100 amp electrical service wire size how to#
100 amp electrical service wire size install#

Often, you will find a single circuit breaker at the meter, which is the main breaker (service disconnect), and one or more remote distribution subpanels inside the house.ĭepending on the electrical panel installation, you may find the main service panel and disconnect circuit breaker either on the top or bottom, depending on whether the service wire feeds from overhead or underground.

100 amp electrical service wire size install#

Today, most builders install the main disconnect outside (the main panel) and the distribution panel ( subpanel) inside the house or garage. In older homes, you may find the main service disconnect and the breaker together. The Distribution Panel is the circuit breaker panel with the entire circuit load that may be inside, possibly in the garage.The Main Panel, which is the main disconnect breaker, 100 amps in this case is the Service Panel.When we talk of an electrical service panel, two things come up

100 amp electrical service wire size how to#

Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: How to Install and Wire a Sub Panel () Service Panel He will also need to strip off the ends of the necessary wires to facilitate a proper and secured connection before connecting the cables to the subpanel terminals and the main breaker, ensuring the connection is complete. His job is to configure the route the cables will take toward the breaker sub-panel. An electrician can accomplish this by adding 2-pole individual breakers or tandem breakers to allow two circuits to share a single 110v breaker slot safely. If there is none available, the electrician could pigtail the branch circuit wires and breakers to provide the extra space. To add a breaker sub panel to a service panel, the electrician should install the 100 amp main breaker across two breaker slots. Aluminum is often used for service entry wires because it’s much cheaper than copper, lightweight, and easy to work with despite copper being a better conductor. Wire sizes are identified in American Wire Guage (AWG) and contain copper or aluminum wires in a wide array of thicknesses.Ī 100 amp subpanel installation requires #4 AWG copper wire or an equivalent of #2 AWG aluminum wires. Conclusion Installing A 100 Amp Service PanelĪ 100 amp circuit breaker is enough to power a condo or, to be more precise, a two-bedroomed apartment.įor larger homes with a 200 amp breaker box or higher that need more voltage, you can add a 100 amp subpanel.