Generator Selection?

Diggin It · Oct 31, 2020

ATS is in. Geeze what a cluster. ATS part was fine. Pretty straight forward. Everything else ... well ....

For starters the fancy schmancy 2/0 I bought is now scrap. $50 or so wasted. It was too large to fit into any of the breaker lugs, so after I had it all cut and run through the conduit, I couldn't make any of the connections with it. Had to pull it all out and try to re-use the old 2/0 I had. Combined with the one piece of #2 THHN, I got everything reconnected and energized, but it won't be able to stay this way. It will have to be re-done once I figure out what I need to do. Buy more #2 THHN I guess.

Unhappy? You betcha.

RoyKing · Oct 31, 2020

What is schmancy 2/0? Copper wire? If too big for lugs just cut some strands off. Why did you buy such big wire for 100 amp service?

3Ts · Nov 1, 2020

Why not use a different size lug to attach the wire? Such as this one that handles #6 thru 250 mcm. There are different sizes including ones that will accept multiple wires.

Morris 9 Lug Mechanical Connector Type 1 Conductor aluminum One Hole Mount Holes 25MCM-Number-6 AWG Wire Range: Audio Video Cables And Connectors: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

grsthegreat · Nov 1, 2020

Honestly, a 100 amp switch is not designed to handle 2/0 wire. That sized wire is way oversized for a 100 amp system.

Diggin It · Nov 1, 2020

^^^ See, that's the problem I've been running into that no one seems to get. I have 2/0 installed and have since 1998 when I did this panel and meter upgrade from 60 to 100A. It all worked well and fit into the conduit and breaker lugs with no problem. Sometime since then, they changed the specs for 2/0. It's now much larger diameter and has 19 finer strands instead of the 7 heavier strands I have in the older wire. The stuff you get now is probably 30% larger diameter and will no longer fit where my older 2/0 would.

RoyKing · Nov 1, 2020

They have not change the spec's post some pics, somebody sold you the wrong wire

ultrarunner · Nov 1, 2020

Within the same gauge of wire I have found variation between stranded and solid and also the thickness of the insulation depending on what comprised it.

I still have 12 gauge in Knob and Tube with loom... so there are variations over time as materials improve.

grsthegreat · Nov 1, 2020

That is weird. I have tied new 2/0 into real old 2/0 and have never noticed any differences. nowdays, the outside insulation is thinner due to advances in insulation, but wire size has never changed. Not sure whats happening on your end.

ultrarunner · Nov 1, 2020

Is there more variations between solid and stranded as number of strands...

There is stranded and there is stranded... one is a bundle of smaller gauge and another a bundle of very small gauge to increase flexibility...

Just guessing here.