Hi all,
We are building a apartment above the garage,my question is what size wire do I need to run from the 200 amp panel to the 100 amp panel roughly 130' away?
I want to use aluminum wire as I think copper would be to costly.

Thanks for your help in advance,
Dude


:eek:

The smallest aluminum wire to supply 120/240 volts, 80 amps, at 130 feet is #1/0 XHHW Aluminum. This will result is a 2.9% voltage drop, the maximum recommended is 3% for a feeder.

Are you sure the 200 amp panel at the main house can handle the added load of the apartment? Is it practical to have the apartment fed by it's own service from the utility?

There is a 400 amp meter panel with 2 200 amp breakers ,1 of them goes to the house,the other goes to the pole barn across the yard.
There is a 200 amp panel in the in the pole barn ,I was going to put a 100 amp breaker there and run to the apartment.

Thanks again for your help

Dude

Make sure that you use a 3 wires and a ground and keep the neutrals (whites) and grounds (bare) separate on their own terminal bars. Do not screw the green screw through the neutral bar into the new 100 AMP panel throw it away or use it for the new grounding bar that you have to add to the panel. Find an electrician to go over it before you install it.

Is the apartment going to be in the pole barn?? If so, the 200 amp box should have enough service for an apartment unless it will be all electric.

Question started back in 2006, I would think the project is done by now.

Wow, I didn't even look at the date. I wish they would come up with a way to purge questions that are over, let's say, 6 months.

That is not going to happen. Been discussed, and too many threads to deal with. Those that chose to answer questions need to note the dates of threads. Often answering an old thread may be helpful to others.