Found Cable - Have Projects - What is This Good For?

[tooljunkie4]

Found a roll of cable in one of the buildings. Have a few electrical jobs I know need to be done. Wondering what this particular type of cable would be useful for.

 

[mike93lx]

Is it thhn or thhn-2? It will say on the jacket

 

[JohnX14]

Use it in conduit for whatever you need supplied by #2 awg copper. Basically a 100 amp load, in conduit, without getting into any specifics. An yes it can supply more than 100 amps, but not sure what that load would be.

 

[sparky 1971]

It's THHN/THWN according to the label...


It's good for up to 115 amps and can be used anywhere but does have to be in conduit.

 

[tooljunkie4]

Two projects come to mind right away:

1) Running power to the lower garage. Lights, fans, radio, power tools, and the blower on the wood stove.

2) Running power all the way across the house from the garage wall to the breaker box. Generator transfer switch lead. Would like the ability to run the well pump, heat, lights, refrigerator, and whatever else is needed - even if it requires two generators and a second run of cable. Topographical and geriatric challenges prevent having the generator on the same end of the house as the breaker box.

Conduit will be used in each case.

 

[JohnX14]

It is THHN/ MTW rated according to what I'm seeing. I don't see the THWN wet rating. Most THHN is dual rated THWN, but I'm not seeing that here. When I have seen THHN/ MTW ratings, it has typically had more strands than "regular" thhn. But that is typically on smaller AWG sizes. The larger sizes may have the same strands.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

the only thing this would be good for is powering a subpanel. #2 cu is good for 115a.... you wouldnt use it for individual branch circuits.

keep in mind if you need to derate it in a wet location (for temp or # of conductors), its 75° rated not 90° rated (since its not THWN-2)

 

[mike93lx]

Two projects come to mind right away:

1) Running power to the lower garage. Lights, fans, radio, power tools, and the blower on the wood stove.

2) Running power all the way across the house from the garage wall to the breaker box. Generator transfer switch lead. Would like the ability to run the well pump, heat, lights, refrigerator, and whatever else is needed - even if it requires two generators and a second run of cable. Topographical and geriatric challenges prevent having the generator on the same end of the house as the breaker box.

Conduit will be used in each case.

Its wild overkill for both, unless distance is massive, but it will work

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It is THHN/ MTW rated according to what I'm seeing. I don't see the THWN wet rating. Most THHN is dual rated THWN, but I'm not seeing that here. When I have seen THHN/ MTW ratings, it has typically had more strands than "regular" thhn. But that is typically on smaller AWG sizes. The larger sizes may have the same strands.

it clearly says THWN below THHN.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is it thhn or thhn-2? It will say on the jacket

looks like its only THHN/THWN, which means 90° dry/75° wet rating.

FYI- there is no such thing as THHN-2. There is THWN-2 which is 90° rated just like THHN. THWN is only 75° rated

 

[tooljunkie4]

The run from the existing panel to a panel in the lower building would be somewhere approaching 300'.

The run from the existing panel to the end of the main garage would be somewhere around 110'.

I'll get a photo of the jacket in a few minutes. Should clear that question up pretty definitively.

 

[mike93lx]

The run from the existing panel to a panel in the lower building would be somewhere approaching 300'.

The run from the existing panel to the end of the main garage would be somewhere around 110'.

If you only have 500 ft, I don't think I'd be buying more to complete these. You're head will explode when you get the price

 

[sparky 1971]

It is THHN/ MTW rated according to what I'm seeing. I don't see the THWN wet rating.

Right under the big bold THHN. Keep reading after the MTW/THHN/.......

 

[JohnX14]

it clearly says THWN below THHN.

I see it now....my apologies...it's "next to" the thhn rating. At least in one pic.... (seriously didn't see it previously)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The run from the existing panel to a panel in the lower building would be somewhere approaching 300'.

The run from the existing panel to the end of the main garage would be somewhere around 110'.

I'll get a photo of the jacket in a few minutes. Should clear that question up pretty definitively.

for 300+' youre looking at close to $1700 just to buy the other 3 conductors (in copper) you will need for a subpanel. It will be cheaper to buy a manufactured aluminum cable such as SER(above ground only) or MHF (conduit required indoors and above ground). 2/0 MHF will run you less than half that.

do you have conduit between these panels? any underground portion between them?

I would try to sell the roll and use the proceeds to buy the cable you need. Home depot sells that roll for $1315 here. hell you could probably find someone to buy it for a $100 less than that and have plenty to buy the wire you need.

 

[tooljunkie4]

Photos of the cable jacket:

Its wild overkill for both, unless distance is massive, but it will work

Where does the distance become massive?

If you only have 500 ft, I don't think I'd be buying more to complete these. You're head will explode when you get the price

So I'd need to run this stuff three times? Four?

The potential for savings to be had by already owning the wire is part of what perked me up. It would be great to be able to move forward with either of these projects ahead of schedule.

 

[tooljunkie4]

for 300+' youre looking at close to $1700 just to buy the other 3 conductors (in copper) you will need for a subpanel. It will be cheaper to buy a manufactured aluminum cable such as SER(above ground only) or MHF (conduit required indoors and above ground). 2/0 MHF will run you less than half that.

do you have conduit between these panels? any underground portion between them?

I would try to sell the roll and use the proceeds to buy the cable you need. Home depot sells that roll for $1315 here. hell you could probably find someone to buy it for a $100 less than that and have plenty to buy the wire you need.

Saw this a bit late.

Three other conductors. This might do the generator transfer switch circuit, then. Unless it's wildly inappropriate for the task.

There is conduit through the house, but not below ground and through the yard to the lower building just yet.

There are several large rolls of aluminum cable here. Have not inventoried them just yet. If they would do either job really well without burning the place down, that could be interesting.

 

[mike93lx]

Where does the distance become massive?

Its really a function of current draw plus distance. That wire could do a 100a subpanel up to 100-150ish ft, but not at 300ft

 

[mm08822]

So this spare/found material doesn't screw things up force fitting it into a project, figure the project 2 ways:
Buying everything based on what the project needs,
Using the materials on-hand and purchasing related hardware to accommodate the on-hand materials...e.g.- larger conduit for larger conductors.

Maybe the labor is a wash.

If option 2 is less $, then, maybe this is a good direction to follow. If not, then sell it on ebay.

 

[tooljunkie4]

Its really a function of current draw plus distance. That wire could do a 100a subpanel up to 100-150ish ft, but not at 300ft

What wire would be required for a 100A subpanel at 300'?

Would a 100A feed be sufficient to run a full shop? Welder, compressor, lights, heater, radio, power tools, fans, and battery chargers? I don't weld, but may as well set the building up to be able to do whatever work happens to come down the line.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Photos of the cable jacket:

Where does the distance become massive?

totally dependent on the load and size of circuit youre running

So I'd need to run this stuff three times? Four?

The potential for savings to be had by already owning the wire is part of what perked me up. It would be great to be able to move forward with either of these projects ahead of schedule.

yes if you want a 120/240v capable subpanel, you will need 3 conductors that are the same size and 1 conductor that is smaller for the EGC

you arent really saving much vs just buying cheaper cable

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Saw this a bit late.

Three other conductors. This might do the generator transfer switch circuit, then. Unless it's wildly inappropriate for the task.

what size genny?

There is conduit through the house, but not below ground and through the yard to the lower building just yet.

you will need either conduit or a trench for direct bury

There are several large rolls of aluminum cable here. Have not inventoried them just yet. If they would do either job really well without burning the place down, that could be interesting.

depends on the size

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What wire would be required for a 100A subpanel at 300'?

Would a 100A feed be sufficient to run a full shop? Welder, compressor, lights, heater, radio, power tools, fans, and battery chargers? I don't weld, but may as well set the building up to be able to do whatever work happens to come down the line.

totally dependent on what equipment will be running concurrently and how many people will be working in there concurrently

theres a voltage drop calc formula in the FAQ sticky

 

[mike93lx]

What wire would be required for a 100A subpanel at 300'?

Would a 100A feed be sufficient to run a full shop? Welder, compressor, lights, heater, radio, power tools, fans, and battery chargers? I don't weld, but may as well set the building up to be able to do whatever work happens to come down the line.

For a single person shop? 60a is usually plenty. Only time that tends to cause a potential problem is when you are plasma cutting while hvac is running. Your #2 copper would do about a 70a feed at 300ft

 

[alfredeneuman]

If the connected load is 115A (the conductor's rating) or less you can upsize the breaker to the next standard size, 125A
If in conduit the minimum burial depth is 18", if cable 24".
I don't know if it applies in this case but it's something to consider.