How To Ground And Bond A 200 Amp Residential Service

A grounding system volition protect you and your home from fire and deadly shocks but just if information technology is wired properly by a professional. You lot must as well use grounding wires of the right size. The size has to match your electrical service. The size of a 125A grounding wire is not necessarily the same as the size of 150A or even 200A grounding wires.

What Size Grounding Wire is Required for a 200 Amp Service?

A grounding wire ranging from 2AWG to eight AWG is recommended for a 200-amp service.

200 Amp Ground Wire Size

Copper Wire	Aluminum Wire
8AWG	6AWG
4AWG	2AWG
6AWG	4AWG
2AWG	4AWG

You can use 8AWG (Copper) or 6 AWG (Aluminum) grounding wires for a 200-amp service.
You can likewise employ copper conductors of 4AWG and aluminum conductors of 2AWG.
Yous can also use 6AWG copper wire or 4AWG aluminum wire.
Yous tin can also select 4AWG aluminum wires or 2AWG copper wires.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Grounding Wire

1). Hot & Neutral Wires Have To Be Unifrom

First of all, you have to notation that the hot and neutral wires accept to be the same gauge because they have to comport the same amount of current. That is to say, the hot wire takes the current to the appliance and the neutral wire brings that current dorsum.

Therefore, information technology makes sense to apply wires of the same size for the hot and neutral.

Even so, the grounding wire doesn't have to be the same size as the hot and neutral.

Why Would A Neutral Wire Be Hot?(5 Reasons Explained)

2). Bigger Wires Are Recommended

The grounding wire tin exist larger than the recommended size. At the terminate of the day, a larger ground wire cannot harm your electrical organization. It will raise your expenses because wires with a higher gauge are more expensive than wires with a smaller approximate. But you lot tin can all the same trust the wire to play its office efficiently and finer. Smaller wires are tricky.

The smaller the wire, the greater the resistance.

If a grounding wire is as well small to agree the electric current it is transmitting to the grounding rod, information technology could melt or start a burn.

Therefore, if you have a option in the affair, endeavour to select the correct size for your grounding wire.

A larger wire isn't dangerous simply information technology is more expensive. A smaller wire is dangerous.

What Kind of Wire Do I Need for A 200-Amp Service?

If you're trying to purchase the best grounding wire for your home'south 200-Amp Service, yous have to go on the following in listen:

one). Copper Is the Best Option

When it comes to the material, you have two options to consider, namely:

Copper

Of all the bachelor options, copper is the most pop because it has amazing electric conductivity.

Even with a lower approximate, copper conductors can carry more electricity despite using less insulation. They also take greater resistance to heat and corrosion.

The fact that the stands are thinner ways that copper wiring is more malleable.

Aluminum

If copper has greater electric conductivity and resistance to heat and corrosion, why would anyone use aluminum?

Aluminum is cheaper. It is also flexible, lightweight, and easier to piece of work with, which is why you can install it at a much faster rate.

People with a limited budget tend to flock to aluminum. Only if yous have the money, copper is the best option.

two). Utilize Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire

The distance matters because it will touch the type of wire and the guess. An increase in length typically leads to an increment in resistance. This, in turn, raises the voltage driblet.

To recoup for the increment in resistance, y'all must increase the gauge. The longer the footing wire, the greater the judge needed. The type of wire matters considering aluminum interferes with the period of electricity over long distances.

Y'all tin solve this trouble by using copper-clad aluminum. But a copper-clad aluminum wire is more expensive than aluminum. If yous have a express budget, copper-clad aluminum might not be an choice.

How Many Wires Do I Demand for a 200-Amp Service?

A 200 Amp Service has ground, hot, and neutral wires.

Connecting Basis To Neutral, Vice Versa & Both Together
What Size Wire Do I Need For 60 Amps?

How Do You Ground A 200-Amp Service?

1). Stack Grounding Rod

A grounding rod is exactly what it sounds like. Information technology is a rod that connects the grounding system to the globe. It is normally made from copper, which is a very good usher of electricity. About grounding rods are viii to x feet long.

You lot can stack grounding rods in an area with dry basis to allow them to accomplish greater depths. Otherwise, your contractor will encourage you to place them in moist soil.

2). Use Grounding Wire To Connect Footing Connexion & The Rod

A grounding wire connects the service ground connectedness and the rod.

If you look at the instructions that Grover Electrical has published, information technology encourages consumers to connect the neutral wire to a larger lug on the neutral kiss bar before running a bonding wire betwixt the ground bushing and the footing bar.

You must besides run the basis wire from the ground buss to diverse locations. In about cases, you are discouraged from installing a 200-Amp Service or grounding information technology on your own.

Exit this task in the hands of a licensed professional. In many places, you need a permit to perform any tasks that involve a 200-Amp Service.

NEC Code

A department in NEC 2008 says that contractors must use 3/0 copper conductors for a 200A feeder.

Tin can You Run A 200 Amp Sub Panel Off 200 Amp Main?

You can run a 200 amp sub panel off 200 amp main but it is better of using a 400 amp panel because information technology prevents incessant billow tripping and called-for wires

Tin can You Overload A 200 Amp Panel?

You can overload a 200A panel. The size of the panel tells you the amount of electricity it can safely handle. A 200A panel tin handle as much as 48,000 watts. If you exceed the chapters of the panel, it will overload, damaging the breakers and wires and potentially starting a burn.