How many #2 THHN fit in 3-1/2" EMT?
402 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3-1/2" Electrical metallic tubing
11.545 sq in × 40 % = 4.6180 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.1158 sq in per wire = 39.88, which Note 7 rounds up to 40 because the decimal is 0.8 or more.
This pull in numbers
- 40 wires fill
- 40.1 % of 3-1/2" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 41 or more
- 4" EMT, up to 51
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 9.98 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 34 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 40 fit
Before you pull 40
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 40 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 40 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 40 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #2 THHN at 130 A in the 90 °C column becomes 52 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 THHN in other 3-1/2" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #2 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 11.545 | 40 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 10.584 | 36 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 10.010 | 34 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 9.737 | 33 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 8.688 | 30 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 9.621 | 33 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 9.731 | 33 |
#2 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