What Wire For Attic 100 Amp Service

If you desire to install a 100 amp electrical service for a detached garage or a new room improver, you must use the proper approximate wire. To complete the skilled work, you'll need a allow. Bank check with your local building section to see if you can get the permit or whether y'all'll crave the assistance 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 within a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule xl or 80 PVC electric conduit for hole-and-corner service. Wiring 100 amp service for a garage or room addition does require an electrical allow 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 breaker disconnect and and so to a secondary console (subpanel). A 100 amp secondary excursion breaker console has individual circuit breakers bringing additional circuits to a designated area, like a garage, shop, shed, puddle house, or addition.

Size Wire for 100 Amp Service

AWG, American Wire Gauge, is the United states standard for sizing electric wiring.

Wiring a 100 amp breaker panel requires either #iv copper wiring or #two aluminum or copper-clad wiring. Which wire used is adamant by 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	#two AWG	ane.25 inch
110 Amps	#3 AWG	#i AWG	1.25 inch
125 Amps	#ii AWG	#1/0 AWG	1.25 inch
150 Amps	#ane AWG	#ii/0 AWG	ane.25 inch
175 Amps	#one/0 AWG	#3/0 AWG	ane.5 inch
200 Amps	#2/0 AWG	#four/0 AWG	1.v inch
225 Amps	#3/0 AWG	250 kcmil	ane.5 inch
250 Amps	#4/0 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	iii inch

Source: National Electric Code

Many licensed electricians use #2 copper-clad or aluminum wire size. Because it has a lower conductivity than copper, aluminum wiring requires a larger bore wire. Yous'll demand a #2 approximate wire for both aluminum and copper-clad aluminum wire.

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

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

For copper wiring, yous'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 popular amid electricians and homeowners alike for branch circuits. Copper wiring has several advantages, including:

Electrical conductivity: Copper wire is a highly conductive material, second only 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 effectually half the diameter of aluminum wire.
Heat Resistant: Copper wire is more rut-resistant than aluminum wire since information technology has better heat conductive properties. The connections on the lugs stay tight due to the fact that copper wire does non aggrandize and contract like aluminum.
Corrosion Resistant: Copper is resistant to corrosion. The color of the outer surface of copper changes when information technology patinas. Oxidation causes patina, which does non 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 risk of breaking.
Distance: Copper may exist 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 than pop on service entry cable for a diverseness of reasons, including:

Budget Friendly: Due to its lower cost, aluminum wiring is popular. Aluminum copper-clad wire is superior in terms of price only 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 estimate. Electricians savor 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 drib permitted is iii%, and we volition hash out 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 computing wire size, you must know the length of the service line from the meter base to the electrical console. The maximum voltage drop permitted is iii%, and nosotros will discuss it in greater depth shortly. Choose betwixt aluminum or copper wire depending on how far your service entry wire needs to travel.

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

You lot tin use aluminum or copper for a 100 amp service entry wire. The aluminum wire'south reduced electrical conductivity and heat resistance will increase the gauge. You tin 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 than voltage is lost. Increase the wire gauge to beginning voltage loss.

The voltage at an individual circuit breaker should be 120 volts. Using a voltage meter, have a reading at the appliance or the uttermost device. Voltage drop shouldn't exceed 3% (117 volts on a 120-volt circuit or 233 volts on a 240-volt circuit).

How Many Wires You Demand for 100 amp Service

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

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

What Size Conduit You Need for 100 Amp Service

A 100 amp service will demand a minimum of 1.25 inches, schedule forty or 80 PVC grey electric conduit. You can use a larger conduit if necessary to maintain the inner fill of xl% or less. A ane.5 or 2-inch conduit is best if running three or more electrical wires within the aforementioned electrical conduit.

In Chapter nine, Tabular array 5A of the 2020 NEC, #2 Aluminum stranded insulated conductors take up 112.9mm² of make full infinite. If you multiply 112.9mm²by 3 gives you a total of 338.7mm² of fill space used by the entire feeder.

According to Chapter 9, Table 4 of the 2020 NEC, a 1.5″, Schedule 80 PVC conduit has 442mm² usable fill in rigid schedule 80 PVC conduit.

For example, you may use a 1.5-inch conduit or get larger if you desire to pull the wires more than easily. If two or more wires are present, the area of the cables must not exceed xl% of the pipe'due south internal volume.

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

When choosing an electrical conduit, Schedule 80 PVC is thicker and can handle more pressure than Schedule 40 PVC. The outer diameter is the same for both pipes. Still, because Schedule 80 PVC is thicker, you lot'll have less inner fill space.

Check Local Electric Codes & Allow Requirements

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

The 100 amp wire size mentioned in this mail is from the NEC code and may differ from your local edifice code. The NEC standards periodically change or are enhanced to run into safe 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 equally 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 boilerplate price of aconsummate 100 amp electrical installation costs $1500 to $4,500, with average costs of $three,000, includes the following:

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

Conclusion

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