How many #1 THHN fit in 3" EMT?
221 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3" Electrical metallic tubing
8.846 sq in × 40 % = 3.5384 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.1562 sq in per wire = 22.65, so 22.
This pull in numbers
- 22 wires fill
- 38.8 % of 3" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 23 or more
- 3-1/2" EMT, up to 29
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 7.52 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 18 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 23 fit
Before you pull 22
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 22 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 22 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 45 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #1 THHN at 145 A in the 90 °C column becomes 65.3 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 3" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #1 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 8.846 | 22 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 7.922 | 20 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 7.499 | 19 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 7.268 | 18 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 6.442 | 16 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 7.069 | 18 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 7.475 | 19 |
#1 THHN in other EMT sizes
Other wire sizes in 3" EMT
#10: 167#8: 96#6: 69#4: 43#3: 36#2: 30#1: 22#1/0: 19#2/0: 16#3/0: 13#4/0: 11250 kcmil: 9300 kcmil: 7350 kcmil: 6500 kcmil: 5