify or are enhanced to meet rubber guidelines.

100 Amp Electrical Service Installation Costs

The price of installing a 100 amp entry service in a home is nearly challenging to estimate. We must consider several variables, such as the location of the installation and whether at that place are any additional services required.

Installing a 100 amp electrical service usually entails the following elements: a 100 amp feeder wire, conduit, and a 100 amp sub panel.

Based on HomeAdvisor.com, the national average cost of acomplete 100 amp electric installation costs $1500 to $4,500, with average costs of $three,000, includes the following:

100 Amp Electric Console:Average cost ranges from $500 to $1500, with a median toll of $1000.
100 Amp Feeder Wire:Average cost ranges from $grand to $3,000, with a median toll of $ii,000.

Decision

Installing a 100 amp electrical service or subpanel requires professional installation by a qualified electrician. Installing a 100 amp subpanel needs a #4 AWG copper wire or #2 AWG aluminum or copper-clad ability feeders inside a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule 80 PVC conduit for underground service. It requires an electrician'southward professional installation following local electric codes.