Wire size from pole to house

[Mike45]

I'm getting a 15/45 meter installed soon. I jave a 63amp rcbo MB. The wire size that my contractor wants to install is 25mm Aluminum. He is offering me 35mm instead.

What size wire should I have installed?

[KhunBENQ]

We have 25mm² (seems recommended by PEA).

The price difference to 35 should not break your budget.

So why not 35?

Lower resistance, lower loss on the line.

Edited December 15, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[bankruatsteve]

PEA requirements vary, but ours too wanted 25mm2 Al. If the distance from meter to CU is more than 25m or so, you would want larger size anyway. In any case, I wouldn't nitpick about it as there are more important things to be concerned with.

[Crossy]

A 15/45 needs at least 16mm2 copper, so 25mm² aluminium is about right unless the run is long, then 35mm².

Compared with copper aluminium is cheap, very cheap. Go with sparky's recommendation.

[IMHO]

25mm2 is plenty, and some PEA's will not hook a 15/45 meter to anything larger anyway.

[bankruatsteve]

25mm2 is plenty, and some PEA's will not hook a 15/45 meter to anything larger anyway.

Just have to ask why you say that? OK - TIT, but why would PEA refuse a connection that is more than minimal?

[Mike45]

25mm2 is plenty, and some PEA's will not hook a 15/45 meter to anything larger anyway.

This is something I'm concerned about because the connection will be done while I'm not here. Apparently it takes 3 weeks after you apply to get connected.

[IMHO]

25mm2 is plenty, and some PEA's will not hook a 15/45 meter to anything larger anyway.

Just have to ask why you say that? OK - TIT, but why would PEA refuse a connection that is more than minimal?

I say that because we've been pulled on it a few times now - whenever we have long runs we use Alu. (price concerns) and I have spec'd it up a size (for less drop). Only to have to pay for a larger meter than we planned a few times as a result.

Maybe it's just because the larger diameter wire just won't fit into the meter terminals without cutting some strands off?

Maybe someone sent a fax and only some PEA"s read it?

*shrug*

All I've been able to figure out is, if you want 15/45, use 25mm2, if you want 30/100 use 35mm2, and no one will ever give you a problem.

[MJCM]

Sorry to but in, but whatif the run to the house is at least 60 Meters (maybe even more) and the max meter (it seems) that we can get is 15/45. Would in this case 25mm2 still be sufficient ?

Thanks

[IMHO]

Sorry to but in, but whatif the run to the house is at least 60 Meters (maybe even more) and the max meter (it seems) that we can get is 15/45. Would in this case 25mm2 still be sufficient ?

Thanks

According to this: http://www.bangkokcable.com/VoltageDrop/index_res2.php

25mm2 alu is good for 59.11M @ 45 Amps / 3% drop.

25mm2 copper can do 93.69M @ 45 Amps / 3% drop.

Edited December 16, 2014 by IMHO

[MJCM]

Sorry to but in, but whatif the run to the house is at least 60 Meters (maybe even more) and the max meter (it seems) that we can get is 15/45. Would in this case 25mm2 still be sufficient ?

Thanks

According to this: http://www.bangkokcable.com/VoltageDrop/index_res2.php

25mm2 alu is good for 59.11M @ 45 Amps / 3% drop.

25mm2 copper can do 93.69M @ 45 Amps / 3% drop.

Perfect !!

Thanks