What Size Wire for 200 AMP Service Underground

Hello readers welcome to the new post. Here we will discuss What Size Wire for 200 AMP Service Underground. The NEC code needed about 2/0AWG for copper and 4/0 aluminum wire when connected to a 200 amp panel. Here we will have details about What Size Wire for 200 AMP Service Underground.

What Size Wire You Need For a 200 Amp Circuit?

• For finding the 200 amp wire gauge there is a need to measure the least ampacity needed as per the 80 percent NEC rule. For a 200 amp circuit use this formula to find the value.

200 Amp Wire = 200A * 100% / 80% = 250A Ampacity

• So we can use wire that comes with an ampacity of 250 ampers or larger for setting 200 circuits.

How To Account For Sub Panel Being 100 Feet Away?

• During transferring current to a longer distance from sub panel the with voltage losses. For considering this less there is a need to increase the amps at the initial point. That means the circuit handles larger ampers, and the used wire has more amps.
• According to NEC 310-16 for 200 amp copper or aluminum wire, we have to add twenty percent with total amps for each 100 feet distance.
• We have to use 200 amo service 100 feet away from the panel. As the value of ampacity is 250 Ampere. So we have to increase by twenty percent to get an accurate size for 200 amps at a distance.

200 Amp Wire for 100 ft away = 250A × 1.2 = 300A Ampacity

Ground Wire Minimum is #4, AWG Copper

The 200 amp service will have 4 AWG copper wires or 2 AWG aluminum wires operating from the ground electrode system to the main power panel.   There is a green screen needed to connect known as a bonding jumper.  It bonds the panel with a neutral bar. It is good to note that not use the main bonding jumper if the panel is connected with the subpanel