Need help with service cable

[brad900]

I see everybody here says to use 2224al USE mobile home feeder for a 90 amp subpanel to a detached garage but nobody in the northern half of georgia carrys it. Is it not allowed in GA? I've done a search where it shows what home depot's carry it & nothing in GA but it shows all over in TN, what gives??? My local elec. supply shows they carry it until you log in then it shows not carried at your local branch, WTF.. Is there something else I can use?

Thanks

 

[frankzlt1]

Can you install a conduit from panel to panel then you can use #2 Al xhhw for your feeder. Can you call a supply house and ask why they don't allow 2/3 seu.

 

[pattenp]

Can you install a conduit from panel to panel then you can use #2 Al xhhw for your feeder. Can you call a supply house and ask why they don't allow 2/3 seu.

SER and SEU are for above ground use only. You don’t want to use SEU at all, it has a concentric neutral. SER is what you want for any part of the run that’s above ground where it doesn’t need to be in conduit. Any cable that only has a USE rating cannot be installed inside, it’s outside use only. If you can’t find Mobile Home feeder , which is rated RHH/RHW-2/USE-2, then use THHN/THWN-2 or XHHW-2 in single wire to make up your 4 conductors.

Edit: Go to your local HD or Lowes. The MHF doesn't show on their websites but it is carried in the stores. At least it is here where I live.

 

[brad900]

pattenp,
HD does show it on their website but not in GA. I have found it in other states in stock. I did go to the store & they do not have it, I can special order a 500ft roll, I only need about 50 ft..

 

[pattenp]

Do you have a Lowes that you can go to?

 

[madosta]

Coat hangers. Lots of them.

 

[brad900]

I will go by a Lowes tonite

 

[Charles (in GA)]

HD on the south side has it. I know Newnan does will check PTC when I finish eating as I'm across the parking lot from it.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Yep PTC has a spool and a couple of remnants. $1.42 ft or $677 a spool.

 

[brad900]

I just went to lowes, its SER.
Charles, It is 2224USE or SER? Thanks for looking

 

[frankzlt1]

SER and SEU are for above ground use only. You don’t want to use SEU at all, it has a concentric neutral. SER is what you want for any part of the run that’s above ground where it doesn’t need to be in conduit. Any cable that only has a USE rating cannot be installed inside, it’s outside use only. If you can’t find Mobile Home feeder , which is rated RHH/RHW-2/USE-2, then use THHN/THWN-2 or XHHW-2 in single wire to make up your 4 conductors.

Edit: Go to your local HD or Lowes. The MHF doesn't show on their websites but it is carried in the stores. At least it is here where I live.

I had originally put down ser but my stupid dum phone spell auto checked me

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Looking at the pic, I can see it is USE-2 but cannot see the other ratings. In the past, HD has always carried the multi rated wire.

This pic is wire I have that came from HD several years back, it is multi rated. The stuff I saw tonite may not be, but they usually carry the mobile home feeder. This stuff is shelf labeled as 2-2-2-4 **** whatever that is. Edit: Southwire **** is URD, though this stuff says USE-2 on the wire.

I know Newnan has the MHF, I saw it recently and stopped to look closely enough to know it was multi rated. like the coil below. I had a use planned for the 150 ft I have, but never have used it, got it as a last of the spool, marked way down, so I grabbed it.

Thumbnail is what I saw tonite, should have looked closer. Will look at Newnan tomorrow nite on the way home.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

This is SER.... rated THHN/THWN-2 for above ground only

This is Mobile Home Feeder rated RHH/RHW-2/USE-2 ... is a direct bury cable

There is also URD which looks like Mobile Home Feeder but can only be used outdoors. It's only rated as USE-2.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Not sure why HD has the URD, probably somebody messed up ordering the stuff. It is cheaper than the MHF by quite a bit.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

The HD where I live has both URD and MHF, but the URD they have is only 3 conductor.

 

[brad900]

Charles,
Thats what I need. Its URD. I guess us city boys on the northside are too good to have that at our stores. Time to come to the southside for some wire. Thanks again for looking

Brad

 

[pattenp]

If you plan on running this wire from panel to panel then URD is not what you want. It's against NEC to bring it inside of the structure because it does not have a fire retardant insulation.

 

[brad900]

pattenp,
I am going to use SER for the inside & URD for the outside underground. I can find the SER everywhere, just not the USE or URD.
Thanks

 

[pattenp]

Okay, just want to make sure you knew what to use. I'm really surprised you can't find the MHF. Are you doing conduit under ground or direct bury?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Let me see if they have MHF, you can bring that inside and save splicing it outside (unless you are planning on a outside disconnect anyhow.)

 

[brad900]

I'm going to put it in conduit. I'm suprised too. I understand why the HD near me does not have some stuff the others have (I live in a area where people do not do anything themselfs, they pay people to do it for them). The guy at my HD said they don't carry that much wire becuase of this. I talked to a online helper for a electrical supply & he said no store in GA carries it but the stores in other states due. The funny thing is southwire is made in GA.

 

[pattenp]

If you are doing conduit underground, you do realize you are not limited to a direct bury cable such as URD or MHF. You can buy single wire XHHW-2 or THHN/THWN-2 and make up your 4 conductor cable. You'd have to go to an electrical supply to get it.

 

[brad900]

Let me see if they have MHF, you can bring that inside and save splicing it outside (unless you are planning on a outside disconnect anyhow.)

I'm going to splice in a J-box outside where it exits my house

If you are doing conduit underground, you do realize you are not limited to a direct bury cable such as URD or MHF. You can buy single wire XHHW-2 or THHN/THWN-2 and make up your 4 conductor cable. You'd have to go to an electrical supply to get it.

I looked into that but its cheeper getting the URD cable.

 

[pattenp]

Really.. The #2 Al XHHW-2 here is about $0.40 a foot and #4 Al is about $0.30 a foot so that's around $1.50 a foot to make up a 2-2-2-4. What's the price you're seeing for 2-2-2-4 URD?

Edit: Never mind, I was looking at an old price sheet I have and those prices are for 1000'.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Ok, detoured by the Newnan store today. They have a lazy susan for the 2-2-2-4 MHF spool, but no spool, just a 30 foot section of remnant taped up laying on the spool spinner. Hopefully they have more on order. This is the stuff like I show in the blow up above, that is rated USE-2/RHH/RHW and can be used to enter a building.

I know you said you were going to splice it outside the house, but also you won't be able to enter the garage with it. Sounds like a lot of boxes and splicing and large expensive wire splicers. The MHF is a nickle a foot more expensive, Thats not much money given what you will spend on boxes and splicing devices.

The MHF will do everything the URD can do, and more.

I'd give Newnan a call and see when they expect to have more in, or call a store closer to you and ask for the wire by the HD stock number 462-714 (priced by the foot) or 464-762 (priced by the spool). Don't depend on what the web site says, call and ask for electrical and have them check the spools and shelf tags.

Charles

 

[brad900]

Thanks Charles

 

[brad900]

I went to different HD today & found 2-2-4-6AL use mhf. The HD/Electrician said this is good for 100 amps. I looked it up on southwire & it does say 100amp. Can I use this for a 90amp panel or should I only use 2-2-2-4.

 

[brad900]

I think I will order it online. I just found this at $1 per foot http://www.elliottelectric.com/Products/Detail.aspx?i=20080418101247
Its the same as HD shows online
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwir...ice-Entry-Electrical-Cable-55417309/202316368

 

[pattenp]

I went to different HD today & found 2-2-4-6AL use mhf. The HD/Electrician said this is good for 100 amps. I looked it up on southwire & it does say 100amp. Can I use this for a 90amp panel or should I only use 2-2-2-4.

It's a 100A when used as a main service. When use as a branch feeder 90A is the max you can over current protect it. The 2-2-4-6 MHF is fine to use at 90A.

I think I will order it online. I just found this at $1 per foot http://www.elliottelectric.com/Products/Detail.aspx?i=20080418101247
Its the same as HD shows online
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwir...ice-Entry-Electrical-Cable-55417309/202316368

This is URD cable and is not rated the same as MHF. The URD is only rated as USE-2 and can not enter the structure. It is to be used outside only.

You need this...... http://www.elliottelectric.com/Products/Detail.aspx?v=ALU&c=MHF22461000


Edit: Nevermind, you said you were doing splices in Jbox to use SER inside. I respond to so many threads about this I can't remember who's doing what.


*

 

[brad900]

Thanks for the info pattenp. I will get the 2-2-4-6 mhf becuase it's here local. All this for wire