One or Two?

[Sophie Wolcott]

I've read some posts in various places that suggest two 2/0 cables are better than one 4/0 cable. The cross-section area is the same, so ampacity is the same. One mentioned a larger surface area in the double 2/0 cable arrangement makes it able to carry more. Is that true?

 

[eoitker]

I've read some posts in various places that suggest two 2/0 cables are better than one 4/0 cable. The cross-section area is the same, so ampacity is the same. One mentioned a larger surface area in the double 2/0 cable arrangement makes it able to carry more. Is that true?

A 2 gauge wire is thicker than a 4 gauge wire. In simple terms, the thicker the cable, the higher the current it can transfer. Did you mean are two 4ga. cables better than one 2ga. Cable? Sorry if I misread your question.

 

[Sophie Wolcott]

Two-Aught (2/0 or 00) & Four-Aught (4/0 or 0000) When I looked into it more, while two 1/0 cables have more surface area than one 4/0 (with same cross-sectional area), that is only relevant to AC circuits, not DC.

 

[eoitker]

Ok, gotcha!