How Big Wire Can 100 Amp Service Handle

If you desire to install a 100 amp electrical service for a detached garage or a new room add-on, you must use the proper gauge wire. To consummate the skilled work, you'll need a let. Check with your local building department to come across if y'all tin can get the permit or whether you'll require the assist of an electrician.

Installation of 100 amp electric service or subpanel needs a #iv AWG copper wire or #2 AWG aluminum or copper-clad wire inside a minimum ane.25 inch, schedule 40 or lxxx PVC electric conduit for underground 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 primary feeder breaker disconnect and then to a secondary panel (subpanel). A 100 amp secondary circuit breaker panel has individual excursion breakers bringing additional circuits to a designated area, like a garage, shop, shed, pool house, or add-on.

Size Wire for 100 Amp Service

AWG, American Wire Gauge, is the U.s. standard for sizing electrical wiring.

Wiring a 100 amp billow panel requires either #4 copper wiring or #2 aluminum or copper-clad wiring. Which wire used is determined by the voltage drop and length of the wiring.

The following table reflects wiring size, length, and voltage drib:

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	#three AWG	#1 AWG	one.25 inch
125 Amps	#two AWG	#one/0 AWG	1.25 inch
150 Amps	#one AWG	#2/0 AWG	1.25 inch
175 Amps	#1/0 AWG	#3/0 AWG	ane.5 inch
200 Amps	#2/0 AWG	#4/0 AWG	1.5 inch
225 Amps	#iii/0 AWG	250 kcmil	one.5 inch
250 Amps	#four/0 AWG	300 kcmil	2 inch
300 Amps	250 kcmil	350 kcmil	two.5 inch
350 Amps	350 kcmil	500 kcmil	3 inch
400 Amps	400 kcmil	600 kcmil	3 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 bore wire. You'll demand a #ii gauge wire for both aluminum and copper-clad aluminum wire.

To resist corrosion, the connection terminals of aluminum wiring require an antioxidant blanket. 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 than flexible than copper. Even though copper is best-selling to exist a superior conductor, it is still cheaper, lighter, and more flexible than aluminum.

For copper wiring, you'll demand a #4 AWG copper wire that is commonly used for electric wiring since it is more heat resistant than aluminum. Copper doesn't rust and is unaffected by oxidation.

Why Copper Wiring is Preferred over Aluminum

Copper conductors are popular among electricians and homeowners alike for co-operative circuits. Copper wiring has several advantages, including:

Conductivity: Copper wire is a highly conductive material, second merely to silver. Copper can handle a greater electrical demand, so you may use a lower gauge wire. For the same level of conductivity, copper wire is around one-half the diameter of aluminum wire.
Rut Resistant: Copper wire is more heat-resistant than aluminum wire since it has amend heat conductive backdrop. The connections on the lugs stay tight due to the fact that copper wire does not expand 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 impact conductivity.
Malleability: Copper wire is more malleable and conductive than aluminum wire. Because copper is highly conductive, the wire strands are thinner, allowing for greater malleability without adventure of breaking.
Distance: Copper may be used over greater distances owing to its highly conductive characteristics and heat tolerance.

Pros of Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire

Stranded aluminum or copper-clad wire is more than pop on service entry cable for a diversity of reasons, including:

Budget Friendly: Due to its lower cost, aluminum wiring is pop. Aluminum copper-clad wire is superior in terms of price 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 approximate. Electricians enjoy working with it because it is lightweight and readily passes through the electrical 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 of operations to the electrical panel. The maximum voltage drop permitted is 3%, and we will discuss it in greater depth soon. Choosing between 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 drib permitted is iii%, and we volition discuss it in greater depth presently. Choose betwixt 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 can utilise aluminum or copper for a 100 amp service entry wire. The aluminum wire's reduced conductivity and oestrus resistance volition increase the gauge. You lot can use copper wiring for greater distances.

What is Voltage Drib?

Voltage drop is the loss of voltage that occurs over the wire due to natural resistance.The greater the length of a wire, the more than voltage is lost. Increment the wire guess to beginning voltage loss.

The voltage at an individual circuit breaker 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 y'all'll demand. The three-wire cablevision run from the meter base to the main disconnect box or chief service panel consists of two hot wires and i neutral wire. Electric bonding joins the bars on the neural and footing bars.

The feeder cable is a 4-wire, comprising ii hot feeder wires, one neutral wire, and 1 basis wire. Yous don't bond the neutral and ground confined in subpanels.

What Size Conduit You Need for 100 Amp Service

A 100 amp service will need a minimum of i.25 inches, schedule 40 or 80 PVC grey electric conduit. You can use a larger conduit if necessary to maintain the inner fill up of 40% or less. A ane.5 or 2-inch conduit is best if running three or more electric wires within the aforementioned electric conduit.

In Affiliate 9, Table 5A of the 2020 NEC, #2 Aluminum stranded insulated conductors take up 112.9mm² of fill infinite. If you multiply 112.9mm²past three gives yous a total of 338.7mm² of fill space used by the unabridged feeder.

Co-ordinate to Affiliate 9, Tabular array 4 of the 2020 NEC, a i.v″, Schedule fourscore PVC conduit has 442mm^two usable fill up in rigid schedule lxxx PVC conduit.

For example, you may employ a 1.five-inch conduit or go larger if you want to pull the wires more easily. If 2 or more wires are nowadays, the area of the cables must not exceed forty% of the pipe's internal book.

Yous'll need to bury the conduit 24 inches deep in most areas. Some areas may crave a deeper trench. A trenching tool like a ditch witch can speed the trenching process.

When choosing an electrical conduit, Schedule 80 PVC is thicker and can handle more than pressure than Schedule twoscore PVC. The outer diameter is the aforementioned for both pipes. However, because Schedule 80 PVC is thicker, y'all'll take less inner fill up space.

Cheque Local Electrical Codes & Let Requirements

The National Electrical Lawmaking (NEC) is the potency for electrical codes, merely they may differ by location. Using a licensed electrician familiar with your city'southward local rules and requirements, such as 100 amp electrical service, ensures that information technology meets them.

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

100 Amp Electrical Service Installation Costs

The toll of installing a 100 amp entry service in a home is well-nigh challenging to estimate. Nosotros 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 electric service usually entails the post-obit 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 $iv,500, with average costs of $3,000, includes the following:

100 Amp Electric Panel:Average cost ranges from $500 to $1500, with a median cost of $1000.
100 Amp Feeder Wire:Average cost ranges from $1000 to $3,000, with a median cost of $2,000.

Conclusion

Installing a 100 amp electric service or subpanel requires professional person installation by a qualified electrician. Installing a 100 amp subpanel needs a #4 AWG copper wire or #two AWG aluminum or copper-clad power feeders within a minimum ane.25 inch, schedule 80 PVC conduit for underground service. It requires an electrician's professional installation following local electrical codes.