This is the scenario:
- I have 400amp main service to my meter.
- I have a 400amp main panel that has 2x200amp circuits. The panel is grounded with bare copper wire 6ft apart with appropriate gauge wire (this was installed by an electrician and permitted).
- 1x200amp circuit is used as the main electrical supply for my house.
- I want to use the remaining 200amp circuit to supply a 200amp exterior panel that is about ~100ft away on a barn.
Questions:
- What type of wire should I use for this ~100ft run? Can it be 4/0 Aluminum?
- Can I use 3 appropriately gauged aluminum service wire to connect 2 of the aluminum wire to the 200amp circuit on the main house panel and the 3rd aluminum wire to the ground bus on the 400amp panel? Basically, can aluminum wire be used as ground wire to run from one ground bus to another?
- At the panel on the barn, do I need to "re-ground" the panel if the aluminum wire is connected to the main panel ground bus?
- I would plan for an 160amp draw (80% load of 200amp) at the entrance panel on the barn, is this the correct assumption?