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What size service conductors do you need for a single phase 600 amp commercial panel?
The size of wire for service entrance conductors for a 400 amp 3 phase service could be 500 MCM copper. This is very large size wire and difficult to bend and shape, to connect to terminals in the main disconnect and distribution panel. This problem is solved by using parallel conductors or on higher ampacities triple conductors. Using parallel conductors the wire size would be three ought (3/0) copper.
What else can I help you with?
Can the load wires in an electrical service panel exit from the same end as the service cable and meet code?
Per the 2011 National Electric Code, Art 230 Services:230.7 states:"Conductors other than service conductors shall not be installed in the same raceway or service cable."Exception #1: Grounding conductors and bonding jumpers.Exception #2: Load management control conductors having overcurrent protection.
How would you extend underground wire to your panel currently aluminum wire run to panel about 300ft I need to extend this to a new shop with a 100 amp panel 50 extra feet?
This is not a job for an amateur, but I will help you with some primary considerations. My answers are based on the United States' NEC (code) and do not take into consideration any local requirements. You do not want to extend your existing service conductors. You want to install a 100amp breaker into your existing panel and run conductors from there to your new panel. If this is a residential application you can run this with #4 copper conductors. If this is a commercial application you must run #3 copper conductors. I would answer this question based on what your shop is intended to do. If you are running professional equipment and are more or less "in business", use the commercial requirements. If you know how to properly ground a new service, and if your new panel has a main breaker, you can do what you need with 3 conductors. This will allow you to put neutral and ground conductors on the ground bar like you would in your primary panel. If you do not know how to properly ground a new service or doing so is not practical, you will need 4 conductors and your grounds and neutrals will have to be ISOLATED from each other in the new panel. Your neutral bar in this case would be insulated from the panel. In this case your new panel would become a sub-panel of the primary panel. Some panels do not have a main breaker and this is a critical consideration if you intend to wire it as a new service. Personally, I wouldn't install a panel without a main breaker whether or not it is a service or sub-panel.
What is a service lateral conductor?
service lateral conductors are the underground conductors between the utility electric supply system and the service point, basically the cables that bring power from the transformer to the power meter in an underground service
What does SN stand for in an old style fuse panel it is referring to the neutral bars?
The term SN refers to a panel or disconnect switch that has solid neutral bar installed. It is a small bar that allows the service conductors to be bonded to the enclosure at that point.
Can a 200A 240V house panel be fed by number 2 conductors from a service entrance meter panel with 200A main breaker?
No, number 2 conductors are not sufficient to carry 200A. You would need larger gauge wires to safely handle that amount of current. It is important to match the wire size to the amperage rating of the panel to prevent overheating and potential hazards.
What are service panel bus bars?
Typically copper conductors that provide a phase of electricity.
Can the load wires in an electrical service panel exit from the same end as the service cable and meet code?
Per the 2011 National Electric Code, Art 230 Services:230.7 states:"Conductors other than service conductors shall not be installed in the same raceway or service cable."Exception #1: Grounding conductors and bonding jumpers.Exception #2: Load management control conductors having overcurrent protection.
How would you extend underground wire to your panel currently aluminum wire run to panel about 300ft I need to extend this to a new shop with a 100 amp panel 50 extra feet?
This is not a job for an amateur, but I will help you with some primary considerations. My answers are based on the United States' NEC (code) and do not take into consideration any local requirements. You do not want to extend your existing service conductors. You want to install a 100amp breaker into your existing panel and run conductors from there to your new panel. If this is a residential application you can run this with #4 copper conductors. If this is a commercial application you must run #3 copper conductors. I would answer this question based on what your shop is intended to do. If you are running professional equipment and are more or less "in business", use the commercial requirements. If you know how to properly ground a new service, and if your new panel has a main breaker, you can do what you need with 3 conductors. This will allow you to put neutral and ground conductors on the ground bar like you would in your primary panel. If you do not know how to properly ground a new service or doing so is not practical, you will need 4 conductors and your grounds and neutrals will have to be ISOLATED from each other in the new panel. Your neutral bar in this case would be insulated from the panel. In this case your new panel would become a sub-panel of the primary panel. Some panels do not have a main breaker and this is a critical consideration if you intend to wire it as a new service. Personally, I wouldn't install a panel without a main breaker whether or not it is a service or sub-panel.
How many current carrying conductors can share the same grounding conductor in a single phase panel?
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What is the cable between the service panel and electric meter called?
Whether you have an overhead or underground feed, that section of the installation is referred to as Service Entrance Conductors. On an overhead installation, it includes the conductors on BOTH sides of the meter, from the service drop conductors (attached at the service head) to the service equipment LINE terminals. On an underground installation, it refers only to the conductors between the meter's LOAD side and the service equipment LINE terminals. The conductors on the LINE side of the meter come from a distribution transformer and are unbroken between the transformer and your meter.
How do you know if the single line is single phase or 3 phase?
If the single line is compared to another single line and the voltage that you need is correct then you are looking as a singly phase supply. The electrical classification of single phase is that any two legs of a three phase supply can be called single phase. Look on the nameplate of the distribution panel. There it will state what the panel is, either single phase or three phase. Look at where the distribution enters the building from the utility supply. If there are three insulated conductors (red, black and blue) wrapped around a bare aluminium messenger wire it is a three phase wye connection service. If you see two black insulated conductors wrapped around a bare aluminium messenger it is a single phase service.
What is a service lateral conductor?
service lateral conductors are the underground conductors between the utility electric supply system and the service point, basically the cables that bring power from the transformer to the power meter in an underground service
How do you check ampere draw?
Best way is to use a clamp on amp meter. You need to be able to put the clamp over a single conductor. This is usually easy to do in the electric panel, but for a device you need to split the conductors. You can take an extension cord you don't need and separate the conductors so you can get the clamp on a single conductor.
What does SN stand for in an old style fuse panel it is referring to the neutral bars?
The term SN refers to a panel or disconnect switch that has solid neutral bar installed. It is a small bar that allows the service conductors to be bonded to the enclosure at that point.
Can a 200A 240V house panel be fed by number 2 conductors from a service entrance meter panel with 200A main breaker?
No, number 2 conductors are not sufficient to carry 200A. You would need larger gauge wires to safely handle that amount of current. It is important to match the wire size to the amperage rating of the panel to prevent overheating and potential hazards.
How do you ground a 100 amp service panel?
In the service distribution panel there are termination points at the top of the panel. Two of the utilities "hot" conductors terminate on the main breaker. The neutral utility termination point is on a terminal block usually off to the side near the main hot terminations. It is in this neutral termination block where the system ground connects from the ground rods to the distribution panel. For a 100 amp panel the wire size will be a #6 bare copper conductor.
Can a paralleled grounded conductor be a 2?
No, grounding conductors should not be paralleled per NEC standards. Paralleling grounded conductors can lead to circulating currents, potential overcurrent situations, and code violations. It is important to always follow the regulations and guidelines set forth by the National Electrical Code to ensure safety and compliance.
