What Size Aluminum Ground For 100 Amp Service

If yous want to install a 100 amp electric service for a detached garage or a new room addition, you must utilise the proper approximate wire. To consummate the skilled piece of work, yous'll need a permit. Check with your local building section to run into if you lot can go the let or whether you'll require the assistance of an electrician.

Installation of 100 amp electrical service or subpanel needs a #4 AWG copper wire or #2 AWG aluminum or copper-clad wire inside a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule 40 or fourscore PVC electrical conduit for hugger-mugger service. Wiring 100 amp service for a garage or room addition does require an electrical permit and professional person installation by a qualified electrician following local electric codes.

Homes today take a 200 amp meter box connecting to the main feeder breaker disconnect and then to a secondary panel (subpanel). A 100 amp secondary excursion billow panel has individual circuit breakers bringing additional circuits to a designated expanse, like a garage, store, shed, pool house, or addition.

Size Wire for 100 Amp Service

AWG, American Wire Approximate, is the US standard for sizing electric wiring.

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

The post-obit tabular array reflects wiring size, length, and voltage drop:

Service or Feeder Rating	Copper Wire	Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire	Minimum Conduit Size
100 Amps	#4 AWG	#2 AWG	ane.25 inch
110 Amps	#3 AWG	#one AWG	1.25 inch
125 Amps	#ii AWG	#1/0 AWG	1.25 inch
150 Amps	#1 AWG	#2/0 AWG	i.25 inch
175 Amps	#i/0 AWG	#iii/0 AWG	1.5 inch
200 Amps	#2/0 AWG	#4/0 AWG	1.5 inch
225 Amps	#3/0 AWG	250 kcmil	1.5 inch
250 Amps	#iv/0 AWG	300 kcmil	2 inch
300 Amps	250 kcmil	350 kcmil	2.5 inch
350 Amps	350 kcmil	500 kcmil	3 inch
400 Amps	400 kcmil	600 kcmil	3 inch

Source: National Electrical Code

Many licensed electricians employ #2 copper-clad or aluminum wire size. Considering it has a lower conductivity than copper, aluminum wiring requires a larger diameter wire. You'll need a #ii gauge wire for both aluminum and copper-clad aluminum wire.

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

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

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

Why Copper Wiring is Preferred over Aluminum

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

Conductivity: Copper wire is a highly conductive material, second only to silver. Copper can handle a greater electrical need, so you may apply a lower gauge wire. For the same level of conductivity, copper wire is effectually half the diameter of aluminum wire.
Heat Resistant: Copper wire is more heat-resistant than aluminum wire since information technology has better oestrus conductive properties. The connections on the lugs stay tight due to the fact that copper wire does non expand and contract like aluminum.
Corrosion Resistant: Copper is resistant to corrosion. The colour of the outer surface of copper changes when information technology patinas. Oxidation causes patina, which does not affect 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 chance of breaking.
Altitude: Copper may exist 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 popular on service entry cablevision for a diversity of reasons, including:

Upkeep Friendly: Due to its lower price, aluminum wiring is pop. Aluminum copper-clad wire is superior in terms of price merely 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 judge. 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, yous must know the length of the service line from the meter base to the electric panel. The maximum voltage drop permitted is 3%, and we will discuss it in greater depth shortly. 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 computing 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 3%, and we will discuss information technology in greater depth before long. 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 edifice department for regulations.

Y'all tin can use aluminum or copper for a 100 amp service entry wire. The aluminum wire'southward reduced conductivity and estrus resistance will increase the estimate. Y'all can use copper wiring for greater distances.

What is Voltage Drib?

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 estimate to beginning voltage loss.

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

How Many Wires Yous Need for 100 amp Service

Your electrical current load requirements determine the correct gauge wire you'll need. The three-wire cable run from the meter base to the primary disconnect box or principal service panel consists of two hot wires and one neutral wire. Electric bonding joins the bars on the neural and ground confined.

The feeder cablevision is a 4-wire, comprising 2 hot feeder wires, one neutral wire, and 1 ground wire. You don't bond the neutral and ground confined in subpanels.

What Size Conduit You lot Demand for 100 Amp Service

A 100 amp service will demand a minimum of i.25 inches, schedule 40 or fourscore PVC grey electric conduit. Y'all tin use a larger conduit if necessary to maintain the inner fill up of forty% or less. A 1.5 or 2-inch conduit is best if running three or more electrical wires within the aforementioned electric conduit.

In Chapter 9, Tabular array 5A of the 2020 NEC, #2 Aluminum stranded insulated conductors take up 112.9mm^two of fill infinite. If you multiply 112.9mm²past 3 gives you lot a total of 338.7mm² of fill infinite used past the entire feeder.

According to Affiliate nine, Table iv of the 2020 NEC, a 1.v″, Schedule 80 PVC conduit has 442mm^two usable fill in rigid schedule 80 PVC conduit.

For example, you may use a i.5-inch conduit or go larger if y'all want to pull the wires more than easily. If 2 or more than wires are present, the area of the cables must non exceed xl% of the pipe'south internal book.

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

When choosing an electrical conduit, Schedule lxxx PVC is thicker and tin handle more than force per unit area than Schedule 40 PVC. The outer diameter is the same for both pipes. However, because Schedule 80 PVC is thicker, you'll have less inner fill up space.

Check Local Electrical Codes & Allow Requirements

The National Electrical Lawmaking (NEC) is the authority for electrical codes, but they may differ past location. Using a licensed electrician familiar with your city's local rules and requirements, such every bit 100 amp electrical service, ensures that it 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 alter or are enhanced to meet prophylactic guidelines.

100 Amp Electrical Service Installation Costs

The cost of installing a 100 amp entry service in a home is nearly challenging to estimate. We must consider several variables, such every bit the location of the installation and whether there 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 toll of acomplete 100 amp electrical installation costs $1500 to $4,500, with average costs of $three,000, includes the post-obit:

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 $two,000.

Conclusion

Installing a 100 amp electric service or subpanel requires professional installation past a qualified electrician. Installing a 100 amp subpanel needs a #four AWG copper wire or #2 AWG aluminum or copper-clad ability feeders inside a minimum one.25 inch, schedule 80 PVC conduit for hush-hush service. It requires an electrician'southward professional person installation following local electrical codes.