100 amp sub panel aluminum wire size install#

The cable will contain four wires – red, black, white, and green. The 2-pole 50 amp breaker will require 6 AWG wires. If your house is the one, you will need two wires and one breaker for each wire. The wire sizes will handle up to 60 amps. You can choose a 10 AWG copper wire and 8 AWG aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire for the ground wire. So, you can opt for higher gauges that will be enough to carry the extra current during electrical accidents. The ground wire only carries the extra current flow during a short circuit.Īt other times, the wire does not carry any current. You also much acquire permission for the electrical works. The size of the wire can be different based on the codes of your living area. If your local codes are different from the NEC codes, you must prioritize the local codes and ignore the NEC codes. Local building codeīefore choosing the right wire size, you must consult the local or NEC code. You must use copper wire here since it can carry enough current without overheating. You will have to change the wire gauge accordingly. If the voltage drops to 20% for every 100 feet, it should be 30% for 150 feet and more for longer distances. So, you need to use a higher gauge, like 2 or 4 AWG. You can use smaller gauges to deal with this issue or increase the amperage to adjust the voltage drop.įor every 100 feet, the voltage drops by 20%. It can overheat the wires and result in fire hazards. The higher the voltage drop, the more current you lose. Generally, the voltage drop remains around 3%. It is another issue that determines the wire size for 50 amps. The longer the distance, the higher the gauge.įor longer distances, the copper wire would be better than aluminum. Generally, a 6 AWG wire is enough for 50 amps.īut, if the distance is higher, for example, 150 feet, you should use a 4 AWG wire, which is generally rated for 70 amps. You can deal with this by increasing the wire gauge. That will heat the wire at a pretty fast rate. The longer the distance, the higher the resistance. These have copper fittings at the end, which gives some copper benefits.

If you use aluminum or copper-clad aluminum, you must use a lower gauge than copper, i.e., a 4 AWG wire.Īnother type of wire is copper-clad aluminum wire.

You can use a 6 AWG copper wire for 50 amps if you use copper wires. However, the wire size of aluminum and copper-clad should remain the same. They are good conductivity and heat resistance, better than aluminum, but not as good as pure copper. These are a better version of aluminum that holds little copper benefits.Ĭopper-clad aluminum has some copper fittings at the ends. You can use them for shorter distances.Īnother option is copper-clad aluminum wires.

The wires are malleable, which prevents the fear of breakage.Īluminum wires are still a good option because they are lightweight and cheap.īut, people prefer them less because they are not very good conductors of electricity and get overheated faster, especially when you use them for longer distances.īut, people still prefer aluminum wires because they are cheaper than copper and are easier to handle.

This layer prevents corrosion in the wire.

Copper wires have a green tarnish layer called Patina that gets oxidized when the wire remains exposed.

The wire is heat-resistant and holds enough current without overheating the wires.

That is why people prefer copper wires for longer distances. So, they will hold enough current without any issues.

It is naturally high in conductivity after silver.

Copper wire is a much better choice because it has the following advantages:.

There are multiple wire materials to be used in electricity, but the two common ones are copper and aluminum wires. The size can change based on various factors, like voltage drop, distance, wire material, etc. The best wire size for a 50 amp circuit is 6 AWG. Today, the house’s amps have increased to 150-200 amps due to the increase in these appliances.ĥ0 amps are used to run a particular appliance. In the old days, a 50 amp circuit was enough for a house because people did not have so many electrical appliances. What size of wire is best for the 50 amp circuits?

100 amp sub panel aluminum wire size install#

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