What Size Wire To Run 200 Feet

200 amp wires are quite large. They can be used equally 200 amp ground wires, wires for 200 amp breaker, they can be copper or aluminum 200 amp wires. The mutual question for all these applications hither is this:

What size wire do I need for 200 amp service?

If yous look at the AWG gauge wire chart here, the answer seems to be quite articulate (information technology's non that simple, still):

As you lot tin see, the obvious – but incorrect – the choice is using a #000 AWG wire for 200 amp service (also known as 3/0 AWG) considering it has a 200A ampacity. That, yet, will likely end with you lot frying the wire.

For safety measures (in gild to avoid frying a 200 amp circuit), the National Electric Code (NEC) dictates the following requirement:

Maximum loading for any co-operative circuit is 80% of the rating of the circuit for ampacity of wire for whatever load. (NEC 220-two)

This is known equally NEC 80% requirement for wire sizing. In the case of 200 amps breakers, this ways you will need a wire with at to the lowest degree 250A ampacity to connect a 200 amp service.

Looking at the AWG wire chart, you volition need an even bigger than #0000 AWG wire for 200 amps. You have to become beyond the AWG nautical chart at wait at the KCMIL wire chart.

KCMIL wires are bigger and can handle currents of 200 amps and higher. Here is a shortlist of KCMIL wires that tin can be used for 200 amps:

250 KCMIL wire with 255A amperage.
300 KCMIL wire with 285A amperage.
350 KCMIL wire with 310A amperage.
400 KCMIL wire with 355A amperage.
500 KCMIL wire with 380A amperage.

The 250 KCMIL wire is the perfect size wire for 200 amp service considering information technology has 255A ampacity (a minimum of 250A ampacity requirement is satisfied).

We will bear witness you how this 250A ampacity is calculated. On top of that, you volition besides need a bigger wire gauge if yous want to send electricity 100 feet or 150 feet away from sub console (we volition bear witness you lot how to summate what size wire yous demand in this case as well).

200 Amp Wire Guess Calculation: What Size Wire Yous Need For 200 Amp Circuit?

To adequately determine the 200 amp wire gauge, yous first need to summate the minimum ampacity requirement as per the lxxx% NEC rule.

In the case of the 200 amp excursion, here is how the calculation looks like (yous accept to go out 20% extra amps capacity for safety reasons):

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

That means that you can to use a wire that has an ampacity of 250A or higher in lodge to set upward a 200 amp circuit.

Equally you tin can run into from the list of KMCIL wires to a higher place, the 250 KCMIL wire is perfect for a 200 amp service since it has an ampacity of 255A.

Now, if the sub panel is some distance abroad (fifty feet, 100 feet, 150 feet, 200 feet, and so on), yous will probably take to use an even bigger wire to counted the voltage drib.

The NEC 310-16 requirements cover this nicely:

How To Account For Sub Panel Being 100 Feet Away?

When sending electricity a long way from the sub panel, the voltage will driblet with the altitude. To counter this drop, you accept to boost the initial amps. That ways that the circuit has to handle more amps; in turn, the wire you're using has to handle more amps.

How much more exactly?

Roughly speaking, the NEC 310-xvi requirement states that for a 200 amp copper or aluminum wire, you accept to add together twenty% to the total amps for every 100 feet of altitude.

Example: Permit'south say you want to use 200 amp service 100 feet away from the sub panel. We already know that such a circuit will require wires with at to the lowest degree 250A ampacity. On elevation of this, we have to increase the amps by 20% to become the true size wire for 200 amps at such a distance:

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

At present we have to find a wire with 300A ampacity or more. If you lot consult the KCMIL listing above, yous can come across that the 350 KCMIL wire is perfect for 200 amp service 100 feet away. That'south because it has a 310A ampacity.

You lot tin make a like calculation for l feet (10% improver), 150 feet (30% addition), and 200 feet (forty% improver), and choose the respective KCMIL wire.

Hopefully, now the 200 amp wire sizing is a chip clearer.

You should also wait into different amp wires and similar calculations for: