I am running a 400 amp service on the house and splitting it to a 200 amp for garage. I spoke with local electricians on what size to run from house to garage. he stated 2-2 alt, 1-1 alt, and 4 for ground My big question is there anywhere online to order it from that would be cheaper than say HD or Lowes? I have to run 150 ft from main panel to garage panel.
Ordering Wire?
- Thread starter Jojo2016
- Start date
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Will it still be cheaper buying it online once you factor in shipping charges?
Sometimes, on heavy stuff like wire, the shipping charges can get pretty high, and basically make the price of buying it online just a few bucks less than getting it locally.
Jim
Sometimes, on heavy stuff like wire, the shipping charges can get pretty high, and basically make the price of buying it online just a few bucks less than getting it locally.
Jim
When you say splitting it to the garage - is this feeder to the garage fed from your main house panel or from the meter enclosure?
2/0, 2/0, 1/0, 4 is copper, also price out alum 4/0,/4/0,2/0, 2(?). How real is the 200a load?
Are you putting this in conduit?
Price it at a couple of local supply houses also.
2/0, 2/0, 1/0, 4 is copper, also price out alum 4/0,/4/0,2/0, 2(?). How real is the 200a load?
Are you putting this in conduit?
Price it at a couple of local supply houses also.
pattenp
Well-known member
This is one of the best places to buy online. https://www.wireandcableyourway.com
ToddW
Well-known member
Hmmm... I am running 3/0 for my 200AMP to shop/garage. I don't think you'll be able to draw 200A on 2/0 at 150' maybe I'm wrong though???
I learned the hard wire wire prices go up/down!! I need to order an additional 130' for my garage/shop and it now cost $70 MORE than I paid a week ago!! GRRRR.
Find the best prices by google the wire you want like 3/0 THHN (most THHN is THWN rated so be sure to read but searching THWN yielded bad results)... then compare prices WITH shipping.
Home Depot even went up $100 within a day of me looking at a 500' roll of 3/0.
For 150ft run x2 for the hots you may be better getting a 500' roll, so be sure to check that out too. Def. cheaper at home depot than buying by the foot if you have no other option.
I learned the hard wire wire prices go up/down!! I need to order an additional 130' for my garage/shop and it now cost $70 MORE than I paid a week ago!! GRRRR.
Find the best prices by google the wire you want like 3/0 THHN (most THHN is THWN rated so be sure to read but searching THWN yielded bad results)... then compare prices WITH shipping.
Home Depot even went up $100 within a day of me looking at a 500' roll of 3/0.
For 150ft run x2 for the hots you may be better getting a 500' roll, so be sure to check that out too. Def. cheaper at home depot than buying by the foot if you have no other option.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
2/0 cu is not large enough for a 200a feeder or service to a garage.
U will need min 3/0 cu for the garage.
The house can be 2/0 cu.
U will need min 3/0 cu for the garage.
The house can be 2/0 cu.
BillK
Well-known member
jj,
Have you priced it at a local electrical supply house instead of HD or Lowes ? They are usually better for stuff like that.
Have you priced it at a local electrical supply house instead of HD or Lowes ? They are usually better for stuff like that.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Was more expensive for me than buying at HD. 10/2 was the same for the roll, 12/2 was cheaper at HD and no shipping.
They also wanted $50 to ship two 250ft rolls to me.
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
The pricing can go either way. HD is cheaper for THHN 10/12ga now, too.
The 200 is coming off of a meter panel that is for 400. So basically I have a 200 meter and panel on my house now. I am upgrading the meter panel to a 400, and then running the extra 200 out to garage. Since I bought the meter panel, I have to do all the wiring by myself. I have the interior wiring down, but I am sort of unsure about what to run from meter panel to garage panel. I am probably over doing it with 200 in the garage but it will be ok. I think the biggest thing I will have is maybe 2-220 outlets, and I will also be running spa and pool equipment off of the garage panel. I have called the electrical inspector to just try and get a little bit of advice on what wire to run from meter to garage, but he was no help. Basically told me to read the 2008 NEC, to figure out what I needed to do, lol. So, I have just asked the electrician who wired my house, and a couple of others about what I should run. That is where I came up with the 2/0-2/0-1/0-4. It will be ran underground in conduit for the 150ft. So any advice, that you guys can give, will be greatly appreciated. I do like buying from HD and Lowes, since I do get the military discount, so that helps a bit. What is that mobile home wire? Would that work at all for me?
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
I'm no electrician nor that well versed in sizing, but check out this calculator, and keep in mind you want ~3% or less of a voltage drop to the panel. I come up with a 3/0 run feed for your distance - maybe you can go with a 2/0 and a slightly smaller max amp? Depending on what you're putting in your shop, 200amps is a ton for a one man shop. Aircompressor, welder/plasma plus lighting/audio load is about the max I would have at once for me. Someday perhaps a 3ph converter and CNC mill while running the other stuff too.. When you get another person working in there, you may have lift load at the same time, etc.
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-d...e=150&distanceunit=feet&eres=200&x=60&y=14
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-d...e=150&distanceunit=feet&eres=200&x=60&y=14
2/0 cannot be used for 200A to a garage.
Yeah, I know it is total overkill for my garage. I am running normal stuff really. Through the wall PTAC, Air compressor, maybe a welder down the road, 8-4ft Led lights, ceiling fan, and regular outlets, and garage opener. Like I said, I will add the pool and spa power as well, but I have been told that a 50 amp box is well plenty for that stuff, unless I go crazy with the pumps.
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
That's why I said "slightly less", I realize 2/0 doesn't work for a garage. What's the max on it? 160?
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
2/0 cu is max 175a for a branch feeder servicing anything other than a dwelling unit.
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pattenp
Well-known member
The OP wasn't asking about 10/2 or 12/2. He was inquiring about 200A feeder cable. Lowes and HD in all places don't carry some of the larger service wire. For the larger service I've seen prices on Wire N Cable with shipping beat Lowes and HD. It can go both ways.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
I wasn't trying to bash on the website. However, looking on this site, they get mentioned a lot, with no mention of how they could compare with local stores. Just putting in my recent experience. They were also more expensive than Amazon (due to shipping).
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Hopefully the OP hasnt bought 2/0, thinking he can get 200a with it as it doesnt seem that he has noticed the several comments stating 2/0 is too small for 200a to garage.
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No, I haven't bought it yet. I have been looking at the different calculators that people have been posting. So, should I look at going 3/0-3/0-2/0, then 4 for ground? Or should I look at going up to 4/0-4/0-2/0. Is it against any code to use the mobile home feeder wire to go from the meter panel to panel in garage?
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Depends on breaker size.
3/0 cu is good for 200a but 4/0 AL is not.
https://www.google.com/search?q=310.15b16&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
And no its not against any code to use MHF panel to panel. It just needs to be in conduit inside walls and above ground.
I would run it in conduit the entire length.
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ToddW
Well-known member
#6 for green ground wire from subpanel -> main for 200AMP service using 3/0 copper for hots and neutral.
I'm doing exact setup pretty much except only at around 125' distance.
I'm doing exact setup pretty much except only at around 125' distance.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Jojo, be careful with your plans here. 150 feet plus of 3 - 3/0 conductors plus a ground in a conduit is not for the faint of heart. Make that conduit as big as you can - 3" or more if possible and be prepared for a difficult pull. A 500 ft spool of 3/0 copper will weigh nearly 300 lbs. Don't let it get away from you.
You will need to spool it off the spool, cut the individual conductors to length, bundle and tape them all together. Then you need to get a pull rope in the conduit and pull the wires. Hope you are going down hill. 3/0 is stiff, I mean really stiff. you want sweeps and not elbows. You also want experienced help if you can find it. Someone to pull, someone to feed and someone to coach. You may need a puller of some sort, many ways to do this. Avoid the temptation to tie your truck to it....
Then you need to do your part and bring them all beer
Good luck.
You will need to spool it off the spool, cut the individual conductors to length, bundle and tape them all together. Then you need to get a pull rope in the conduit and pull the wires. Hope you are going down hill. 3/0 is stiff, I mean really stiff. you want sweeps and not elbows. You also want experienced help if you can find it. Someone to pull, someone to feed and someone to coach. You may need a puller of some sort, many ways to do this. Avoid the temptation to tie your truck to it....
Then you need to do your part and bring them all beer
Good luck.
The 6 AWG grounding conductor has to have green colored insulation, using green tape is not permitted for 6 AWG and smaller.
prostreetamx
Well-known member
I got my feeder from my local supply house and we have a few to choose from. They will cut, mark and spool it up for you also if requested. HD and Lowes here are just are not set up for larger feeder runs. It wouldn't hurt to call your local supply house. Be aware that their prices vary from, we don't know you, all the way to, you are our favorite customer. In my case my wife used to work for them so it would help your price a lot if you have a middle man who has a relationship with them and write down their price and make them stick with it. They do have a habit of switching prices on call in orders if you can't quote their estimate.
shooon
Well-known member
For service conductors I went with 250kcmill AL when I did my 200A service. I priced out both copper and aluminum. Aluminum was $66 for the 3 runs interconnecting mast to meter base compared to around $200 for 3/0 CU. IIRC, I ordered 15M
If you need to use LB fittings I recommend going up 1 or 2 sizes to make it easier to pull the wire through.
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For underground maybe price out ACWU cable. 3c 1/0 ALU for my 100amp was around $660 for 120'
Edit:
If you went with 3c 250kcmil ALU, 48 meters of ACWU is like $884 Canadian.
If you need to use LB fittings I recommend going up 1 or 2 sizes to make it easier to pull the wire through.
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For underground maybe price out ACWU cable. 3c 1/0 ALU for my 100amp was around $660 for 120'
Edit:
If you went with 3c 250kcmil ALU, 48 meters of ACWU is like $884 Canadian.
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Shooon-- No offense, but you totally lost me on what you were saying. It may be because of the difference of Canadian measurements and US measurements. I am a full blown DIYer, and in this case, since I pulled the permit while buying the new box, I have to do the work, and can not have an electrician do it. So that is why I am seeking all advice I can get.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Wireandcableyourway has a 5%coupon going right now
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manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Let's see if I can interpret:
250 kcmil Aluminum is the same as 250MCM or the next size up from 4/0. He's saying that 3 conductors 250kcmil aluminum is cheaper than 3 conductors 3/0 copper $66 vs - $200.
15 meters is about 49 feet.
For his 100 amp connection (to an out building I presume) he used ACWU cable. 3 conductor 1/0 Aluminum for 100 amps. ACWU is a jacketed armored cable, also called Teck in Canada. It's not very common in the US.
His suggestion is to use ACWU, 3 conductor 250kcmil Aluminum. 48 meters is approximately 157'.
LB's are pulling elbow's. He's suggesting using a larger size conduit if you need to use LB's instead of sweeps in your conduit run because ACWU is difficult to pull through smaller LB's..
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Might be worth checking out direct bury cable cost vs the added expense of 3+" conduit. Depending on how deep you need to go and what kind of soil you have, direct bury and an hour with a vibraplow and it's done and ready to terminate.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
OP, you really need to hire an electrician. Period, the end.....I'm out.
Yeah, I wish I could at this point, lol. But if I get caught using an electrician, it will be a big fine. They way it works here, is if the homeowner pulls the permit, only the homeowner and family can do the actually electricity work. Since I bought the new meter box, they pulled the permit with the box. So I have now pulled the permit myself, and therefore have to do the work myself. I thank you for all your help so far. Thanks
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
OP, what is your location?
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
You should be able to change your permit. You can in the two areas I am semi-familiar with.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
How would they know if u hired an electrician to at least give u a consult on what to do?
James-W
Well-known member
I have never heard of anything like that before. Why would anyone care if you had an electrician help you do the wiring? Not saying it isn't correct, just that it doesn't seem right to me.
Im around the Memphis area. I am not for sure on how they would ever know if I had an electrician do it for me. I just know when I first started designing my garage, and I talked to the electrical inspector, he basically threatened me with a $1000 fine if he finds out that I pulled the permit as a homeowner and had an electrician do the work. He is the only inspector in the area, and is very well known for being a tough ***, lol. You are not able to change the permit, once it is bought either. I have asked electricians what to do, I even asked the same guy who wired my house for his thoughts on what to run. I just asked same question here to get different thoughts. I have received different thoughts on here from what the electrician told me to do. He told me to just run 2-2 alt, 1-1 alt and 4 or 6 for ground. But after getting thoughts from here, and looking at the calculators, maybe I should just run 3/0-3/0-2/0 and 4 for ground. I still have a few weeks before I actually trench it all and lay it, so I may ask a few other electricians around here for their thoughts. All I know for sure, is what sch. and size conduit I have to run, lol
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
I have NO idea what type of cable this is. Perhaps u dont know what its called?? Maybe youre referring to 2 ought as in 2/0??
If u meant 2/0 CU, then thats not large enough for 200a.