How To Tell If You Have 100 Amp Service

If you want to install a 100 amp electrical service for a detached garage or a new room addition, y'all must use the proper gauge wire. To complete the skilled work, you'll demand a permit. Check with your local building section to see if yous can get the permit or whether you'll crave the aid of an electrician.

Installation of 100 amp electric service or subpanel needs a #four AWG copper wire or #ii AWG aluminum or copper-clad wire inside a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule 40 or lxxx PVC electric conduit for hole-and-corner service. Wiring 100 amp service for a garage or room improver does require an electric permit and professional installation past a qualified electrician following local electric codes.

Homes today take a 200 amp meter box connecting to the principal feeder breaker disconnect and then to a secondary panel (subpanel). A 100 amp secondary circuit breaker console has individual excursion 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 US standard for sizing electrical wiring.

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

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

Service or Feeder Rating	Copper Wire	Aluminum or Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire	Minimum Conduit Size
100 Amps	#4 AWG	#2 AWG	1.25 inch
110 Amps	#three AWG	#1 AWG	1.25 inch
125 Amps	#2 AWG	#one/0 AWG	ane.25 inch
150 Amps	#1 AWG	#ii/0 AWG	1.25 inch
175 Amps	#1/0 AWG	#iii/0 AWG	1.five inch
200 Amps	#ii/0 AWG	#4/0 AWG	i.5 inch
225 Amps	#3/0 AWG	250 kcmil	1.5 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	three inch
400 Amps	400 kcmil	600 kcmil	3 inch

Source: National Electrical 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 diameter wire. You'll need a #2 gauge wire for both aluminum and copper-clad aluminum wire.

To resist corrosion, the connexion terminals of aluminum wiring require an antioxidant coating. At the connectedness 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. Even though copper is best-selling to be a superior usher, it is notwithstanding cheaper, lighter, and more flexible than aluminum.

For copper wiring, you'll need a #4 AWG copper wire that is ordinarily 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 among electricians and homeowners akin for branch circuits. Copper wiring has several advantages, including:

Conductivity: Copper wire is a highly conductive material, second just to silver. Copper tin can handle a greater electrical demand, and then you may use a lower estimate wire. For the same level of conductivity, copper wire is around half the diameter of aluminum wire.
Heat Resistant: Copper wire is more heat-resistant than aluminum wire since it has better oestrus conductive properties. The connections on the lugs stay tight due to the fact that copper wire does non expand and contract similar aluminum.
Corrosion Resistant: Copper is resistant to corrosion. The color of the outer surface of copper changes when it patinas. Oxidation causes patina, which does not touch electrical conductivity.
Malleability: Copper wire is more malleable and conductive than aluminum wire. Because copper is highly conductive, the wire strands are thinner, assuasive for greater malleability without take a chance of breaking.
Distance: 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 cable for a diversity of reasons, including:

Upkeep Friendly: Due to its lower cost, aluminum wiring is popular. Aluminum copper-clad wire is superior in terms of toll but 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 gauge. Electricians enjoy working with information technology because it is lightweight and readily passes through the electric conduit, resulting in faster installation and lower cloth 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 3%, and we will discuss 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 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 3%, and nosotros volition discuss information technology in greater depth shortly. Cull betwixt 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 building department for regulations.

You can use aluminum or copper for a 100 amp service entry wire. The aluminum wire'due south reduced conductivity and estrus resistance volition increase the gauge. You lot can apply 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 gauge to offset voltage loss.

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

How Many Wires You Need for 100 amp Service

Your electrical current load requirements make up one's mind the correct gauge wire you'll need. The three-wire cable run from the meter base to the main disconnect box or main service console consists of two hot wires and ane neutral wire. Electric bonding joins the bars on the neural and ground bars.

The feeder cable is a 4-wire, comprising two hot feeder wires, ane neutral wire, and i basis wire. You don't bail the neutral and basis confined in subpanels.

What Size Conduit You Demand for 100 Amp Service

A 100 amp service will need a minimum of 1.25 inches, schedule 40 or 80 PVC grey electric conduit. You can use a larger conduit if necessary to maintain the inner fill up of 40% or less. A 1.five or ii-inch conduit is best if running iii or more electrical wires inside the aforementioned electric conduit.

In Chapter 9, Tabular array 5A of the 2020 NEC, #ii Aluminum stranded insulated conductors take up 112.9mm² of fill space. If you multiply 112.9mm^twopast three gives you a full of 338.7mm^two of fill space used by the entire feeder.

Co-ordinate to Chapter nine, Table four of the 2020 NEC, a 1.5″, Schedule eighty PVC conduit has 442mmⁱⁱ usable fill in rigid schedule 80 PVC conduit.

For example, yous may use a 1.5-inch conduit or go larger if you want to pull the wires more easily. If two or more wires are present, the area of the cables must not exceed twoscore% of the pipe's internal book.

You'll need to bury the conduit 24 inches deep in most areas. Some areas may crave 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 can handle more pressure than Schedule 40 PVC. The outer bore is the aforementioned for both pipes. However, considering Schedule 80 PVC is thicker, y'all'll accept less inner make full infinite.

Check Local Electric Codes & Allow Requirements

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

The 100 amp wire size mentioned in this postal service is from the NEC lawmaking and may differ from your local building code. The NEC standards periodically change or are enhanced to see safety guidelines.

100 Amp Electric Service Installation Costs

The cost of installing a 100 amp entry service in a home is near challenging to estimate. We must consider several variables, such every bit the location of the installation and whether there are whatsoever boosted services required.

Installing a 100 amp electric service ordinarily entails the post-obit elements: a 100 amp feeder wire, conduit, and a 100 amp sub console.

Based on HomeAdvisor.com, the national average cost of acomplete 100 amp electric installation costs $1500 to $4,500, with average costs of $3,000, includes the following:

100 Amp Electric Console:Average cost ranges from $500 to $1500, with a median cost of $grand.
100 Amp Feeder Wire:Average cost ranges from $1000 to $3,000, with a median toll of $2,000.

Conclusion

Installing a 100 amp electric service or subpanel requires professional installation by a qualified electrician. Installing a 100 amp subpanel needs a #4 AWG copper wire or #ii AWG aluminum or copper-clad power feeders within a minimum 1.25 inch, schedule 80 PVC conduit for underground service. It requires an electrician'southward professional installation following local electric codes.