Main Power Panel 600 Feet Away?
Question:I need to have 100AMP@240VAC subpanel from a 200 Ampere Main panel. The main power panel ampere reading is about 34 Amps total. I'm planning to use #1 THHN wiring PCV Pipe, 4 wire, 2 hots, nuetral & ground. Any other suggestions. Going to a mobile home trailer.
Answers:
you have had good answers. I would be concerned about voltage drop. 600 ft away is a VERY long way to run power. When doing commercial work the rule of thumb was you increase the size of the wire once for every hundred ft . I wouldn't do that in this case but I would up it to 1/0 copper or 2/0 alum.
I would talk to your inspector and ask them for some advice.
He might do or tell you how do do some load calculations to find out how much power your trailer is likely to draw.
Would it be possible for you to have the power co. run a line to the trailer and just put a 100 amp service on it?
#2 THHN copper is good for 90Amps. Check your local city codes or insurance comp., you may not need the ground wire .Instead use the neutral as the ground, even with a 120/240 volt system. You absolutely need a feed breaker at the 200 amp panel to protect the wire. Also you may be able to save some money by using direct burial URD/USE aluminum #1/0 wire. And forget the pipe that would be buried(You still need pipe at both ends).
Fairly good advice from Yarborough, but watch out if you use aluminum wire. Copper and aluminum don't mix very well unless you know what you are doing.
Any place you connect aluminum wire ( such as a breaker terminal) must be prepped or rated "COALAR" (Stands for "copper and aluminum rated")
If your panels at each end are rated for copper then it's best to stick with copper (visa versa for aluminum)
Check with your local electrical inspector. Get a permit for your installation. Putting that much electricity in the ground across 600 feet sounds like a potential safety hazard if it doesn't get done right.
have to go with the 1/0 copper on this one and you do need the ground because it is a sub panel. that is specified in the code book. national electric code is the minimum you can get by with, any code enforcement offices can add to the code but cannot take away from it, now here is what i would run if it was mine 2 1/0's(ungrounded) 1 #2(grounded) and a #6 grounding conductor in an 1 1/2 epvc conduit. now depending on your location you may also need to put expansion joint in the conduit where it enters and leaves the ground to prevent it from busting when the ground freezes. also because this will be a sub panel you do not drive a ground rod at the sub panel. i would not run alum. its ok as long as you have a constant load on. the reason bein that load means heat and heat disapates moisture. alui. and moisture do not mix.
More Related Questions & Answers...