Questions and Answers for Southwire 500 ft. 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 Gray Stranded AL SER Cable

A:  SER cable cannot be used underground at all; not direct buried and not in conduit.

A:  The answer to your question is: no. Mobile Home Feeder is a direct burial rated wire and SER is not. We would suggest ordering our actual Mobile Home Feeder cable (4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 AL MHF model # 28714401). The above advice is based upon the current edition of the National Electric Code (NEC). Free access to the latest version of the NEC is available online at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess. The NEC and local building codes regulate the types of wire and cable that can be used in specific electrical applications, as well as the manner of installation. Check your local building codes before you start any wiring and cable electrical project and be sure to obtain required permits. When your work is complete, always have it inspected for compliance with local codes to ensure that it has been safely installed.

A:  SER cable isn't required to be in conduit in a typical residential installation between the 200A service disconnect and 200A service panel (subpanel).

A:  I am using 3 inch conduit.

A:  SER cable cannot be used underground at all; not direct buried and not in conduit.

A:  As building codes differ from city to city, we suggest that you check with your local building inspector.

A:  Call an electrician.

A:  I would use aluminum 2-2-2-4 SER cable. No conduit required, but it must be secured to framing.

A:  This cable would be fine for your application, but technically should be protected by a 90 amp breaker.

A:  Yes. That is rated for 100 amp

A:  The “dwelling” ampacities given on the SE cable datasheet (see below) assumes that the product is used as a residential service conductor rather than as a feeder. When used as a feeder, 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 SER cable has an allowable ampacity of 180 Amps (not 200 Amps) as long as it isn’t installed in thermal insulation. If it is installed in thermal insulation, the ampacity is further reduced to 150 Amps [per NEC 338.10(B)(4)(a)]. 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 SER cable is not large enough for your application. http://www.southwire.com/ProductCatalog/XTEInterfaceServlet?contentKey=prodcatsheet273 The rest of this discussion assumes that you are not installing the cable in thermal insulation. Furthermore, you will need to reduce the ampacity of the cable due to the higher ambient temperature in the attic. For example - if the max ambient temperature in your attic is between 122°F and 131°F, per the NEC the allowable ampacity of a 250 kcmil AL conductor will be 175 Amps. The largest over-current device (OCD) you could use with the cable in this situation is 175 Amps, not 200 Amps. If the max ambient temperature in your attic is between 113°F and 123°F, per the NEC the allowable ampacity of a 250 kcmil AL conductor will be 189 Amps. In this situation, you can use the round-up rule to use this cable with a 200 Amp OCD. The bottom line is that if your maximum ambient temperature in the attic is 122°F or less, you can use 250-250-250-3/0 AL SER cable. Your voltage drop will be less than 3% for a 70’ run when using 250 AL SER. When using SER as interior wiring, insure that you comply with NEC Article 338 for Service Entrance Cable. There are specific requirements for the installation methods you can use. You can access the NEC for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess. It is likely less expensive to install AL SER cable rather than single conductor building wire and conduit, even if you don’t include the labor cost. If the above explanation didn’t make sense to you, you are strongly advised to hire a licensed electrician that understands this situation.

A:  This is the correct cable for your application and yes, HD sells it by the foot.

A:  4/0 Ser is definitely a better alternative. It is usually sold by the foot but check with your local store

A:  SER cable cannot be used underground at all; not direct buried and not in conduit.

A:  This product is not rated for direct burial.

A:  Yes

A:  SER cable cannot be used underground at all; not direct buried and not in conduit.

A:  No, this wire is not recommended for direct burial.

A:  Answer: Yes, Type SER cable can be used inside a residence and in fact one of its primary functions is wiring from the meter base to the distribution panel. Type SER cable can be used out doors in above ground applications only. You can get spec sheets at Southwire.com under the product catalog page.

A:  This cable meets your requirement ONLY if you have a disconnect at your meter and your main panel is a subpanel.

A:  This cable does not need to be run in conduit. However by code you cannot pull a 200 service off of existing 200 amp service unless it is a disconnect. 100 amp would be the largest you could pull. And it will also depend on your current load. If you have electric as a primary heat source you may be even more limited. Contact a qualified electrician or your local building department.

A:  This cable does not need to be installed in conduit unless additional protection is required.

A:  No conduit needed. But you will have to sheetrock any stud bay up to 8' to protect the wire.

A:  Hi RonP, you are going to have to contact your local building department to ensure you get the correct codes for your city.