Seu,ser,thhn,urd what should i use????

[jay94gt]

Ive read about alot of the different meanings but im a little confused
Im buying wire today for new 200 amp sevice so i need advice on what cable type wire i need. Ill be running from meter can up to weather head and from
Meter can through pvc ****** inside into main panel. I know i need 4/0 aluminum. But i didnt see ser at home depot may have seu but was unsure about having to twist the neutral together?
I thought about just buying seperate 4/0 cables but confused about what type wire i needed? Please help
Also the sey at home depot is 4/0 4/0 2/0? Is the 2/0 ok for neutral?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What code cycle are u under? If 2014, then the chart that allows reduced size conductors for services have been removed and u may have to go bigger than 4/0 depending on your calculated load.

Heres 4/0 AL THHN:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-500-ft-4-0-Stranded-AL-THHN-Cable-Black-56267102/206148113/

U cant use SER or SEU because of the location...

U need 3 lengths of 4/0.

 

[jay94gt]

I thought it had to be w wet rated because of it going to service loop or is the w listing just if its going to be buried?
Some around here said they always used the bundled 4/0 canle like sweetbriar?
Any thoughts

 

[bobbycos]

OK,we have Latin/Greek and cantonese Chinese all in one shot

Here is where I call local 3 IBEW and let them handle the rest

 

[jay94gt]

http://http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-4-0-Aluminum-USE-Wire-By-the-Foot-27287290/205001905/

Can you use use for over head service entry?

 

[jay94gt]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-4-0-Aluminum-USE-Wire-By-the-Foot-27287290/205001905/

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I thought it had to be w wet rated because of it going to service loop or is the w listing just if its going to be buried?
Some around here said they always used the bundled 4/0 canle like sweetbriar?
Any thoughts

Yes it does. And the wire i linked IS rated for wet locations. I have a habit of only calling it THHN because it is actually dual rated THHN-2/THWN-2. Most THHN is dual rated.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-4-0-Aluminum-USE-Wire-By-the-Foot-27287290/205001905/

U can only use that outside unless its dual rated RHH/RHW...

 

[jay94gt]

Thanks
I didnt see it by the foot
Maybe they have it in my store

 

[pattenp]

What code cycle are u under? If 2014, then the chart that allows reduced size conductors for services have been removed and u may have to go bigger than 4/0 depending on your calculated load.

Heres 4/0 AL THHN:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-500-ft-4-0-Stranded-AL-THHN-Cable-Black-56267102/206148113/

U cant use SER or SEU because of the location...

U need 3 lengths of 4/0.

So why can't he use SE? He going from the overhead service drop to the meter and from the meter into the service panel. That's the primary application for SE cable.

 

[Norcal]

Around here SE is not used, it is allowed by the NEC but not allowed in the PG&E greenbook, any existing SE installations are 50 plus years old, my point is that be sure to check on any PoCo requirements before purchasing any supplies, as they have the final say.

 

[jay94gt]

I actually like the idea of the individual wires i just didnt know what wire type
Thhn,thhwn,ure etc? The only exposed wire is to the service drop

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Around here SE is not used, it is allowed by the NEC but not allowed in the PG&E greenbook, any existing SE installations are 50 plus years old, my point is that be sure to check on any PoCo requirements before purchasing any supplies, as they have the final say.

So why can't he use SE? He going from the overhead service drop to the meter and from the meter into the service panel. That's the primary application for SE cable.

Yeah youre right. I have a habit of saying a particular local practice is code for everyone else. As Norcal pointed out, PGE as well as the 2 local PoCos whos terroritory i do work in, dont allow SE style cabling. I have never used SE or been able to use it for service entrances.

So yes the OP possibly could use SE style cabling but needs to check first.

 

[Mustang51js]

Yeah check with your local poco,by me you see more service cable than anything else. Down in south jersey by the shore most houses don't even have a service head that you normally see,they have to wrap it in tape which I am assuming is for salt creep. If you decide to use pipe I would spend a few dollars extra and get 2/0 copper,about an extra $100 in wire

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Will the wire from the meter can going inside to the main panel be in conduit? If not, you almost will have to use SE in a jacket. Are you using a conduit mast outside or just jacketed SE up the wall with a weatherhead?

If you use the bundled SE with the bare ground spiraled around it, unravel the spiral for enough distance that the other wires will reach their destination and then some, and then carefully bundle the loose wire with cable ties. After getting it well bundled, slip a worm hose clamp around the bundle near the point where the bundling begins, and another one near where the end of the wire is. Slowly twist the tightened hose clamp on the end to spiral the wire, and then cut the wire ends off clean. Insert the bundled wire in the ground lug and tighten the screw, remove the hose clamps and the wire ties.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

Will the wire from the meter can going inside to the main panel be in conduit? If not, you almost will have to use SE in a jacket. Are you using a conduit mast outside or just jacketed SE up the wall with a weatherhead?

If you use the bundled SE with the bare ground spiraled around it, unravel the spiral for enough distance that the other wires will reach their destination and then some, and then carefully bundle the loose wire with cable ties. After getting it well bundled, slip a worm hose clamp around the bundle near the point where the bundling begins, and another one near where the end of the wire is. Slowly twist the tightened hose clamp on the end to spiral the wire, and then cut the wire ends off clean. Insert the bundled wire in the ground lug and tighten the screw, remove the hose clamps and the wire ties.

Charles

Technically SE has no ground. The concentric bare wire in SEU and the bare wire in SER are specified as neutrals when used as a true service entrance cable. But the bare wire does serve as a ground when SE is used as a branch circuit feeder.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Yes it does. And the wire i linked IS rated for wet locations. I have a habit of only calling it THHN because it is actually dual rated THHN-2/THWN-2. Most THHN is dual rated.



U can only use that outside unless its dual rated RHH/RHW...

 

[jay94gt]

I am using 2 inch rigid metal pipe up wall to weatherhead
I have a pvc pipe connection through wall connecting meter to main panel
I bought some 4/0 4/0 2/0 with a ground listed like mobile home feeder wire i check all the rating markings and it is good in dry or wet location and has uv protection
I justremoved the fourth wire from the bundle that i dont need
I only bought it cause someone had it cut at he depot then didnt buy it so they discounted it down for me for less than $2 a foot so i bought it!

I know have question about tightening the meter hub onto the 2 inch rigid threads. It only tightens about 4 rounds and stops is that normal being tappered? Is it ok for half the threads to be exposed?

 

[tominos]

that should be fine. did you use a pipe wrench on it? make sure its not cross threaded.

 

[jay94gt]

It threads really easily until that point
I just had though it would have tightened all way down in hub
Thought i would ask others who have already done it?

 

[Mustang51js]

I don't think I've ever had a piece of rigid thread all the way down. What's the reasoning for rigid pipe,by me a piece of 2 inch is around $80 compared to a couple dollars for pvc

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Yeah check with your local poco,by me you see more service cable than anything else. Down in south jersey by the shore most houses don't even have a service head that you normally see,they have to wrap it in tape which I am assuming is for salt creep. If you decide to use pipe I would spend a few dollars extra and get 2/0 copper,about an extra $100 in wire

 

[jay94gt]

I used rigid so that the power co wire could be supported by it instead of adding eye bolt in wall. And because a neighbor gave me a full piece for free!

 

[jay94gt]

Re: #4 or #6 for ground wire

What size ground wire should i use ? My local home depot was out of #4 and he said they didnt show any on order but had #6 . I wonder if no one around here uses #4? The cost difference doesnt matter to me just knowing its right.

 

[Mustang51js]

For a 200 amp,service you need a #4 for the ground wire that goes to your water meter,#6 goes to the ground rods. You will only have two hots and a neutral in the service pipe

 

[Mustang51js]

I used rigid so that the power co wire could be supported by it instead of adding eye bolt in wall. And because a neighbor gave me a full piece for free!

You have any trees by your house that would possibly fall down,just remember if a tree hits the wire it will more than likely pull the rigid pipe off the house,whereas if the hook was on the house it would just pull the hook off and usually separate at the splices. You could try and throw up a few extra straps,if you have no trees then nothing to worry about

 

[jay94gt]

No trees around that area.
I dont have water meter no where around my shop and no metal water lines
Is why i ask do i only have to have #6 wire then?

 

[Mustang51js]

Yeah #6 continuous to two ground rods

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just an FYI the wire going to electrodes is called a Grounding electrode conductor...not a ground wire. A ground wire aka EGC is for fault current...