How many #3 THHN fit in 1-1/4" PVC Sch 40?
63 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 1-1/4" Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40
1.453 sq in × 40 % = 0.5812 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0973 sq in per wire = 5.97, which Note 7 rounds up to 6 because the decimal is 0.8 or more.
This pull in numbers
- 6 wires fill
- 40.2 % of 1-1/4" PVC Sch 40
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 7 or more
- 1-1/2" PVC Sch 40, up to 8
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 3.86 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 5 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 6 fit
Before you pull 6
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 6 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 6 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 80 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #3 THHN at 115 A in the 90 °C column becomes 92 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 THHN in other 1-1/4" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 1.496 | 6 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 1.647 | 6 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 1.526 | 6 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 1.453 | 6 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 1.237 | 5 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 1.277 | 5 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 1.528 | 6 |
| Electrical nonmetallic tubing (smurf tube) | 1.453 | 6 |
#3 THHN in other PVC Sch 40 sizes
Other wire sizes in 1-1/4" PVC Sch 40
#14: 60#12: 43#10: 27#8: 16#6: 11#4: 7#3: 6#2: 5#1: 3#1/0: 3#2/0: 2#3/0: 1#4/0: 1250 kcmil: 1300 kcmil: 1350 kcmil: 1500 kcmil: 1