How many #2/0 THHN fit in 3-1/2" EMT?
202/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3-1/2" Electrical metallic tubing
11.545 sq in × 40 % = 4.6180 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.2223 sq in per wire = 20.77, so 20.
This pull in numbers
- 20 wires fill
- 38.5 % of 3-1/2" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 21 or more
- 4" EMT, up to 26
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 7.21 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 17 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 21 fit
Before you pull 20
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 20 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 20 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 50 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #2/0 THHN at 195 A in the 90 °C column becomes 97.5 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.
#2/0 THHN in other 3-1/2" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #2/0 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 11.545 | 20 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 10.584 | 19 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 10.010 | 18 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 9.737 | 17 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 8.688 | 15 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 9.621 | 17 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 9.731 | 17 |
#2/0 THHN in other EMT sizes
Other wire sizes in 3-1/2" EMT
#8: 126#6: 91#4: 56#3: 47#2: 40#1: 29#1/0: 25#2/0: 20#3/0: 17#4/0: 14250 kcmil: 11300 kcmil: 10350 kcmil: 9500 kcmil: 6