Feeder cable

[laketime]

I am just getting into the residential market and I am still learning new things. I was looking for a cable to run from a meter to a panel in the wall of the house. My questions are:
1. Do I need a breaker in the meter to protect the wire running to the panel.
2. My supplier told me I could use a cable that has (2) 4/0's and (1) 2/0 in it plus a ground wire. Can you use a 2/0 for the neutral on a 200 amp panel?
I am talking aluminum wire here.

 

[LarryFine]

1. Depends on how much cable within the building we're talking about.

2. Depends on a few things. Code year? Calculated load? Cable type?

 

[LarryFine]

And, yes on the neutral, usually.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

1. Do I need a breaker in the meter to protect the wire running to the panel.

It depends. Look at art. 230.70(A)(1). I would check with the AHJ as there may be local amendments on this one.

2. My supplier told me I could use a cable that has (2) 4/0's and (1) 2/0 in it plus a ground wire. Can you use a 2/0 for the neutral on a 200 amp panel?

If you are going from the meter to the panel then 3 wire cable is all that is needed. Thus 2- 4/0 alum. and 2/0 neutral if the calculated load allows this.

 

[mcclary's electrical]

Yeah,,,,,,,^^^^^^^^^^^^what he said^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[laketime]

It depends. Look at art. 230.70(A)(1). I would check with the AHJ as there may be local amendments on this one.



If you are going from the meter to the panel then 3 wire cable is all that is needed. Thus 2- 4/0 alum. and 2/0 neutral if the calculated load allows this.

wow, coming from a commercial background and always having engineered drawings would have never of guessed you could use a smaller neutral

 

[Dennis Alwon]

wow, coming from a commercial background and always having engineered drawings would have never of guessed you could use a smaller neutral

Remember the calculated load for the neutral must support this. It is no different for commercial, it is just not done.

250.24(C)(1) Routing and Sizing. This conductor shall be routed with the phase conductors and shall not be smaller than the required grounding electrode conductor specified in Table 250.66 but shall not be required to be larger than the largest ungrounded service-entrance phase conductor. In addition, for service-entrance phase conductors larger than 1100 kcmil copper or 1750 kcmil aluminum, the grounded conductor shall not be smaller than 12? percent of the area of the largest service-entrance phase conductor. The grounded conductor of a 3-phase, 3-wire delta service shall have an ampacity not less than that of the ungrounded conductors.