How many #3/0 THHN fit in 3" IMC?
123/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3" Intermediate metal conduit
7.922 sq in × 40 % = 3.1688 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.2679 sq in per wire = 11.83, which Note 7 rounds up to 12 because the decimal is 0.8 or more.
This pull in numbers
- 12 wires fill
- 40.6 % of 3" IMC
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 13 or more
- 3-1/2" IMC, up to 16
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 5.44 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 10 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 12 fit
Before you pull 12
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 12 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 12 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 50 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #3/0 THHN at 225 A in the 90 °C column becomes 112.5 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.
#3/0 THHN in other 3" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3/0 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 8.846 | 13 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 7.922 | 12 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 7.499 | 11 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 7.268 | 11 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 6.442 | 9 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 7.069 | 10 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 7.475 | 11 |
#3/0 THHN in other IMC sizes
Other wire sizes in 3" IMC
#10: 150#8: 86#6: 62#4: 38#3: 32#2: 27#1: 20#1/0: 17#2/0: 14#3/0: 12#4/0: 9250 kcmil: 8300 kcmil: 7350 kcmil: 6500 kcmil: 4