How many #3 THHN fit in 3-1/2" PVC Sch 40?
403 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3-1/2" Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40
9.737 sq in × 40 % = 3.8948 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0973 sq in per wire = 40.03, so 40.
This pull in numbers
- 40 wires fill
- 40.0 % of 3-1/2" PVC Sch 40
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 41 or more
- 4" PVC Sch 40, up to 51
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 10.00 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 #3 THHN at 115 A in the 90 °C column becomes 46 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 3-1/2" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 11.545 | 47 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 10.584 | 43 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 10.010 | 41 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 9.737 | 40 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 8.688 | 35 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 9.621 | 39 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 9.731 | 40 |
#3 THHN in other PVC Sch 40 sizes
Other wire sizes in 3-1/2" PVC Sch 40
#10: 184#8: 106#6: 77#4: 47#3: 40#2: 33#1: 25#1/0: 21#2/0: 17#3/0: 14#4/0: 12250 kcmil: 10300 kcmil: 8350 kcmil: 7500 kcmil: 5