How To Tell If You Have 100 Amp Or 200 Amp Service From Meter

What size wire for 200 amp service should y'all purchase? If you're asking this question, you lot should definitely telephone call an electrician. Simply for your own knowledge, we'll explain wire sizing and considerations in the guide below.

Disclaimer: The information included in this mail is for informational purposes just and should non be taken equally legal, fiscal, or DIY advice. We highly propose consulting a professional person before attempting any DIY habitation improvements or repairs.

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What Size Wire for 200 Amp Service?

Smart homes and digital connection are the future for homeowners. We need electrical panels that can handle the digital future, and many homeowners are upgrading their systems to 200 amp service.

Knowing what size wire for 200 amp service is critical to setting up your electric system to work for years to come up. Just how exercise you choose from the options?

The Quick Answer

Installing a 200 amp service requires a permit and professional experience. While yous'll need a qualified electrician, it'south good to know the basics ahead of fourth dimension.

For a 200 amp service, you lot'll need:

#2/0 copper wire, or
#4/0 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire

You'll need to consider a few things when selecting your wiring, including your personal preferences, the voltage driblet, and the length of the wire. Don't worry – we'll explain each of these in detail below.

What Size Wire Practice You lot Need for 200 Amp Service

The size wire you need for 200 amp service depends on the type of wire you're getting. Let'south expect at the difference between a copper wire and an aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire. Then we'll go into the factors you should consider when choosing your wiring.

Copper Wiring

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Copper wiring is the all-time in the business. Its loftier electrical conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance, and flexibility make it platonic for wiring in whatever situation. Yet, copper tin be more than expensive and more circuitous to install. Here'southward everything you need to know well-nigh copper wiring:

High Conductivity: Copper is a naturally highly conductive metal . Just silver is amend at conducting electricity. Because it'southward peachy at conducting electricity, you can employ it for much longer distances, and you can use a much smaller judge than for aluminum.
Heat and Corrosion Resistant: While copper changes color from oxidation, those changes don't affect its performance. Copper is corrosion-resistant and volition stand the exam of time. It'due south also a lot more than rut resistant than aluminum. Estrus doesn't crusade it to expand or flex almost every bit much, so information technology stays in identify.
Flexible: Since you tin can use thinner strands of copper wire, it's much easier to bend and wrap without breaking.
In for the Distance: Again, since copper is so highly conductive and sturdy, it'south better for length and doesn't lose its voltage over longer distances.

Again, copper is probably the all-time material for wiring, only it does take downsides, which we'll touch on in the next section.

The Short Answer: When using a 200 amp service, you'll want a #2/0 copper wire.

Aluminum

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Aluminum has less conductivity than copper and as well responds more chop-chop to heat and corrosion. To brand up for the lack of conductivity, you also need a college gauge – i.eastward., a thicker wire.

However, well-nigh electricians adopt aluminum for a few reasons. The downsides of copper are that it'southward expensive, heavy, and trickier to install. And that'due south precisely why electricians ofttimes choose to utilise aluminum.

Here are the main benefits of using aluminum wiring:

Easier Installation: Aluminum is much lighter than copper – fifty-fifty when you account for the higher guess needed for proper conductivity. Since it's then lightweight, aluminum is fast and easy to install. If you want a job done quickly, aluminum is the solution.
Cheaper: Lesser line, aluminum is more affordable than copper. It works well and doesn't pause the banking company.

The Short Answer: For a 200 amp service, you lot'll need a #4/0 aluminum wire.

Copper-Clad Aluminum

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Copper-clad aluminum is your third option, and information technology provides some of the benefits of both previous options. Permit's compare information technology to the other two.

Cheaper but Not Cheapest: Copper-clad aluminum is more affordable than pure copper but more expensive than aluminum.
More Corrosion Resistant Than Aluminum: Copper-clad aluminum wire protects the aluminum from corrosion. Most aluminum needs an antioxidant coating connecting to the power terminal, just copper-clad aluminum doesn't need it.
Good Electrical conductivity: Again, copper-clad aluminum runs somewhat in the middle of the other ii regarding conductivity.

The Short Respond: Similar with aluminum, y'all'll demand a #4/0 copper-clad aluminum wire for a 200 amp service.

Other Factors to Consider

Before you make your final decision, you need to consider a few other factors.

Voltage Drop: The voltage at your circuit billow should exist 120 volts. Voltage drop means how much power is lost as electricity moves along the wire to your devices and appliances. Y'all tin meliorate your voltage driblet by increasing the judge of your wire.
Distance: Related to the voltage drop, if you demand power across distances longer than l anxiety, you'll probably want a copper wire. A #2/0 copper wire and a #4/0 aluminum wire tin maintain less than a 3% voltage drop over 50 feet. To get beyond 50 feet, you'll likely need a college gauge copper wire.
Local Edifice Codes: Make sure you're familiar with the electrical codes in your area past checking the National Electrical Lawmaking (NEC). You lot also need to exist certain you have all the permits required for this type of piece of work.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

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Explore our answers to some of the most oft asked questions about what size wire for 200 amp service.

How Much Does information technology Toll to Install 200 Amp Electric Service?

Most of us are just looking to upgrade a 100- to 150-amp service. An upgrade to install a 200 amp electrical service costs between $750 and $ii,000. The range depends on how much wiring yous need, how much of an upgrade, etc. A full reset with a new circuit breaker, though, could cost up to $4,500.

Can I Run a 200 Amp Subpanel off 200 Amp Main?

While you technically tin do this, we would recommend looking into a 400A service. Bank check the power usage overall to brand sure the subpanel isn't drawing most of the power for just one or 2 applications.

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What Size Wire Should I Get for 200 Amp Service?

When upgrading your system to a 200 amp service, yous should look for #2/0 copper wiring and #4/0 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wiring. Apply our guide above to determine which is suitable for you lot or if you might need any adjustments.

Remember to acquire about the regulations and permits in your surface area, and don't endeavor this without a professional! Again, we highly suggest getting a bid from an electrician. It's like shooting fish in a barrel and complimentary. Just click the greenish push above.