How many 500 kcmil THHN fit in 4" PVC Sch 80?
6500 kcmil THHN/THWN-2 wires in 4" Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80
11.258 sq in × 40 % = 4.5032 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.7073 sq in per wire = 6.37, so 6.
This pull in numbers
- 6 wires fill
- 37.7 % of 4" PVC Sch 80
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 7 or more
- 5" PVC Sch 80, up to 10
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 3.99 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 500 kcmil THHN at 430 A in the 90 °C column becomes 344 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.
500 kcmil THHN in other 4" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most 500 kcmil THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 14.753 | 8 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 13.631 | 7 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 12.882 | 7 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 12.554 | 7 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 11.258 | 6 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 12.566 | 7 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 12.692 | 7 |
500 kcmil THHN in other PVC Sch 80 sizes
Other wire sizes in 4" PVC Sch 80
#8: 123#6: 89#4: 54#3: 46#2: 39#1: 29#1/0: 24#2/0: 20#3/0: 17#4/0: 14250 kcmil: 11300 kcmil: 9350 kcmil: 8500 kcmil: 6