How many 2/0 AWG THW aluminum compact conductors are permitted in a 2 1/2 inch PVC conduit schedule 80?

To determine how many 2/0 AWG THW aluminum compact conductors can fit into a 2 1/2 inch PVC conduit (schedule 80), we first need to understand the allowable fill capacity for the conduit.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) provides guidelines for conduit fill that ensure safe and effective installation of conductors. The total conductor fill is based on the internal diameter of the conduit and the size of the conductors being used.

For a 2 1/2 inch PVC schedule 80 conduit, the internal diameter is slightly less than that of a standard 2 1/2 inch conduit due to the thickness of the walls. When calculating conduit fill, the NEC specifies using a fill percentage based on the number of conductors. For one or two conductors, the fill can be up to 53% of the conduit’s cross-sectional area, but for three or more conductors, the limit is lowered to 40%.

The total cross-sectional area of a 2/0 AWG aluminum compact conductor needs to be calculated. The area of a single 2/0 AWG conductor is approximately 0.0745 square inches. By multiplying this area by the number of conductors,