Wire Size

[TimV]

I know its not the topic but I am sure someone here can tell  me the minimum wire size needed to carry 200 amp electric service 900 feet at 220 volts to entrance at house. Wire will be buried...they said it was cheaper than poles

Power company is closed and trying to get an idea of how much the wire will cost.

I am sorry if this isnt correct place to ask this. Please move it if it needs to be

[kurt]

did you even try Googling for a voltage drop calculator I think you would need to shoot for a voltage drop under 3% to meet code but don't quote me on that......

http://www.elec-toolbox.com/calculators/voltdrop.htm

http://www.cerrowire.com/default.aspx?id=48

[RUFUS]

sounds like you would be better off burying

high voltage single conductor run to a

transformer next to your house, 2600 ft. of

350 to 400 kcmil wire is gonna be kinda

high wether you use copper or aluminum

(three runs same size)just my nickel's worth

                                  Rufus

[terry5732]

The transformer would be more costly than the wire unless you could get the power company to provide it

[clflyguy]

Tim,

I found this, maybe it can help... Gus

[montaguema]

anything over x feet 200 or so the power co will supply high voltage. in my case, i supply the burried conduitand pull rope and edison supliies the aluminum. they will do a sight survey for you also.

[snowcrow]

  Hi Tim, before you commit to buried power cable, you might want ask where the meter is going to be!  A lot of power companies now are putting the meter at the last pole, thus making the customer pay for any line loss!

  If the meter is going on the last pole, it may come back to haunt you later, especially if you are going to go "Grid-tie" in the future!

Blessings, Snow Crow

[tecker]

If the service is overhead they will want a pole brought to standard house drop probably 100 feet or so that's maybe a transformer point. For a 100 foot drop you'll need a .3" pvc from the service point to your meter . I assume your in the contry but look for buryed Crap and check codes for burying depth. Get the wire from the power Co.

Or build a wind and solar setup and put the family to work on conserving ,about the same amount of trouble and overall expense.  

[TimV]

Thanks to everyone !

You have brought to light some things I didnt think of at all.

This is my daughters homesite(80 plus acres). They have chosen the most inacessable spot on the place.( Most costly to get to) But most beautiful views.

I guess you only go around once....

They said power company would lay wire in for $9.00 a foot if they did the trench(National Grid NoEastern NY)Does this sound about right?

I almost forgot...A road needs to built over wet clay soil to get to it...To be young....

[tecker]

The little darlings should learn managment and with RE . That would take a load off . pun there sorry.

[finnsawyer]

Do what the power company says to do.  This installation is to be forever (ideally).  It's not likely they would recommend 900 feet of buried cable at 220 volts.  I'm 350 feet off the road and the power company put in one pole and the transformer there at their cost.  I dug the trench to the house and if I remember right they paid for the buried wire to the house and the meter.  

[StorminN]

Tim,

$9.00 a foot could easily be right, it depends if the utility if for-profit, or a PUD.

I'd be surprised if the utility or the electrical inspector would let you go more than maybe 200 feet at 220VAC.

I just installed 1,400 feet of underground cable (17 hours on the mini excavator)... the cable is 7,200VAC, 2" CIC. The utility set the transformer at the end, but I was responsible for digging the trench, backfilling, setting and wiring the meter base, etc. To the transformer cost me $4.65 a foot + transformer, + junction box, etc... $7k+ total... I'm in a PUD. And oh yeah, I trashed part of my road (some over wet clay soil) doing it, so add a couple more grand in rock, all told about $10k...

-Norm.