Is fine stranded wire ok for main supply line?












3















I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.



Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.



I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.



enter image description here



In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.










share|improve this question

























  • When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • @ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

    – Kris
    4 hours ago











  • it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

    – ThreePhaseEel
    3 hours ago











  • I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

    – Harper
    2 hours ago
















3















I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.



Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.



I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.



enter image description here



In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.










share|improve this question

























  • When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • @ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

    – Kris
    4 hours ago











  • it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

    – ThreePhaseEel
    3 hours ago











  • I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

    – Harper
    2 hours ago














3












3








3








I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.



Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.



I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.



enter image description here



In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.










share|improve this question
















I’m changing the load panel in a mobile home with additions to gain additional circuits.



Outside a few feet from home is the service pole with meter and a 100 amp disconnect.



I became concerned about the entrance wire because it is a fine stranded wire like automotive battery cables or like welding equipment wiring. The picture shows the work in progress and it is complete now but I wonder if this type wire is anything to be concerned about especially since I will be adding to the load draw with a central heat pump.



enter image description here



In the red square you can sort of see the fine strands that the entrance wire has. I can’t get better pictures until I return to this vacation home.







electrical wiring






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago







Kris

















asked 7 hours ago









KrisKris

1,0021611




1,0021611













  • When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • @ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

    – Kris
    4 hours ago











  • it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

    – ThreePhaseEel
    3 hours ago











  • I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

    – Harper
    2 hours ago



















  • When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

    – ThreePhaseEel
    5 hours ago











  • @ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

    – Kris
    4 hours ago











  • it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

    – ThreePhaseEel
    3 hours ago











  • I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

    – Harper
    2 hours ago

















When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago





When you get back there, can you get us better pictures, especially showing any markings that are present on those feeder wires?

– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago













Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago





Also, would you be able to get us a very close-up of the end of a representative wire? Your photo doesn't show nearly enough to let me count strands...

– ThreePhaseEel
5 hours ago













@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

– Kris
4 hours ago





@ThreePhaseEel yes I will edit in better pictures in a week or so. In your experience have you seen very finely stranded wire used fir this application?

– Kris
4 hours ago













it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago





it's not common for sure, and if it was fine stranded, then it's a 110.3 labeling/listing vio as loadcenter lugs aren't listed to accept it, but it's definitely possible

– ThreePhaseEel
3 hours ago













I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

– Harper
2 hours ago





I see Mr. Snippy has been in the panel and cut back all but the minimum possible wire length. Better to leave enough length to allow hot+neutral to reach any space in the panel. Neutral too because GFCI+AFCI.

– Harper
2 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














I can call it right now.



I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...



Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.



You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.



Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

    – Kris
    1 hour ago











  • Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

    – Kris
    1 hour ago












Your Answer








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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes









4














I can call it right now.



I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...



Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.



You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.



Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

    – Kris
    1 hour ago











  • Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

    – Kris
    1 hour ago
















4














I can call it right now.



I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...



Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.



You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.



Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

    – Kris
    1 hour ago











  • Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

    – Kris
    1 hour ago














4












4








4







I can call it right now.



I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...



Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.



You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.



Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.






share|improve this answer













I can call it right now.



I don't see any markings on the wires. Now, perhaps the wires come out of a multiconductor cable, whose cable sheath has markings that indicate it is one of the NEC/UL rated types of wire legal for mains wiring. But if not...



Wires without insulation markings are no wires at all.



You don't even know what you're looking at here. You don't know what insulation temp column you should be pulling out of for 310.15(B)(16). You don't know if it's 600V insulation. We don't know if the insulation will hold up over time, in the environmental conditions, or with the heat of the wires working normally. For all we know it could be Chinese car battery cable.



Given that it's all 4 colors, there's a fair chance it's cable in sheath, or was shucked from cable in sheath (there go the markings). This is why you can't shuck NM to get wires for running in conduit.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 2 hours ago









HarperHarper

74.9k448149




74.9k448149








  • 1





    We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

    – Kris
    1 hour ago











  • Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

    – Kris
    1 hour ago














  • 1





    We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

    – Kris
    1 hour ago











  • Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

    – Kris
    1 hour ago








1




1





We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

– Kris
1 hour ago





We do know it has held up over time since the original setup of mobile home was in 1969. What I don’t know is if it will hold up in the future with a heat pump being added to the mix. There was no ac in this house only a small electric furnace which was rarely used since it is a summer destination. I’m thinking I will replace the short run from outside disconnect to panel.

– Kris
1 hour ago













Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

– Kris
1 hour ago





Is there an NEC/UL rated wire that is fine stranded and legal for use as service entrance cable?

– Kris
1 hour ago


















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