How many #3 THHN fit in 2-1/2" PVC Sch 40?
193 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 2-1/2" Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40
4.695 sq in × 40 % = 1.8780 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0973 sq in per wire = 19.30, so 19.
This pull in numbers
- 19 wires fill
- 39.4 % of 2-1/2" PVC Sch 40
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 20 or more
- 3" PVC Sch 40, up to 30
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 6.95 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 16 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 19 fit
Before you pull 19
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 19 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 19 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 50 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #3 THHN at 115 A in the 90 °C column becomes 57.5 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 THHN in other 2-1/2" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 5.858 | 24 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 5.135 | 21 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 4.866 | 20 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 4.695 | 19 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 4.119 | 17 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 4.909 | 20 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 4.881 | 20 |
#3 THHN in other PVC Sch 40 sizes
Other wire sizes in 2-1/2" PVC Sch 40
#14: 193#12: 141#10: 89#8: 51#6: 37#4: 22#3: 19#2: 16#1: 12#1/0: 10#2/0: 8#3/0: 7#4/0: 6250 kcmil: 4300 kcmil: 4350 kcmil: 3500 kcmil: 2