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You can use either a 2-inch or 2.5-inch conduit based on the fill space you intend to occupy inside the conduit. If 3 or more wires are inside the conduit, the maximum fill space of 40%. You don’t bond the neutral and ground bars inside subpanels. The last thing you want to do is get your operation shut down for not using the correct permits. Most large electrical operations, such as a 200 amp service, require a permit.

It allows you to install a 200 amp service without trouble. Before starting 200 amp services, you need an inspector because it is the big operation. You should have the permit and inspectors to perform this task. If the size is not mentioned in the wire, use a thickness gauge to find out its actual size. It is critical to purchase the right diameter because it verifies the maximum current of the wire support. It allows you to buy the right wire for 200 amp service.
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To adequately determine the 200 amp wire gauge, you first need to calculate the minimum ampacity requirement as per the 80% NEC rule. You’ll likely have many questions when considering a 200 amp wire size. Get FREE quotes from licensed electricians in your area today. Whether you need an outlet or ceiling fan installed or a new electrical panel or wiring, We Can Help!

That means you will have to either use several wires in one cable or a bigger kcmil wires. The best solution here is to get that big 400 kcmil copper wire; it has a 355A ampacity at 75°C. For feeder runs less than 50 ft, you can use a #2/0 AWG aluminum wire. For feeder runs of 50 ft and 75 ft, use a 200 amp wire size of #4/0 AWG aluminum wire. For feeder runs between 100 ft to 125 ft, you should use a 300 kcmil aluminum wire. If you are running an underground 200 amp service, then you may be wondering what size wire to use in your installation.
What Size Wire For 200 Amp Service Underground?
The type of electrical wire you need will vary depending on your electrical system. The run from the meter base to the main disconnect box or main panel is 3-wire, consisting of 2 hot wires and 1 neutral wire. The neural and ground bars have electrical bonding connecting the bars. Wiring 200-amp service requires an electric permit and professional installation by a qualified electrician following local electric codes.
Explore our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about what size wire for 200 amp service. However, most electricians prefer aluminum for a few reasons. The downsides of copper are that it’s expensive, heavy, and trickier to install. And that’s precisely why electricians often choose to use aluminum. This article’s 200 amp size wire is from the NEC code and may vary from your local building code.
Check the Codes
You’ll need #4/0 AWG 200 amp wire size for aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wiring. Aluminum wiring requires a larger diameter wire because it has a lower conductivity than copper. Aluminum wiring requires an antioxidant coating at the connection terminals to resist corrosion.

Again, copper is probably the best material for wiring, but it does have downsides, which we’ll touch on in the next section. We may earn a commission when you click this link, at no extra cost to you. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. In Chapter 9, Table 5A of the 2017 NEC, a #4/0 Aluminum stranded conductor takes up 176.3mm2 of fill space. Multiplying 176.3mm2 by four gives you 705.2mm2 of fill space used by the entire feeder. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
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Most of us are just looking to upgrade a 100- to 150-amp service. An upgrade to install a 200 amp electrical service costs between $750 and $2,000. The range depends on how much wiring you need, how much of an upgrade, etc. A full reset with a new circuit breaker, though, could cost up to $4,500.

So, a 2″ conduit will suffice, or you can upsize to 2.5″ if you wish for ease of pulling. Keep in mind that the area of the wires must be less than 40% of the internal space of the pipe when 3 or more wires are present. As always, working with electricity requires special caution. It is crucial that you NEVER attempt any sort of electrical work without the necessary experience. Do not perform any of this work if you are not a licensed professional, this guide is meant to teach you only what is involved.
Hiring the best electrician is the best choice to upgrade the service panel in the home. If you need to make the place of underground lines, you can hire an electrician. Then, hit copper ground rods into the underground with the 3-pound sledgehammer. Keep in mind that you can space the road more than six feet at a distance. If you are wondering what size wire for 200 amp service, you can continue reading the article to get the answer.

To make up for the lack of conductivity, you also need a higher gauge – i.e., a thicker wire. A ground rod must be 5/8″ (0.625) in diameter and 8 to 10 feet long with a clamp and the appropriate ground wire. The ground rod needs to be driven 8 feet deep into the ground and cut back close to the ground. The wire and clamp are tightly secured to the ground rod’s top.
AWG wire for 200-amp service requires either #2/0 copper wiring or #4/0 aluminum or copper-clad wiring. Which wire is used is determined by the voltage drop and length of the wiring. Runs over 100 ft transition from AWG to kcmil wire, a thicker wire for greater distances. You must use the 200 amp wire size when installing a 200 amp electrical service in residential homes. You’ll need a permit to do the professional installation.

It’s confusing but would 2/0 work for that amperage and distance? Where there is a lot of electricity in the ground, a thicker #3 size wire may be required. New code requirements require two ground rods for regions with high soil electrical resistance.
How Many Ground Rods for 200 Amp Service
In addition, changing the electrical service panel is not a simple job like wiring the light or ceiling fan. It is a dangerous job, so the trained electrician can install 200 amp service wires. It is the simple way to install the 200 amp service wire in your home.
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