Wire size for 200A main breaker?

[1stYearElectrican]

What size of AWG is required for a 200A main breaker to the meter base?

The run from the main breaker to the meter base is about 2 ft. Was at the local electrical shop today and got some material and was inquiring on the price of conductors for the 200A main breaker to the Meter as I am not sure if I need it or not, til the meter gets pulled.

After telling the guy I only needed 7 feet because the meter is directly behind the panel, He went to his scrap pile and gave me 7 feet of 2/0 xlpe 600v copper wire for free and said that this is good for what I needed it for. I wanted to confirm that this is ok to use. Don't want to take his word as I want to make sure. Although I did google it and found 190 A on one chart. Got to get my code book back from Bro who wanted to look up the requirements for a cabin.

Will post pics of final install for ya all to slap me silly on any thing you may deem WTF ?? Just hate having to install several junction boxes close to the panel so I can extend the wires and have plenty to work with.


~FyE~

 

[Buck Parrish]

2/0 cu. is good for a sfd only.
It's not quite rated for 200 amps. But your allowed to go to the next breaker size which is 200.
So your all right. And it's free!!


Lots of guys use 4/0 al

 

[winnie]

Under the US NEC, using normal connectors rated at 75C, the 2/0 conductors have an ampacity of 175A.

Under the US NEC, however, such conductors are considered suitable for a 200A residential service.

If the Canadian Electrical Code has the equivalent of the US NEC table 310.15(B)(6), then you should be good to go.

-Jon

 

[K8MHZ]

Under the US NEC, using normal connectors rated at 75C, the 2/0 conductors have an ampacity of 175A.

Under the US NEC, however, such conductors are considered suitable for a 200A residential service.

If the Canadian Electrical Code has the equivalent of the US NEC table 310.15(B)(6), then you should be good to go.

-Jon

Yeah but aren't Canadian amps bigger than American amps?

 

[wireguru]

Yeah but aren't Canadian amps bigger than American amps?

you used to be able to get like 1.5amp canadian for every american amp. these days, not so much

 

[basicbill]

Yup....amps are at par now!

#2/0 awg copper is suitable for 200 amps in a sfd....just like in the NEC (CEC - Table 2)

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I believe xlpe is an underground utility cable and is not recognized by the NEC. I don't know about the canadian code.

 

[1stYearElectrican]

Thx for the reassurance folks, Man I miss my code book. Will have a few pics tonight to present the conclusion to this week extreme makeover edition of "The Panel From Hell"


~FyE~

 

[JohnJ0906]

Thx for the reassurance folks, Man I miss my code book.

~FyE~

Who puts out the Canadian Electrical code?
The NFPA does the NEC, and there is a free version on their website. Maybe there is something similar for the CEC.

 

[fireryan]

You can jump up a wire size on service conductors?