Aluminum 200 Amp Service

banctecbobn

Guys,
Can aluminum Tri-plex 4.0/4.0/2.0 be run into a home structure? If I read the codes right, no aluminum wiring in a house period. A local Electrician told me not to use copper 3/0 and run Tri-plex to my breaker panel, can I do this????

I have a 400 amp service to my meter base attached to a deattached garage. From there 200 amp splits off to a breaker panel inside the garage and 200 amp splits off to a disconnect inside the same garage. From the disconnect I need to get to the house underground to supply the breaker panel mounted on an exterior wall inside the attached garage for the house. I was planning on running copper, but with the copper prices and 100 foot to travel I'll go broke. lol Tri-plex seems the best if it is allowed or can I start and end with copper and splice in tri-plex. I really don't like the sound of splices in the main service lead since it will be buried.

Have a great day,
Bob

Sparky Joe

The aluminum is fine for feeders and is used all the time in houses in that way.

Speedy Petey

The AL of that size is fine, but the triplex is NOT. Do you mean URD/USE, or do you really mean triplex, twisted with the bare messenger?

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banctecbobn

Thanks for the replies,

The guy kept telling me to use tri-plex and he also told me I didn't need 3/0 copper for 200 amp, only 2/0 copper was needed. I didn't think 2/0 was rated for 200 amp.

The stuff I was looking at was 4/0, 4/0, 2/0 with all three wires insulated. I thought that it was the tri-plex...... So it sounds like I can just use the 4/0, 4/0, 2/0 and be okay then? I think you guts have maybe saved me a bunch of money $250 instead of $1200. 3/0 copper is 4 bucks a foot right now.

Have a great day,
Bob

Speedy Petey

OK but that cable/wire CANNOT be used openly. It must be in conduit.
If it is the URD/USE I think it is it can be directly burried, but anything less than roughly 18" deep and anywhere exposed it must be in conduit.

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jbfan

Since this will be coming from a disconnect into a panel, I think it woould be considered a subpanel and may need to be feed with 4 wires instead of 3.

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RobertWilber

triplex alum is aerial cable
1] calculate your load - article 220
2] select your conductor
3] who said it was cheap to do the job right?
Where did you come up with 200 amps anyway?

banctecbobn

The wire will be feeding a 200 amp breaker box, that is where I came up with 200 amps.

Not looking just for a cheap way to do the job, just don't want to throw good money away if it is not required. I was basically told I would be a fool to spend all the extra money on copper. That is why I came to all of you.

Have a great day,
Bob