Is fine stranded wire ok for main supply line?
I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.
Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.
I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.
In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.
electrical wiring
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
|
show 2 more comments
I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.
Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.
I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.
In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.
electrical wiring
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.
Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.
I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.
In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.
electrical wiring
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.
Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.
I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.
In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.
electrical wiring
electrical wiring
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
edited 6 hours ago
Kris
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
asked 7 hours ago
KrisKris
1,0021611
1,0021611
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
I can call it right now.
I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...
Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.
You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.
Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
add a comment |
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "73"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fdiy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f161054%2fis-fine-stranded-wire-ok-for-main-supply-line%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I can call it right now.
I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...
Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.
You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.
Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I can call it right now.
I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...
Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.
You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.
Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I can call it right now.
I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...
Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.
You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.
Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
I can call it right now.
I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...
Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.
You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.
Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
answered 2 hours ago
HarperHarper
74.9k448149
74.9k448149
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
1
1
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?
– Kris
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fdiy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f161054%2fis-fine-stranded-wire-ok-for-main-supply-line%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...
– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago
@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?
– Kris
4 hours ago
it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible
– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago
I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.
– Harper
2 hours ago