How many #3 THHN fit in 2" PVC Sch 80?
123 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 2" Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80
2.874 sq in × 40 % = 1.1496 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0973 sq in per wire = 11.82, 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 2" PVC Sch 80
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 13 or more
- 2-1/2" PVC Sch 80, up to 17
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 5.43 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 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" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 3.356 | 13 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 3.630 | 15 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 3.408 | 14 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 3.291 | 13 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 2.874 | 12 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 3.269 | 13 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 3.246 | 13 |
| Electrical nonmetallic tubing (smurf tube) | 3.291 | 13 |
#3 THHN in other PVC Sch 80 sizes
Other wire sizes in 2" PVC Sch 80
#14: 118#12: 86#10: 54#8: 31#6: 22#4: 14#3: 12#2: 10#1: 7#1/0: 6#2/0: 5#3/0: 4#4/0: 3250 kcmil: 3300 kcmil: 1350 kcmil: 1500 kcmil: 1