If the sub panel needs to be located at 150 feet distance from the main panel, then the most suitable 50 amp sub panel wire size would be 4 AWG copper or 3 AWG aluminum, but a 6 AWG copper wire size for 50 amps may still work.The golden rule is: once a significant voltage drop enters the picture, adjustments are necessary.īelow are the recommendations for 50 amp service wire sizes, with a focus on 50 amp 240 volt panels, as they are more common than 120V models. Theoretically, yes, you can still consider a 6 AWG copper or 4 AWG aluminum as the right size for 50 amp sub panel 100 feet away, as long as you confirm that your voltage drop doesn’t exceed 5%. Unless you’re installing the sub panel relatively close to the service panel (i.e just 50 feet away or at 75 feet), we’ll likely have to account for that drop. This requirement usually applies if your run exceeds 100 feet, given that this length results in a significant drop that will require you to increase the amp rating of the wire by 20%. Some electricians don’t even go past 2% voltage drop on the feeder and 3% on branch circuits because these percentages are considered beneficial for performance.Īnything over 5% may need bigger wires, which can reduce voltage drop. The NEC considers a 5% voltage drop as the maximum safety limit. However, these answers assume that there’s no voltage drop to consider. For aluminum, it should at least be 4 AWG. The Correct Wire Sizes for a 50A Sub PanelĪccording to the size chart recommendations from the 2002 edition of the NEC, the minimum wire for 50 amps should be 6 AWG for copper. What Wire Do I Use for a 50 Amp Sub Panel?.What Size Wire Do I Need for 50 Amp at 110-240v?.Calculating With Voltage Drop Considered.The Correct Wire Sizes for a 50A Sub Panel.
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