Wire from meter to service

[James Schroder]

What wire size is needed for a 120 ft run from meter to 200 amp electric service? My neighbor has this situation and does not want to pay for loss between meter and service.

[imported_Ron]

Since the 120' is after the meter, he will be paying for the losses in the 120' conductors. In order to do a calculation you need to tell us the service size, and we will assume 240/120V.
For example a 200A service, calculated at 160A of load, will have a voltage drop of approx. 4.13V when using 2/0 awg copper conductors, 4.29V for 4/0awg aluminum.

[Wgoodrich]

Ron, I calculated and came up with 4.64 volts dropped @ 1.93 % if copper and 4.8 volts dropped @ 2 % if aluminum but these answers were a load of 200 amps not 160 amps.

If I calc 160 amp load I came up with 3.71 volts dropped @ 1.55 % if copper and 3.8 volts dropped @ 1.6 % if aluminum and calculated at 160 amps.

Both my calcs were for 120 feet.


Recheck you calcs and see if you used something different than I did. Curious why we are off so much with each other. Not normal for us to have such different calc answers.

Just curious.

Wg