[williamjhornby]

I am installing a new service entrance to upgrade my home electrical service to 200 amps.

1 Please tell me what gage wire is required from the meter to the weather-head?

The service panel with main breaker is inside the laundry room 25 feet from the outdoor meter loop. I will run the wire/cable or other appropriate product through the attic.

2. Please tell me what gage wire and product type is best to run indoors from the meter loop to the service panel 25 feet away, (this is all indoors; in the attic and down through the wall) in which the service panel is mounted).

3. Is it recommended to install a circuit shutoff outdoors near the meter?


Thank You!

[tkrussell]

If you use metal or PVC conduit, you can use #2/0 copper with THHN/THWN or XHHW insulation, or #4/0 aluminum with XHHW insulation. If you use cable, then the typical type is #4/0 aluminum 3 wire cable called SEU cable.

Only 3 wire is needed between the weather head and a meter socket.

Since the panel will be 25 feet away from the meter, a Main Disconnect will be required at the meter location. There are meter sockets available with a 200 amp breaker builtin.

Since the Main Disconnect will be at the meter, from this point on 4 wire will be needed, 3-#2/0 Cu or #4/0 Al, along with a fourth equipment ground conductor. If using copper a #6 is needed, if aluminum #4 is needed.

I would use #4/0 SER cable, ( Note, not SEU cable) which has 3-#4/0 AL and 1- #4 Al all in one large cable, from the meter/disconnect to the indoor panel. You may need to use nail plates at locations the cable passes through framing members to protect the cable from damage,such as nails, screws, etc,

Any time aluminum wire is used, be sure to understand how to properly terminate the wire in mechanical connetors, by wire brushing, using anti-oxidant compound, and proper torquing the connector.