What Size Aluminum Wire For 100 Amp Service

Stuck on what wire size for 100 amp sub panel to use? Does a 100 amp sub panel wire size correspond to a 100 amp wire? Or have you e'er wondered what wire size for 100 amp service or what size wire do I need for a 100 amp sub console?

Want to know the short reply? A 100 amp sub console wiring size requirement is #four for copper wires and #two for aluminum wires. At present, you may question what yous should use for your wiring installation and what are the advantages and disadvantages of one wire type from another. We'll discuss these bug beneath.

Wire Sizes

Wiring size requirements differ per amp rating of the excursion. For example, you may use a x AWG or American Wire Estimate for a 30 amp appliance, and a size 8 AWG for a 45 amp device. The size of wire you will use volition differ also depending on what item electrical installation or servicing yous will exist doing.

Before reading wire sizes, information technology is of import to know the basic technicalities of electrical installations. Many newbies or students without experience or avant-garde cognition may miss these easily and cause serious damages to appliances and or components.

American Wire Approximate is the standard when measuring wire sizes. Gauge simply describes the thickness of the wire through numbers. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire will be and vice versa.

Past that, we can say that the thicker the wire, the more amperage a wire can support and evangelize. Knowing this aspect or holding of wire can save you or your appliances from electric damage, particularly short circuits or fifty-fifty fire.

Choosing the Right Wire

Depending on your preference, yous may choose wires that you think will suit your projection with respect to safety and fire run a risk. Nearly manufacturers put labels on wire coatings or insulation indicating the material's type and judge.

Most houses use copper wires for wiring installations, including sub-panels and other electric components. Bigger infrastructures, including electrical posts, employ aluminum wires instead of copper.

Aside from burn rubber, infrastructure owners besides have into consideration the economical attribute when choosing the right type of materials for their wiring arrangement.

Due to abundance, the use of aluminum wire, although less conductive, is widely accustomed because information technology offers a cheaper cost, unlike copper wire. Sacrificing a piffling scrap of efficiency for the purpose of economical gain may exist a tough phone call but a worthy shot.

For the purpose of comparison, hither are the characteristics of copper and aluminum wires. This may help you determine what to choose for your sub-panel installation and also provide additional information that you may use for future electrical servicing.

Copper Wire

Copper wires are extensively used in modern houses and infrastructures due to the wire's great conductibility and stability. Its stability and effectiveness in conducting electricity cannot be closely compared to aluminum wires or any other material, giving copper the best output when talking about efficiency in power, next to silver.

Silver wire is a better choice in electrical conductivity than copper, but it is not widely used in houses and other buildings or infrastructures due to its disadvantages in other properties, such as a lower melting point compared to copper and a college toll than any other usual conductors we are using.

Although silver is not that feasible in homes, its use was widely accustomed when it comes to technology. Special wirings and critical components are loaded with silver wires considering of the material'due south high conductive property.

Some other cistron why you should consider choosing copper wire instead of aluminum wire is that copper wire possesses high tensile forcefulness — meaning it has much higher resistance and protection against breakage. It too expands less at loftier temperatures compared to aluminum.

One drawback of choosing copper wire instead of aluminum wire is that copper wire somehow is heavier than aluminum when using the same book. Copper wire is likewise costlier than aluminum wires, giving it a prominent disadvantage economically.

Aluminum Wire

If you decided to use aluminum wire for your 100 amp sub panel, you should therefore use #2 aluminum wires to avoid malfunctions such equally short circuits that may cause electrical harm to your components.

Aluminum wires are mode cheaper than copper wires because of the material'due south affluence and disadvantages compared to copper wires. It is likewise lightweight, making it much lighter compared to copper.

Looking on the negative side, aluminum wires are inefficient in conducting electricity. It is also malleable but not ductile, and prone to galvanic corrosion because it oxidizes faster than copper. All these aspects, among others, make aluminum less desirable in residential buildings.

Electrical malfunctions come afterwards human errors and from the usage of inappropriate wire sizes, materials, and substandard components. Moreover, opting for safer and more efficient materials will significantly contribute to risk reduction and mitigation.

Burn Safety

If yous are planning on installing or fixing sub-panels and came across a conclusion where you have to choose whether to employ copper or aluminum wires, these are the things yous should consider.

• Copper is generally safer to utilize in electrical installations such as sub-panels because compared to aluminum, copper does not expand easily like aluminum wires when current runs through the wires.
• The conductive property of copper makes it efficient in transmitting ability or current from one terminate to some other. Hence, the transmission does not require much energy that can be lost in the procedure or transformed into a different form of energy such as oestrus that may lead to a fire.
• Materials y'all buy, may it be copper or aluminum wire, should pass the standard ready along by your government. This will give you lot plenty confidence that you lot are beginning your project on the right path.

Considering all safety precautions, it is besides best to know what you are really doing and the things you are nearly to deal with. Aside from fire safety, your physiological condom should be the summit priority. In other words, before doing any electrical installations, y'all should be attentive to things like:

• If you lot are not ready to exercise it, practise not force yourself to do information technology.
• Equip yourself with more knowledge before engaging in these kinds of jobs.
• Gain feel and guidance from experienced individuals regarding the servicing you are about to do.
• Call a professional electrician to do the job for yous.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you can now answer the question "what size wire do I demand for a 100 amp sub panel?"

Aside from that noesis, know what precautions to take when installing or servicing your sub-panels or whatever other blazon of electrical components.

If you happen to exist agape of risking electrical damages, keep in mind:

• If y'all are non fix to practise it, do not force yourself to do it.
• Equip yourself with more than knowledge earlier engaging in these kinds of jobs.
• Gain experience and guidance from experienced individuals regarding the servicing you are about to exercise.
• Telephone call a professional electrician to practise the task for you.

What Size Aluminum Wire For 100 Amp Service,

Source: https://www.galvinpower.org/size-wire-for-a-100-amp-sub-panel/

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