Oversized Neutral

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rwreuter

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My power company is a Co-op and they allow us to purchase wire from them. They sell Underground Aluminum Triplex, but there tripex is sized a little different than what I am used to.

What I am used to is 4/0 - 4/0 - 2/0 and that is used normally for a 200 residental service. Theirs is 4/0 - 4/0 - 4/0, all properly marked.

The question is....are there any advantages, significant advantages to oversizing the neutral that much? The cost difference is minimal.
 
I know of no real advantages or disadvantages. When you state "properly marked", I hope this is a recognized insulated conductor such as USE and not just a utility URD covered conductor.
URD is permissible under POCO rules but not a recognized NEC conductor.
 
There was time that I thought the stripe told me something (such as USE vs URD, but I'm not the sure anymore. Can you ascertain if the cable is URD? USE? RHW ?
There have been problems in the past with E/Cs using POCO URD cable.
 
rwreuter said:
Properly marked, i.e. white stripe, or grey as it often looks.
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As Augie states, the conductors have to be listed to be acceptable if installed under the scope of the NEC. The listing information is printed on the conductor jacket as on most other conductors.
 
I will have to look.

Just wondering if there is any advantage to running an oversized neutral. I don't think so (especially in residential), but I wanted to ask some other people.
 
rwreuter said:
I will have to look.

Just wondering if there is any advantage to running an oversized neutral. I don't think so (especially in residential), but I wanted to ask some other people.
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Not in resi work. Generally I undersize the neutral one size but can probably undersize the neutral more than that. There is also no harm in having an oversized neutral.
 
Some of the POCO guys would be better to answer, but your term "especially for residential" may hold the key. If they have determined that it is best not to reduce it for commercial, it would make sense just to stock 1 "fits all" cable.. as you say, cost difference is minimal.
 
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