How many #1 THHN fit in 1-1/4" EMT?
41 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 1-1/4" Electrical metallic tubing
1.496 sq in × 40 % = 0.5984 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.1562 sq in per wire = 3.83, which Note 7 rounds up to 4 because the decimal is 0.8 or more.
This pull in numbers
- 4 wires fill
- 41.8 % of 1-1/4" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 5 or more
- 1-1/2" EMT, up to 5
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 3.09 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 3 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 4 fit
The pipe is 3.09 times the wire's diameter, inside the 2.8 to 3.2 range where three wires can wedge side by side on a pull. If you pull exactly three, go up a size or pull with care.
Before you pull 4
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 4 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 4 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 80 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #1 THHN at 145 A in the 90 °C column becomes 116 A. Grounds don't count as current-carrying. How derating works
- Bends. A full pipe pulls hard. Keep to 360° of bends between pull points, less for a tight fill.
#1 THHN in other 1-1/4" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #1 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 1.496 | 4 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 1.647 | 4 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 1.526 | 4 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 1.453 | 3 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 1.237 | 3 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 1.277 | 3 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 1.528 | 4 |
| Electrical nonmetallic tubing (smurf tube) | 1.453 | 3 |
#1 THHN in other EMT sizes
Other wire sizes in 1-1/4" EMT
#14: 61#12: 45#10: 28#8: 16#6: 12#4: 7#3: 6#2: 5#1: 4#1/0: 3#2/0: 2#3/0: 1#4/0: 1250 kcmil: 1300 kcmil: 1350 kcmil: 1500 kcmil: 1