Does Service Wire Need To Go To The Top

Electric Service Entry
Wire & Service Ampacity Inspection

• POST a QUESTION or Comment near electrical service ampacity determination for buildings

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Electrical service entry wiring, service entry cabling (SEC), & the electrical meter: how to inspect for & report service ampacity, service entry defects & hazards.

Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch at page top shows where the electric inspection starts at a residential property.

We also provide an Article Alphabetize for this topic, or you lot can try the page tiptop or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information yous demand.

Inspecting the Electrical Service Entry Wiring bringing electric power to the electrical meter

This article series discusses procedures for safe and effective visual inspection of residential electrical systems including electric panels and other components, when the inspection is conducted by trained building inspection professionals, home inspectors, electrical inspectors, and electricians.

[Click to enlarge whatsoever image]

Our photo illustrates an unstable and improper passage of electric service wiring over the roof of a individual home

. In this case the house was being used to support electrical wiring that was in turn bringing power to a carve up dwelling house located nearby.

Examples of electrical service defects that can be spotted outdoors at the electric service entry

• Mast, conduit, cable: weather tightness
• Service cap, installed, sealed, properly positioned to keep h2o out of the SEC wiring
• Roof flashing errors at standards or masts
• Electrical conduit is required at roof penetrations made by the SEC
• Electrical conduit joints outdoors must exist weather tight - note the damaged electrical conduit, open connections, incomplete conduit, wiring exposed to atmospheric condition and water at our mobile dwelling electrical inspection photo shown at left.
• Top and base of meter must be weather condition tight, secured,

• Leaks at the SEC to building wall penetration
• Well connected to service archway cable (SEC)
• Frayed SEC cables betrayal inner wiring to damage or deterioration and are a source of h2o entry in the electrical meter box every bit well as into electrical panels if the panel is located lower than the SEC
• Abandoned SEC cables may not take been properly disconnected - electrocution hazard
• Readers of this section should also see

  ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES for details of boosted unsafe electric service atmospheric condition that can be spotted from outside the building.

A study by the author showed that very mutual sources of water leaks into and damaging electrical panels include frayed SEC, leaks at the meridian of the meter, and leaks at the building wall where the SEC passes from the bottom of a meter pan into the building electrical panel.

Encounter details at RUST in ELECTRICAL PANELS

How to Make up one's mind Residential Electrical Service Ampacity

Readers of this section should

see AMPS & VOLTS DETERMINATION

for a detailed article on how to determine the amps and volts of a building's electrical service.

Exercise not rely on the ampacity printed on the main fuse or breaker, though that data is important. Examine the following:

• service driblet wire size
• mast diameter
• 1-inch 60A mast
• 2-inch 200A lateral
• meter base of operations size
• meter rating
• service box rating
• distribution panel rating
• total of all fuses or breakers in panel (the sum is NOT the service ampacity as % utilization applies)

So what determines the actual service ampacity at a edifice?

• Smallest link in the chain determines
• Best indication is size of SEC + id CU/AL
• IF SEC is non visible, wait at service disconnect
• Specify if unable to make up one's mind, and why

Typical Electric Service Ampacity vs. Service Entry Cable Sizes
AMPS	Copper	Aluminum
30	10*	8*
60	vi*	vi*
70	six*	4*
100	iv	2
125	2	1/0
150	i/0	2/0
200	2/0	4/0

Notes to the table above

• Picket out: to avert unsafe or excessive voltage driblet, these wire sizes must be increased for longer wire runs (fifty ft. and above) meet
• SE CABLE & WIRE SIZE TABLES vs AMPS tables of service entry cable and other electrical wire sizes vs amps vs other factors
• SE CABLE & WIRE SIZES FOR LONG RUNS service entry cable sizes for longer wire runs and links to online wire size and voltage drib calculators.

Electrical Service Ampacity Defects

• Inadequate / marginal total chapters for the modern utilise of the building. Some lenders require a minimum of 100A.
• Some utility companies will not supercede an old 60A service (and meter) and volition require that service be upgraded.
• load calculation of required service ampacity for buildings is not required during a abode inspection but the inspector should be familiar with that process

Electric Meter Defects

• Loose electrical meter - watch for attachment screws falling inside, shorting, causing a burn down (Arnold Rd. Pok)
• Water Leaks into electric meter superlative from frayed SEC or defective seal at meter pinnacle
• Water leaks from electric meter pan into service conductors into chief electrical console -

  come across RUST in Electric PANELS

• Obsolete electrical meters - change out required by utility company in some circumstances
• Electric meter rated but for copper wire connected to aluminum SEC

...

Reader Comments & Q&A

Tom

You lot'll want to take a look at the SEC wire cable sizing tables above on this page, and you'll demand to specify one more detail: the panel ampacity or service ampacity of the home. You need a bigger wire for 200A or 150A than for a 100A service.

Running 250' underground from meter to new house what size wire do I need?

Forgive me but I don't understand the question, Harold. Peradventure you can postal service a photo.

Do you need to cap an electrical. Coduit pipe inside an attic ceiling that goes downward to a service box?/

100 A
And all components should match

Service wire ampacity or size
Panel size
Main billow size

What size fuse panel does a mobile home need single wide, late lxx'south model

By private email:

SH asked:

I'm helping a friend out in a attic and noticed that he had thhn #ii awg feeder cables to a 100 amp subpanel that ran across his cranium. The cables are non in conduit. I know by and large, thhn should always be in conduit. Does the aforementioned rules apply to feeder cables of that size? My friend thinks it should be okay since the home was congenital in 2011 so information technology must accept passed inspections.

Reply:

Used as an SEC properly sized, routed, supported, the wire is non required to be routed in conduit:
NEC 300.three(A) prohibits THHN (or any other type of single wire salvage for a few exceptions such as single conductor MI and SE/Apply, overhead wires, or an EGC) from being run outside of conduit or approved protection.

"A) Single Conductors. Single conductors specified in Table 310.104(A) shall only be installed where part of a recognized wiring method of Affiliate three."

Here are Southwire'due south specifications and general instructions from that company's notes at
www.southwire.com/support/THHNGuideSpecifications.htm

Annex A Type THHN Conductor Specification
26 05 19 WIRE AND CABLE TYPE THHN

PART 1 – GENERAL

1.1 – SPECIFICATION INCLUDES

one.1.1 Cable Blazon: Type THHN/THWN for use every bit services, feeders and branch circuits

one.1.2 General Applications: Type THHN/THWN cable may be used in the post-obit general applications per the National Electrical Code®

1.1.ii.1 In Conduit

one.one.two.two In Cable Tray

1.1.ii.3 For Services

1.i.two.4 For Feeders

ane.1.two.5 For Branch Circuits

1.1.two.6 Wet or Dry Locations

1.ii – SUBMITTALS

i.two.one Product Information: Submit manufacturer's product data confirming that materials comply with specified requirements and are suitable for the intended awarding.

ane.2.2 Installation Instructions: Manufacturer's installation instructions shall exist included in submittal. Industry guides may supplement the manufacturer's instructions.

1.three REQUIREMENTS

1.three.1 Underwriters Laboratories: Type THHN cable shall meet the post-obit Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards and listings.

ane.3.ane.one UL 83 Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires and Cables

1.3.1.two UL 1063 UL Standard for Condom Car-Tool Wires and Cables

1.3.1.3 UL listed sunlight resistant in blackness sizes 2 AWG and larger.

1.3.1.4 Sizes 1/0 AWG and larger listed for CT USE

i.3.1.5 Sizes xiv through 1 AWG shall exist rated VW-ane

1.iii.1.6 Sizes 8 AWG and larger shall be rated THWN-two

1.3.2 ASTM Standards: Type THHN cable shall meet all applicable ASTM standards.

1.3.3 Federal Specifications: Type THHN cable shall meet Federal Specification A-A-59544

Office 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 MANUFACTURER

2.1.ane Southwire Company, One Southwire Drive, Carrollton, Georgia, 30119. Website: http://www.southwire.com/

2.1.2 Senator Wire and Cablevision, 102 City Hall Ave., Carrollton, Georgia, 30117 Website: http://world wide web.southwire.com/

2.two CABLE Structure

2.2.i Conductor: The usher shall be soft annealed copper

2.2.ii Insulation: The insulation shall be high-heat and wet resistant PVC.

2.ii.iii Jacket: The jacket shall be abrasion, wet, gasoline and oil resistant nylon or listed equivalent with

two.2.4 Self-Lubricating Jacket: Jackets on conductor sizes 2 and larger shall be SIMpull™ or equivalent having integrated cocky-lubrication such that the cable coefficient of friction is less than or equal to 0.17.

Function 3 - INSTALLATION

iii.one INSTALLATION

3.1.1 Manufacturer'southward Instructions: Type THHN cable shall be installed per the manufacturer's published installation instructions. Industry guides may supplement the manufacturer's instructions.

3.one.2 Field Support: Manufacturer shall provide, when requested, field engineering support for Blazon THHN cable installation.

3.1.3 Manufacturer: Type THHN cable for circuits, feeders and services shall be supplied from a single manufacturer.

three.1.4 Minimum Bend Radius: Bends in Blazon THHN shall be made then that the cable will non be damaged.

3.ii SPECIFIC USES

three.2.i Type THHN cable may be used in conduit, raceways and cable trays for services, feeders and branch circuits equally specified in the applicative section of the NEC®.

iii.three USES Non PERMITTED

3.three.one Type THHN cable shall not be used in direct burial applications.

iii.4 AMPACITY

3.four.ane The ampacity of Type THHN cable shall be determined in accordance with Article 310.xv of the National Electrical Lawmaking®. The installation should not exceed the temperature ratings of the terminations and equipment.

Josh

There may indeed be rubber problems with your electrical panel simply I cannot reliably assess them from your brief e-text. Maybe a licensed electrician or fifty-fifty a habitation inspector (encounter page tiptop EXPERTS DIRECTORY) can accept a look for you, on-site, and give more useful communication.

Also see ALUMINUM WIRING IDENTIFICATION https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wire_Identification.php

Main feed 200amp wire from meter to principal console. Grounds or neutral wires aluminum looking.. looks likes at that place are many smaller wires perhaps 20 twisted together. A few of the smaller wires are frayed north cleaved. What issues come with that.

Compare tha be size of the service entry principal cable with the amps rating of the main dis connect breakers or fuses.

how can in determining that i am get full capacity from my service wire that is coming into the building or business firm

Jim

If I understand correctly we have a 60 Amp service entry cablevision feeding an electrical panel that has a 100A main switch. Indeed that's improper. If all of the circuits in the panel below the primary draw more 60A the service entry cable is overloaded, could overheat, and could be a fire risk;

We oftentimes meet this problem when someone adds a higher capacity electrical panel (called "heavying-up" by some of my friends) without making sure that the incoming service entry cable wiring has been updated as well.

Under-fusing is "safe" but inconvenient.

Over-fusing is dangerous. You are describing over-fusing.

Is a 60 amp service running into a 100 amp main disconnect a rubber event?

Question: short circuit & current leaks at electrical service entry wiring

2016/09/06 I am hoping to get some suggestions.

I ability cleaned a bleed and felt mild electrocution in my hands. I farther discovered the footing from the outlet in the home had current.

I flipped the main breaker and ground however has current equally does the panel box itself. The city has an onetime wiring system where neutral is ran back through the power line.

Footing to neutral connection exterior the chief console is not immune.

Home has 200 amp service ran through 2/0 stranded copper SEC. However city line is aluminum one-half as thick.

Primary transformer blew power to the block when I started pulling close to full 200 amps.

What practice I exercise? - Anonymous past individual e-mail

Reply:

This SEC wiring damage case report has been moved to Electric SERVICE ENTRY Harm

...

Continue reading at SE CABLE & BRANCH CIRCUIT WIRE SIZES vs AMPS or select a topic from the closely-related manufactures beneath, or see the complete ARTICLE Alphabetize.

Or come across these

Manufactures on Conclusion of Ampacity & Voltage at Building Electrical Services

• AMPS VOLTS DETERMINATION - home
  • AMPS, LIMITING FACTORS
  • AMPS & SEC SIZES
  • AMPS & VOLTS, DETERMINE VISUALLY
  • AMPS MEASUREMENT AUTOMOTIVE DC
  • AMPS MEASUREMENT METHODS
  • AMPACITY, MAIN DISCONNECT
  • DEFINITIONS AMPS VOLTS WATTS
  • ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES
  • Electric MOTOR HORSEPOWER & CIRCUIT WIRE SIZE
  • Electric Panel AMPACITY
  • VOLTAGE at the SEC
  • UNDERGROUND SERVICE LATERALS
• Ground SYSTEM INSPECTION - home
• Rubber for Electrical INSPECTORS - abode
• SE Cable & BRANCH Excursion WIRE SIZES vs AMPS
• SE Cablevision & WIRE SIZES FOR LONG RUNS
• SERVICE ENTRY WIRING & AMPACITY - wire sizes
• SIZE of WIRE REQUIRED for ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES for receptacle circuits and similar wiring situations
• VOLTS / AMPS MEASUREMENT EQUIP

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