Wiring a barn with aluminum

[zchrisz]

Hey guys just need a little guidance, my uncle is wiring his barn from his house (200 amps) he would like a 100 amp panel in the barn, he was giving 4/0 aluminum wire the run is about 200 feet or a little more, the question is, what would be the safest easiest way to reduce the 4/0 aluminum wire to 2 copper to fit the breakers ?

 

[sberry]

First, 4/0 is way bigger than he needs unless he already has the wire for free.

 

[pattenp]

What type 4/0 does he have? Is it 4 wire USE? To reduce use a very large junction box and splice a smaller piece of SE using splice/reducer connectors and put swrink tube on the splice connections.

Unless you already have the #2 copper, I'd come off the 4/0 with 1/0 AL SE to the 100A sub and to the 100A breaker in the main..

 

[zchrisz]

thanks, 4/0 is way bigger than he needs, again he got the wire for free.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

thanks, 4/0 is way bigger than he needs, again he got the wire for free.

Yes, but is it wire he can use in a underground feeder installation? It needs to be four separate wires, and designed either for direct burial or wet location if in a conduit. What do the markings on the wire(s) say?

Indeed, aluminum to aluminum would be better than mating copper to aluminum, which would require an approved splicing for doing this. Someone was real generous to give him that much wire.

Charles

 

[Gooch]

is it 4 wire or 3 wire?

 

[ishiboo]

Hey guys just need a little guidance, my uncle is wiring his barn from his house (200 amps) he would like a 100 amp panel in the barn, he was giving 4/0 aluminum wire the run is about 200 feet or a little more, the question is, what would be the safest easiest way to reduce the 4/0 aluminum wire to 2 copper to fit the breakers ?

I just had to splice a service entrance, I used a square junction box and Gardner Bender splice kits since they were available everywhere locally.

GSPA-4/0 splices down to 4/0 all the way up to #6, so it'll work great for #2. Be sure to use anti-ox on the connections and torque to spec. HEAVY wall heat shrink around it.

 

[ishiboo]

All good points above BTW, technically you need a 4-wire (I still don't believe a 3-wire is unreasonable, but it's not allowed), and you have to make sure that connector is rated to do copper as well as aluminum. IIRC from installing them, they are with approved anti-ox.