Feeding Subpanel

[Bevis]

I was given a Cutler Hammer 125a panel, to use as my subpanel in my detached shop.
Today I come home to find 80' of 2" pvc conduit, and 75' of 2-2-2-4 alum. service wire dropped at my shop door Get a call from my buddy to say they had it left over from a job and was told to get rid of it, he thought I could use it.

On the outside of the outer jacket is marked: (UL) 3 CDR AWG 2-1 CDR AWG 4 Compact AL. ---Alumaflex (TM) Type SE Cable Style SER Type XHHW-2 CDRS 600 Volts.
inside there are a black, black w/ red stipe, black w/ white stripe, and a bare (ground).

From the meter on the house to the shop is 60'. Would this wire be ok to feed the 125a panel from my home 200a ??

I would put a breaker in the home panel and in the subpanel as a safety.

 

[D KRAGER]

I believe that wire is for 100 amp service, someone correct me if I'm wrong. So you could put a 100 amp breaker in your house panel. Then in the 125 amp box you have, either replace the main, or get another 100 amp breaker and back feed the subpanel thru the 100 amp breaker. This way you have the correct size beakers installed.

Will work perfect, this is the way I set mine up, 200 amp at the house, subfeeding 100 amp in the garage.

 

[Bevis]

so put a 100a breaker in house panel, then change the sub 125a one out for a 100a breaker. that sounds easy enough.

 

[Bevis]

on a subpanel does the ground bar thing in the pic (end of tape pointing to) need to be turned and placed into the ground bar??

 

[Gary S]

so put a 100a breaker in house panel, then change the sub 125a one out for a 100a breaker. that sounds easy enough.

I don't believe you need to change the 125amp breaker in the sub panel. You only need the correct 100amp breaker in the main panel. The main panel breaker protects your wire between the two panels. The sub panel breaker acts only as a shutoff for you.

 

[belvedere]

In a subpanel, the neutral and ground bars need to isolated from each other. So, the neutral bar would not be connected to the panel.

 

[porschedude996TT]

In a subpanel, the neutral and ground bars need to isolated from each other. So, the neutral bar would not be connected to the panel.

FWIW, I Concur...

 

[mrb]

you need to supply the #2 AL with a 90 amp breaker. At the sub panel, you need to install a ground bus bar, and leave the existing neutral bar isolated from the can.

 

[Bevis]

mrb, so with the #2 AL I will not have 100a at the sub. this is getting confusing.

 

[mrb]

mrb, so with the #2 AL I will not have 100a at the sub. this is getting confusing.

#2 AL is good for 90 amps, not 100. (unless you are the power company where the NEC doesnt apply)

 

[sberry]

You will have 90A but,,, what kind of shop? Unless you have big welding machines 60A is sufficient for most home garages.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

on a subpanel does the ground bar thing in the pic (end of tape pointing to) need to be turned and placed into the ground bar??

That is not a ground bar, it is a neutral bar, that is why it is insulated from the housing. Many smaller panels only have the neutral bar installed and if the installation requires a separated ground and neutral (such as your subpanel will, to meet code) then you have to purchase a ground bar and install it. They are quite cheap, and the panel probably has the screw holes already punched in it, just go to Home Depot, etc, and pick out a ground bar, they come in different lengths and screw directly to the back wall of the panel. Leave the neutral insulated and above ground.

Charles

 

[Bevis]

thanks Charles. gotta go get AC filters today, so i'll get the ground bar too.

 

[Bevis]

You will have 90A but,,, what kind of shop? Unless you have big welding machines 60A is sufficient for most home garages.

General use - Working on Jeep - Soon a Rat Rod...Welding, Air Comp, Plasma, wood working tools........

 

[Bevis]

What size ground wire should I use ? 6,8, or smaller.

 

[Aceman]

Get a call from my buddy to say they had it left over from a job and was told to get rid of it, he thought I could use it.

On the outside of the outer jacket is marked: (UL) 3 CDR AWG 2-1 CDR AWG 4 Compact AL. ---Alumaflex (TM) Type SE Cable Style SER Type XHHW-2 CDRS 600 Volts.
inside there are a black, black w/ red stipe, black w/ white stripe, and a bare (ground).

Your buddy should of told you SER isn't legal to install underground.

08 NEC 338.12(A)2

You need xhhw, rhhw, rhw, thwn, etc...

 

[Bevis]

conduit and wire is in the ground now...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Originally Posted by Bevis View Post
Get a call from my buddy to say they had it left over from a job and was told to get rid of it, he thought I could use it.

On the outside of the outer jacket is marked: (UL) 3 CDR AWG 2-1 CDR AWG 4 Compact AL. ---Alumaflex (TM) Type SE Cable Style SER Type XHHW-2 CDRS 600 Volts.
inside there are a black, black w/ red stipe, black w/ white stripe, and a bare (ground).

Your buddy should of told you SER isn't legal to install underground.

08 NEC 338.12(A)2

You need xhhw, rhhw, rhw, thwn, etc...

While the individual conductors are XHHW-2 rated and could easily be stripped from the jacket and used (if so marked and I'll bet they are), the problem lies in the "bare equipment ground" that is in the cable assembly.

Charles