electrical-am i wasting my $$$
my house is serviced by a 200 amp panel,now i subpanel off [with a 100amp breaker]that goes to attached garage.it’s about a 80′ run of wire i used #1 gauge 4 wire alum. to a 100 amp panel. now i subpanel off that to barn that takes a 140′ of wire to another 100amp panel.i planned on using the 1 gauge again but nobody has it. the best i’ve come up with is 1/0 4 wire alum.i can’t decide if i’m totaly wasting money with 1 gauge in front of it or if it will just help keep my volt loss down coming out of the 1st panel to the barn? next question the only way i have been able to locate this wire is a service entrance cable.this will be buried underground in 3″ pvc conduit,this ok code wise? i know it could not be direct bury.the guy at counter says no problem. the only other choice i have in 4 wire is #2gauge or 4/0 ,ones probably to small the other is to big and expensive.thanks larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Replies
the 1/0 will work out toward 180' ...and still provide good voltage
does that help?
you are using a corrosion inhititor ??
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sounds pretty good,yes i used the goop.is the way your suppose to put that on is ,a little dab on wire then all over your hands,wipe on jeans,scracth nose for final application....... larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
..yep , as long as you get that stuff on everything, including your dinner, you're doing fine...not to sound too parochial, but did you scuff up the wire before you smeared the paste into it ?.
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i usally take my knife and scrape it,doesn't get it all but figure it helps.i'll have to try the paste right before dinner,might work good on a burger larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
use a stiff wire brush instead of your knife........or try Kopr-Shield¯ if you really want to gunk everything up.
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"i can't decide if i'm totaly wasting money with 1 gauge in front of it or if it will just help keep my volt loss down coming out of the 1st panel to the barn?"
to address this question specifically, no it's not a waste. The total voltage drop is the same whether the smaller gauge wire comes 'before' or 'after' the larger gauge wire.
There no such thing as waste on something you only buy once. aluminum wire I myself dont like. But the question is. Yes there will be a drop but are you really going to be using a 100 amps at one time. if you only going be using 60 then who cares. do you really need a 100 amps. could you get by with 60 amps,wire be cheaper.
your right in that i won't ever suck a 100 amps,my service is 200 amp with 4 subpanels strung about .so i probably have 600 amps of breakers,but still i won't pull 200 at one time or 100 at the barn.probably max 15amp on lights and a saw at 20,oh and the radio at 1! i'd like copper but i'd have to sell all my tools to buy it,then wouldn't need a shop.thanks larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.