Max wire size for solid conductors
- Thread starter Npstewart
- Start date
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- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
Perhaps Table 8 in the back of the book might provide your answer. It shows an option for stranded or solid, for wires #8 and smaller, and it only shows stranded for larger wires.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I think you mean article 310.3 for wires in a raceway.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
#10 or smaller in raceways can be solid or stranded. Solid conductors can be any size if not in a raceway. Many guys use #4 solid copper for GEC's.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have seen solid #2 but not any larger.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I'm not sure what the largest size that manufacturers actually make but they could make it any size they want.
I've seen #2/0 solid copper in MI cable.Wow! I couldn't be happier that I have never had to touch that! How on earth are you even supposed to bend that?
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
- Ditto. Tinned solid copper. Sprint wanted it for a ground wire loop around some cell equipment. Bought it from Tessco.
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Great White North
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
I think after some size it isn't called "wire" anymore. I had to provide a client with info on how to monitor current a 2,000 amp bus bar. I have another client who's designed a system where the DC bus has a maximum current of 3,000 amps ...
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Great White North
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
Sledgehammer? Gas torch? Chain saw?
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I think you meant to say "Many WEALTHY guys use #4 solid copper for GEC's".
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I think you meant to say "Many WEALTHY guys use #4 solid copper for GEC's".
You might need to use it for a CEE. I use aluminum except for the ground rods which I use #6 stranded. I was referring to some of the info that I've gleaned from the forum and elsewhere with guys use solid copper for GEC's. To date I have never used it. :happyno:
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I think you meant to say "Many WEALTHY guys use #4 solid copper for GEC's".
I use 4 solid all the time to water pipes. Lately , of course, the water lines have not been metallic, however on remo's there is often copper. I didn't learn til recently that bare solid cost more than thhn.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
That must be a phone company thing. We had to use the same stuff (#2 bare, solid, tinned copper) for a bunch of Verizon sites a few years back. They even had us put it in conduit.
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Are you required to use # 4 solid or is it just your choice ???
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
My choice. I use #6 solid to the ground rods. I believe it is the way everyone around here does it. On a 400 amp service I use #2 THwn stranded.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I'm sure that Goldstar is asking because no one here use solid bare copper except for pools.
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goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
That is correct. Why pay for something you're not required to provide. Don't misunderstand, I don't take the cheap and dirty way out when it comes to installing services. Unless I have to match something existing I generally use Sq D or CH breaker panels. But if the code allows me to use stranded # 4 THHN copper wire to bond to a water line then I'm not that nice of a guy where I'll spend the extra $$ to use solid copper. By the same token there are guys in my area that will only use copper wire and PVC for their services. Their prices will almost always be higher than mine because I'll use ALUM-SE cable. Both jobs are code compliant. Both jobs pass inspection. But, my material was less expensive.
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