{"id":3843,"date":"2026-08-19T16:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T16:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/?p=3843"},"modified":"2026-08-19T16:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T16:01:18","slug":"wire-size-for-100-amp-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/wire-size-for-100-amp-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Taille du fil pour un service de 100 Amp\u00e8res"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Que vous mettiez \u00e0 niveau votre ancien service r\u00e9sidentiel de 60A \u00e0 100A, installiez une ligne d'alimentation vers un garage d\u00e9tach\u00e9, ou c\u00e2bliez un nouvel atelier, la premi\u00e8re question est toujours la m\u00eame \u2014 quel type de c\u00e2blage (cuivre ou aluminium) est n\u00e9cessaire pour un service de 100 amp\u00e8res ? La r\u00e9ponse repose sur deux codes diff\u00e9rents qui s'appliquent, puisque un service r\u00e9sidentiel peut utiliser NEC 310.12 et donc n\u00e9cessiter une ampacit\u00e9 83% (cuivre 4 AWG ou aluminium 2 AWG), tandis qu'un service commercial signifie soit que vous avez besoin de cuivre 3 AWG (pour assurer l'ampacit\u00e9 compl\u00e8te) soit d'aluminium 1 AWG. Faites-le correctement et vous passez l'inspection ; faites-le mal et vous \u00e9chouerez \u00e0 l'inspection ou vous surchaufferez le fil le plus critique sur votre chantier. Le guide suivant vous fournira toutes les tailles de fils dont vous avez besoin, les codes qui les r\u00e9gissent, diverses calculs impliquant le cuivre et l'aluminium, ainsi que tous les d\u00e9tails sur le processus d'installation.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>En r\u00e9sum\u00e9 : Selon NEC 310.12 (la r\u00e8gle 83%), pour un service r\u00e9sidentiel monophas\u00e9 100A 120\/240V, le minimum pour le cuivre est 4 AWG et pour l'aluminium 2 AWG. Pour un usage commercial, les services triphas\u00e9s ou les alimentations de sous-panneaux 100A, les exigences compl\u00e8tes de NEC 310.16 s'appliquent pour l'ampacit\u00e9 : le minimum pour le cuivre est 3 AWG et pour l'aluminium 1 AWG. Le cuivre 2 AWG (115A) peut \u00e9galement convenir pour de nombreux circuits de 100A selon NEC 240.4(B). Le 6 AWG ne r\u00e9pond pas aux exigences car il est insuffisant (\u00e0 65A pour 75 \u00b0C). Ajustez la taille selon les valeurs de la colonne 75 \u00b0C, augmentez la taille pour toute distance sup\u00e9rieure \u00e0 environ 100-150 pieds, et v\u00e9rifiez aupr\u00e8s d'un inspecteur local ainsi que des services publics locaux pour votre projet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3845\" src=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/The-Direct-Answer-Wire-Size-for-100A-Service.webp\" alt=\"La r\u00e9ponse directe : Taille du fil pour un service 100A\" width=\"1448\" height=\"1086\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>La r\u00e9ponse directe : Taille du fil pour un service 100A<\/h2>\n<p>Voici la r\u00e9ponse compl\u00e8te dans un tableau unique. La ligne dont vous avez besoin d\u00e9pend du type de structure et si c'est l'entr\u00e9e de service ou l'alimentation.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Sc\u00e9nario<\/th>\n<th>Cuivre<\/th>\n<th>Aluminium<\/th>\n<th>Base du code<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Service de logement r\u00e9sidentiel<\/strong> (monophas\u00e9 120\/240V, la plupart des maisons)<\/td>\n<td><strong>4 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>2 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>NEC 310.12 (r\u00e8gle 83%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Service commercial \/ industriel<\/strong> (monophas\u00e9 ou triphas\u00e9)<\/td>\n<td><strong>3 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>1 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>NEC 310.16 (ampacit\u00e9 compl\u00e8te)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Alimentation de sous-panneau 100A<\/strong> (garage, atelier, ADU)<\/td>\n<td><strong>3 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>1 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>NEC 310.16 (pas d'exception pour logement)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Service triphas\u00e9 100A<\/strong> (toute occupation)<\/td>\n<td><strong>3 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>1 AWG<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>NEC 310.16 (pas d'exception pour logement)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Voici trois clarifications \u00e0 noter :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Le 6 AWG n'est pas adapt\u00e9 pour supporter une charge de 100A car le cuivre 6 AWG ne peut supporter que 65A \u00e0 une temp\u00e9rature de 75 degr\u00e9s Celsius. Il devrait donc faire partie d'un circuit de 50-60A.<\/li>\n<li>Le fil cuivre 3 AWG est utile pour supporter exactement 100A \u00e0 75 degr\u00e9s Celsius.<\/li>\n<li>Le cuivre 2 AWG fonctionne \u00e9galement puisqu'il a une capacit\u00e9 de 115A \u00e0 75 degr\u00e9s, donc selon NEC 240.4(B) il peut \u00eatre c\u00e2bl\u00e9 sur un circuit utilisant un disjoncteur 100A.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>NEC 310.12 &amp; la r\u00e8gle 83% (Services de logement)<\/h2>\n<p>NEC 310.12 permet que les conducteurs de service et d'alimentation de toute la maison soient dimensionn\u00e9s \u00e0 83% de la capacit\u00e9 nominale du service pour une habitation unifamiliale (ou une unit\u00e9 d'habitation individuelle) aliment\u00e9e par un syst\u00e8me monophas\u00e9 120\/240V. La raison de cette r\u00e8gle est que les charges dans un foyer sont diversifi\u00e9es. En effet, il est impossible que toutes les charges \u00e9lectriques fonctionnent simultan\u00e9ment. Par cons\u00e9quent, NEC autorise l'utilisation de tailles de conducteurs plus petites que celles sp\u00e9cifi\u00e9es dans les tableaux g\u00e9n\u00e9raux.<\/p>\n<p>Le calcul pour 100A est le suivant : 100 x 0,83 = 83A d\u2019ampacit\u00e9 requise. Pour v\u00e9rifier l\u2019ampacit\u00e9, nous devons trouver la temp\u00e9rature nominale \u2012 si nous parlons de 75\u00b0C :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4 AWG cuivre (85A) \u2192 peut supporter 83A \u2192 c\u2019est une taille standard de cuivre pour les services r\u00e9sidentiels de 100A.<\/li>\n<li>2 AWG aluminium (90A) \u2192 peut supporter 83A \u2192 c\u2019est une taille standard d\u2019aluminium pour les services r\u00e9sidentiels de 100A.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>C\u2019est la raison pour laquelle on dit \u201c service 100A \u00e9quivaut \u00e0 4 AWG cuivre ou 2 AWG aluminium \u201d \u2013 la r\u00e8gle indique qu\u2019il s\u2019agit d\u2019une taille de calibre inf\u00e9rieure \u00e0 celle des tableaux g\u00e9n\u00e9raux. Cependant, cela ne s\u2019applique pas \u00e0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>B\u00e2timents commerciaux, de d\u00e9tail, de bureaux, d\u2019entrep\u00f4ts ou de fabrication.<\/li>\n<li>Services triphas\u00e9s.<\/li>\n<li>Alimenteurs vers sous-panneaux \u2012 ils utilisent l\u2019ampacit\u00e9 compl\u00e8te selon 310.16 m\u00eame s\u2019ils sont utilis\u00e9s dans le m\u00eame logement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3846\" src=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NEC-310.16-Full-Ampacity-for-Commercial-Sub-Panels.webp\" alt=\"NEC 310.16: Full Ampacity for Commercial &amp; Sub-Panels\" width=\"1448\" height=\"1086\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>NEC 310.16 : Ampacit\u00e9 compl\u00e8te pour les panneaux commerciaux et sous-panneaux<\/h2>\n<p>Lorsque l\u2019exception pour le logement ne s\u2019applique pas, dimensionnez selon <strong>NEC 310.16 \u00e0 75\u00b0C<\/strong> (la norme pour les terminaisons d\u2019\u00e9quipement de service) :<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Conducteur<\/th>\n<th>Ampacit\u00e9 @ 75\u00b0C<\/th>\n<th>Fonctionne pour 100A ?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>6 AWG cuivre<\/td>\n<td>65 A<\/td>\n<td>Non (circuit 50-60A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4 AWG cuivre<\/td>\n<td>85 A<\/td>\n<td>Non selon 310.16 (seulement selon 310.12 pour logements)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>3 AWG cuivre<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>100 A<\/td>\n<td><strong>Oui \u2014 minimum<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 AWG cuivre<\/td>\n<td>115 A<\/td>\n<td>Oui (choix courant pour marge de s\u00e9curit\u00e9)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 AWG aluminium<\/td>\n<td>90 A<\/td>\n<td>Non selon 310.16 (seulement selon 310.12)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 AWG aluminium<\/td>\n<td>100 A<\/td>\n<td><strong>Oui \u2014 minimum<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1\/0 aluminium<\/td>\n<td>120 A<\/td>\n<td>Oui (marge suppl\u00e9mentaire)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>R\u00e9sultat principal : Bien que le 4 AWG cuivre soit acceptable pour un service r\u00e9sidentiel, il ne convient pas pour un sous-panneau de garage ou un circuit commercial 100A \u2014 ce c\u00e2ble peut \u00eatre approuv\u00e9 mais pas via la m\u00e9thode standard pour alimentateurs de sous-panneaux. C\u2019est l\u00e0 que la plupart des confusions apparaissent et c\u2019est pourquoi la norme pour le c\u00e2blage cuivre des alimentateurs de sous-panneaux est 3 AWG cuivre ou 1 AWG aluminium.<\/p>\n<h2>Cuivre vs Aluminium : Quelles diff\u00e9rences<\/h2>\n<p>Les deux sont conformes au code ; le choix d\u00e9pend de l\u2019\u00e9conomie et de la discipline d\u2019installation :<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Facteur<\/th>\n<th>Cuivre<\/th>\n<th>Aluminium<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Co\u00fbt relatif<\/td>\n<td>De base (cher)<\/td>\n<td>Environ 40-60 % moins \u00e0 cette taille<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Taille n\u00e9cessaire pour 100A (310.16)<\/td>\n<td>3 AWG<\/td>\n<td>1 AWG (deux tailles plus grand)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Poids<\/td>\n<td>Plus lourd<\/td>\n<td>Environ 1\/3 du poids \u2014 plus facile \u00e0 tirer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Conductivit\u00e9<\/td>\n<td>Plus \u00e9lev\u00e9<\/td>\n<td>~61 % de celle du cuivre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Termination rules<\/td>\n<td>Norme<\/td>\n<td>Anti-oxidant compound, AL-rated lugs, correct torque \u2014 mandatory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Corrosion<\/td>\n<td>Minimes<\/td>\n<td>Oxidizes at terminations if untreated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Aluminum is practically the most popular material used for both the 100A service entrance as well as for long feeders. Its installation is also common knowledge among certified electrical workers. There are three essentials that have to be used in all aluminum installations: an anti-oxidant joint connecting compound, terminals with AL\/CU rating, and a torque wrench according to the manufacturer&#8217;s recommendations.<\/p>\n<h2>What Does &#8220;2-2-2-4&#8221; Wire Mean?<\/h2>\n<p>If you are picking a residential 100A feeder, the cable is noted to be &#8220;2-2-2-4&#8221; (this might appear as &#8220;2-2-2-4 SER&#8221; or &#8220;2-2-2-4 AL&#8221;). This notation breaks down the conductors in it: 2 conductors of 2 AWG are the 2 hot legs, and another 4 AWG is the neutral type of conductor along with one conductor of 4 AWG for grounding purpose.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Two 2 AWG hots + 2 AWG neutral provide the 120\/240 volt circuit.<\/li>\n<li>4 AWG is the ground for the equipment.<\/li>\n<li>Since this is aluminium type of SER cable, it fulfills the standard 100A residential requirement of electrical installations per NEC 310.12 (2 AWG = 90A, more than enough voltage output of 83A).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To the question, &#8220;does 2-2-2-4 wire suffice for 100 amps?&#8221; the answer is \u201cyes\u201d for residential service and 100A feeder, where the 83% regulation would apply. However, it wouldn&#8217;t work for commercial services at 100A that would be needing 1 AWG cables for the hots.<\/p>\n<h2>Will 6 Gauge Wire Handle 100 Amps?<\/h2>\n<p>6 AWG copper wire is appropriate for 65A at 75\u00b0C (55A at 60\u00b0C) jobs which is not sufficient for a 100A service since this wire overheating can damage the insulation and create a serious fire risk. It is preferable to use this wire in low amperage circuits, up to 50-60A. For jobs with 100A or more workloads one has to use wire sizes of 3 AWG of copper or 1 AWG of aluminum.<\/p>\n<h2>Is #3 Copper Good for 100 Amps?<\/h2>\n<p>Indeed. 3 AWG copper is rated for 100A at 75\u00b0C; making it the exact minimum for a 100A general circuit, commercial service, or sub-panel feeder under NEC 310.16. Many electricians choose 2 AWG copper (115A) for ample room, derating, or long runs; which is indeed acceptable. For residential service only, 4 AWG copper is sufficient. In a nutshell, when asked is #3 copper good for 100 amps; this wire is indeed rated properly.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"run-length\">Run Length &amp; Voltage Drop<\/h2>\n<p>Ampacity isn&#8217;t the only constraint \u2014 long runs lose voltage. Recommended maximums to stay within a 3% drop at 240V:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Conducteur<\/th>\n<th>Course maximale approximative en aller simple (chute 3%)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>3 AWG cuivre<\/td>\n<td>~147 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 AWG cuivre<\/td>\n<td>~185 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cuivre 1 AWG<\/td>\n<td>~234 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 AWG aluminium<\/td>\n<td>~142 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1\/0 aluminium<\/td>\n<td>~178 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4 AWG copper (310.12 dwelling)<\/td>\n<td>~116 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 AWG aluminum (310.12 dwelling)<\/td>\n<td>~112 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>General information: ampacity is good for lengths up to around 100 ft, consider going one size up from 100-150 ft, and for lengths of around 150 ft and beyond, ampacity will need at least one size up (for example, from 3 AWG copper to 2 AWG or from 1 AWG aluminum to 1\/0). In general, long runs in rural areas usually need more than one size increase.<\/p>\n<h2>Neutral &amp; Grounding Conductor Sizing<\/h2>\n<p>A full installation of 100A must include neutral and grounding conductors as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Neutral: Correctly determined as per the calculated unbalanced loading (NEC Table 220), it is equivalent to the circuit hots for a 100A service in most cases, whereas one size lower in case allowed by the calculations.<\/li>\n<li>Grounding electrode conductor (GEC) \u2013 sized as per NEC table 250.66 \u2013 GEC is usually 8AWG copper minimum for 4AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum service conductors; check the table for your proper wire size.<\/li>\n<li>Equipment ground (subs): sized as per NEC table 250.122 \u2013 typically 8 AWG copper or 6 AWG aluminum for 100A feeder.<\/li>\n<li>Grounding electrodes: for a building service grounded by two rods at decent distance from one another (NEC table 250.52).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is one of the most common manageable mistakes in the service work to confuse tables 250.66 (GEC) and 250.122 (equipment ground) \u2013 pick the correct table for the right wire.<\/p>\n<h2>Sub-Panel Specifics: Detached Garage &amp; Workshop<\/h2>\n<p>Running 100A to a detached garage, workshop, or ADU has additional codes and regulations to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A 4-wire feeder must be installed; this includes two hots going from the main panel, one neutral, and an equipment ground (NEC 250.32). Remember that the installation of a 3-wire feeder in a detached building is not acceptable.<\/li>\n<li>The neutral must be isolated. You must ensure that the neutral bar in the sub-panel is separately placed from the ground bar. The main panel provides the bonding of these two.<\/li>\n<li>Grounding is necessary for the new structure. The detached building should have its own grounding system (typical grounding rods in place to be used).<\/li>\n<li>The cable type will typically be 1 AWG SER aluminum or 3 AWG copper in the conduit for the 100A feeder; this has to adhere to 310.16.<\/li>\n<li>Make load calculations &#8211; it&#8217;s essential to perform load calculations before purchasing the wiring. An ADU with electric heats and an EV charging unit may require 125A and not 100A.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Common Mistakes on 100A Installations<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3847\" src=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Common-Mistakes-on-100A-Installations.webp\" alt=\"Common Mistakes on 100A Installations\" width=\"1448\" height=\"1086\" \/><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Erreur<\/th>\n<th>Pourquoi c\u2019est incorrect<\/th>\n<th>Approche correcte<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Using 4 AWG copper for a sub-panel<\/td>\n<td>4 AWG is only 85A \u2014 the 83% rule doesn&#8217;t apply to feeders<\/td>\n<td>3 AWG copper or 1 AWG aluminum for 100A feeders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Utilisation de 310.16 pour un service r\u00e9sidentiel<\/td>\n<td>Forces 3 AWG copper where 4 AWG is legal \u2014 wasted money<\/td>\n<td>Utilisez 310.12 pour les habitations monophas\u00e9es 120\/240V<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6 AWG &#8220;looks close enough&#8221;<\/td>\n<td>65A \u2014 serious overload hazard<\/td>\n<td>Never size by guess; use the tables<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3-wire feeder to a detached building<\/td>\n<td>No separate ground \u2014 code violation, shock hazard<\/td>\n<td>4-wire feeder + grounding electrode at the building<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bonding neutral to ground in the sub-panel<\/td>\n<td>Creates parallel return path \u2014 dangerous<\/td>\n<td>Keep neutral and ground bars separate in sub-panels<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aluminum without compound\/torque<\/td>\n<td>Oxidized terminations overheat<\/td>\n<td>Joint compound + AL-rated lugs + torque spec<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ignorer la longueur de course<\/td>\n<td>Voltage drop starves the far end<\/td>\n<td>Upsize beyond ~100-150 ft<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Consid\u00e9rations de co\u00fbt et de permis<\/h2>\n<p>Upgrade to a 100A service or installation of a new electrical feeder has the following costs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Materials include: panel \u2013 $60-$200, 100A main breaker \u2013 $30-$80, 2-2-2-4 aluminum SER \u2013 $1.50-$3 per foot, 3 AWG copper \u2013 $3-$6 per foot, meter base and hardware \u2013 $50-$150.<\/li>\n<li>Jobs will run at $800-$2,500 for a service upgrade and $500-$1,500 for a sub-panel feeder, based on run distance and access through walls.<\/li>\n<li>The permit and inspection normally cost $50-$300 and are required. Inspectors check wire and grounding size and bonding to be finished.<\/li>\n<li>Utility coordination is needed as the utility will own the meter and service connection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When the project also involves panelboard and breakers, matching certified protection devices \u2014 and understanding the breaker types involved, from the basics of <a href=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/what-is-mccb-and-mcb\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">MCBs and MCCBs<\/a> de <a href=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/what-is-ul-489-breakers\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">UL 489 breaker standards<\/a> \u2014 keeps the whole install compliant end to end. And once the 100A main is in, every branch circuit behind it follows the same sizing discipline \u2014 the limits explained for a <a href=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/how-many-watts-on-a-15-amp-circuit\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">15-amp circuit&#8217;s wattage<\/a> apply at every level of the panel.<\/p>\n<h2>Normes internationales : une br\u00e8ve note<\/h2>\n<p>Outside of North America, the determination of 100A wiring is done differently as most of the world implements methods consistent with IEC\/BS 7671 standards (current and correction factor method) instead of using a simplified service table.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the UK (BS 7671), cable sizes are determined based on the installation method. For instance, a 100A single-phase connection usually requires a copper wire of between 25 and 50mm\u00b2 depending on how long the cable is.<\/li>\n<li>In Europe (IEC 60364), the straightforward method is used.<\/li>\n<li>In Australia (AS\/NZS 3000), method-based calculations are used for insulation and often result in use of 25 to 35mm\u00b2 wires.<\/li>\n<li>In Canada (CE Code), a similar argument to that put forth by the NEC is used; installations may be based on 83%-like formulas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The NEC procedure is based on rules pertaining specifically to the US and\/or Canada installations; hence, if the location of the job is different from those two places it would be wise to hire an engineer or electrician to carry out the calculations.<\/p>\n<h2>Questions Fr\u00e9quemment Pos\u00e9es<\/h2>\n<h3>What size wire do we need for a 100 amp service?<\/h3>\n<p>According to NEC 310.12 for residential systems with 100A service (single phase), it is allowed to use 4 AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum conductors. Whereas in commercial systems with three-phase or 100A sub-panel system, the full ampacity from the NEC 310.16 has to be applied, which means a minimum of 3 AWG copper or 1 AWG aluminum conductors. In terms of size for the GEC, 8 AWG copper conductor must be used as per 250.66 along with upsizing for distances of more than 100-150 feet.<\/p>\n<h3>Is #3 copper good for 100 amps?<\/h3>\n<p>Indeed &#8211; 3 AWG copper is rated precisely as 100A at 75\u00b0C, it is exactly the minimum required for 100A regular circuit, commercial service or sub-panel feeding based on NEC 310.16. However, a large number of electricians use 2 AWG copper (115A) instead to provide more headroom due to derating. For household services only, 4 AWG copper is considered okay.<\/p>\n<h3>Is 2-2-2-4 wire good for 100 amps?<\/h3>\n<p>Indeed, when it comes to residential applications, &#8220;2-2-2-4&#8221; SER cable (2 AWG hot wires, 2 AWG neutral wire, and 4 AWG ground wire) is considered as the standard aluminum type for 100A residential service as stated in NEC 310.12 (it should be noted that 2 AWG aluminum wire is rated at 90A, which is more than enough for the 83A needed). But when it comes to commercial applications, 1 AWG aluminum wire or 3 AWG copper wire needed for 100A commercial service is required.<\/p>\n<h3>Will 6 gauge wire handle 100 amps?<\/h3>\n<p>No. 6 AWG copper wire has a rating of just 65 amperes at a temperature of 75\u00b0C (55 amperes at 60\u00b0C), which is not suitable for 100 amperes. The wire will get hot, allowing for very high risks of fire. 6 AWG copper is appropriate for circuits carrying 50-60 amperes (for example with ranges, ovens, or small sub-panels). For 100A use either 3 AWG copper or 1 AWG aluminum wire (in general) or 4 AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum wire (for dwelling services).<\/p>\n<h2>R\u00e9f\u00e9rences<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfpa.org\/codes-and-standards\/nfpa-70-standard-development\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NFPA 70 \u2014 National Electrical Code (NEC): Articles 230, 240, 250, 310<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mikeholt.com\/code_changes.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mike Holt \u2014 NEC 310.12 83% Rule and Conductor Sizing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/laws-regs\/regulations\/standardnumber\/1910\/1910.303\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OSHA 1910.303 \u2014 Exigences \u00e9lectriques g\u00e9n\u00e9rales<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecmweb.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">EC&amp;M Magazine \u2014 Service and Feeder Sizing Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/webstore.iec.ch\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">IEC 60364 \u2014 Installations \u00e9lectriques basse tension (International)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nema.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NEMA \u2014 Conductor and Wiring Standards<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>The process of determining appropriate wire sizes for a service rated at 100 A depends on how you answer the question: does the 83% dwelling rule apply? According to NEC 310.12, in the case of residential applications, the standard wire sizing practice requires the use of 4 AWG copper wire or 2 AWG aluminum wire. In the case of commercial installations, systems equipped with three-phase motors, and hundred-amp sub-panels, the applicable wire sizes that comply with the code requirements concerning their ampacity correspond either with 3 AWG copper wire or with 1 AWG aluminum wire; therefore, in practice, 2 AWG copper wire is often used. When the panel and breakers are part of the job, understanding the protection devices \u2014 like <a href=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/how-to-tell-if-a-breaker-is-bad\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">recognizing a failing breaker<\/a> and the practical pricing in <a href=\"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/blog\/how-much-to-replace-a-circuit-breaker\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">breaker replacement cost<\/a> \u2014 keeps the whole project safe, legal, and on budget.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you are upgrading your old residential home service from 60A to 100A, installing a feeder line to a detached garage, or wiring a new workshop, the first question is always the same \u2014 what kind of wiring (copper or aluminum) do I need for a 100 amp service? The answer rests upon two different [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3843"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3849,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3843\/revisions\/3849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyuglobal.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}