[Hardlyable]

Hi all -

I am in the process of replacing the subpanel in my house. I have 200-amp service that comes in overhead to my main panel. From there it runs underground with mobile home feeder wire to the subpanel. Since I am upgrading the panel, I also have to upgrade the service line to 4 wire.

The main panel is roughly 5' from the house, so the new cable only needs to go underground a short distance where it will go under the footing/foundation and enter the crawl space. The distance that it will need to run in the crawl is roughly 20-25' (the area below the new sub). Now finally, my question is, does it need to be run in conduit the entire way within the crawl space? I will have conduit from the new subpanel down into the crawl as well.

I realize it's only a short distance, but ease factor would kick in if I can run the new service line along the bottom of my floor joists vs running it in conduit along the floor. Thanks for any help you may offer.

 

[gregzoll]

It depends on what the inspector states. To protect with the conduit attached to the crawl space wall, line ran through to where it will leave to go into the home.

Just remember that mice and other critters could nest in the conduit.

 

[rjniles]

If the service is URD/USE cable it needs to be in conduit above ground and under the building. Bring the service in conduit to a junction box and switch to SER cable under house to the sub panel.

 

[Hardlyable]

I didn't think about the mice issue Greg, that's something that could happen for sure.

RJniles - The wire specs state: The conductor components of this cable are made with RHH, RHW-2, or USE-2 compact stranded AA-8000 aluminum alloy.

 

[rjniles]

I didn't think about the mice issue Greg, that's something that could happen for sure.

RJniles - The wire specs state: The conductor components of this cable are made with RHH, RHW-2, or USE-2 compact stranded AA-8000 aluminum alloy.

Must be in conduit under house.

 

[gregzoll]

Mobile Homes end up with looser rules in a lot of areas. First one I had, the line just laid on the Concrete pad under the trailer.

The second one a Double Wide, it was buried and came up at the rear of the Double wide and ran along the frame all thr way to about the front where the panel is.

The county that I am in, is really loose on Mobile Home stuff. Especially out in the country.

 

[Hardlyable]

Well Greg, it's actually a stick built home. There was a single wide back in time, which is why it has the typical mfh setup. I chose to replace the existing 3-wire mhf with 4-wire mhf for the sake of ease (no splices).

RJniles - I had a suspicion that conduit they whole way would be required. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[rjniles]

Well Greg, it's actually a stick built home. There was a single wide back in time, which is why it has the typical mfh setup. I chose to replace the existing 3-wire mhf with 4-wire mhf for the sake of ease (no splices).

RJniles - I had a suspicion that conduit they whole way would be required. Thanks for the confirmation.

Actually the underground part can be direct buried.

 

[gregzoll]

Rjniles I would protect it anyways. I found mine when I was trying to fix the hill behind my double wide, so that water was not always running under it.

They had buried the sucker in Sand, along with the telephone line, for whatever company my sister had used to deliver the units when she had bought it originally.

I loved the trailer l, just hated having to deal with all of the mud underneath, along with no outdoor storage.

 

[rjniles]

I was not saying he can't or shouldn't use conduit for the UG portion. I actually thing it is best to do so. I was just giving him an option allowed by code.

 

[gregzoll]

I was not saying he can't or shouldn't use conduit for the UG portion. I actually thing it is best to do so. I was just giving him an option allowed by code.

I was agreeing with you. Anything like this, needs to be protected, until it gets to where it enters the structure. No one wants to have to deal with trying to dig out a damaged section in the middle of Winter, or during the hottest day of the Summer.

 

[Hardlyable]

Yes, I was aware that it could be installed without conduit outside, but I will definitely install it in conduit. I was just being lazy and thinking it would be easier to pull the wire if there was a break in the conduit. After coming to my senses I will run conduit the whole way and just deal with pulling it through the whole run. Thanks for the responses!

 

[gregzoll]

I think that we all get to that point somewhere, when we have spent more time working on a project that was only supposed to take a little time, not all of our time.