What Size Ground Wire For 200 Amp Service

Use a 4 gauge copper wire from the panel to the water pipe for 200 amp service (within 5 feet of where information technology enters the house and likewise between where it enters and the meter). This is from a different size table (for grounding electrode conductors) than ground wires from the main console to the subpanel (grounding conductors). The ground conductors to the subpanel should be 6 gauge or larger. Grounding conductors to private circuits should be separately identified. They can be the same conductor or not, depending on how you plan to split up up the circuit work.

The ground wire from the panel to the h2o pipe is called the bonding conductor considering information technology must connect the metal parts of the system together in club to provide an electrical path dorsum to the panel if needed. This conductor is also used to supply electricity if any part of the organization needs to exist rewired at a later date.

If you lot're wondering why in that location'due south a need for a dissever ground wire in the first identify, it's considering electricity is not merely transmitted through conductors, but too by magnetic fields. If a usher gets too hot due to a trouble with its connexion or another cause, it will break down over fourth dimension and release electrons, which will then flow along the footing return path that has been created by the bonding conductor. This is why information technology's of import to take a adept electric connection between the bonding conductor and the piping system likewise as any other conductors inside the g.

What size wire runs from the meter to the breaker box?

You'll demand either #4 copper or #2 aluminum for this. 4-4-iv-6 copper or 2-two-two-iv aluminum cable will exist used. Because your panel will not be "every bit close equally viable" to the meter, you volition need to install a 100-fuse disconnect or a meter/console combo with a 100-amp primary billow on the outside of the home. This means that if someone were to come into your firm with an electrical tool and bear on any part of the wiring, they could start a fire.

The distance between the meter and the console depends on how much current you plan to run through the wire. The further it is removed, the lower the resistance betwixt them will be, which will aid avert overheating of the wires. However, there must be space available behind walls and ceilings where the cables tin be routed. If non, the homeowner will accept no choice but to cut holes in these locations, which could crusade damage that would have been preventable had proper planning been done at the offset.

The best way to avert these bug is to have a professional conduct a voltage inspection of all areas served by one excursion earlier you lot pour anything other than mud over the wires. This will permit them to identify and marker hot and neutral wires so that they don't go crossed up when you build something.

Subsequently the inspection, the professional person will determine how far away the meter should be from the panel and make recommendations on how to road the cable if it isn't possible to put information technology out back.

How many ground rods exercise you need for a 200-amp service?

For 200 amp services, a #4 grounding electrode conductor (footing wire) is required. The national electric code requires that all circuits not located in an enclosure bear to the metal chassis or other protective ways of the structure.

The ground rod must exist deep enough to reach the soil without existence connected to some other footing rod or other object that would cause it to get expressionless. According to the National Electrical Code, a ground rod should be at least as deep every bit the highest betoken on its route between the main body of the firm and any outdoor equipment such as a automobile port or shed.

The ground rod should be placed so that when information technology is fully inserted into the soil, its peak is even with or slightly beneath the outside surface of the 1000 soil. If the ground rod goes too far downward, information technology volition crusade bug past contacting underground wires or cables. The basis rod should never be allowed to bear on anything other than earth during installation or maintenance.

A footing fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides extra safety if you have a garden hose that connects to your kitchen faucet.

About Article Author

Christopher Welch is a skilled mechanic who knows everything there is to know well-nigh engines and motors. He has been working on cars and trucks for nearly of his life, and he loves information technology! His favorite function of what he does is taking something that doesn't work and making it run like new again.