Why can't I use the URD triplex for this run instead of the four-conductor mobile home feeder cable?

The mobile home panel is fed as a sub-panel, so the feeder needs a separate equipment grounding conductor along with the two hots and the neutral. URD triplex has only three conductors and no equipment ground, which is why the 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 mobile home feeder cable is the right product here. Confirm the ground construction with your inspector before you trench.

Is 4/0 aluminum really enough for 200 A, or should I step up to the next size?

4/0 aluminum is the standard size for a 200 A dwelling feeder and relies on the dwelling-unit feeder allowance. Some local authorities do not apply that allowance to mobile home feeders, in which case you may need the next size up, so confirm with your AHJ before ordering.

Do I need to upsize the cable for voltage drop at 100 ft?

No. At 100 ft, 4/0 aluminum at 200 A drops about 4 V, which is under 2 percent, so distance is not a concern for this run.

I only need about 120 ft. Do I have to buy the whole 500 ft reel?

The 500 ft put-up is the smallest length offered in this configuration, so one reel is the purchase for a single run. The 100 ft trench plus roughly 10 ft of rise and termination slack at each end comes to about 120 to 125 ft, leaving roughly 375 ft on the reel.

How deep does this cable go, and does it need conduit?

Direct burial cable in this application typically goes 24 in. deep, with conduit or a sleeve where it comes up out of the ground at the pedestal and at the mobile home. Burial depth and protection requirements vary, so confirm them with your local authority having jurisdiction.

Anything special about terminating the aluminum conductors?

Land the aluminum only in lugs that are listed for aluminum conductors, and torque them to the manufacturer's specification. If the existing pedestal or panel lugs are not rated for aluminum, they will need to be replaced with ones that are.

Job guides

Mobile home feeder, 100 ft, direct burial, aluminum

Feeding a mobile home from a 200 A pedestal about 100 ft away, direct burial, aluminum feeder cable. What size, and how much do I need?

A 200 A mobile home feeder on aluminum runs on 4/0 AWG phase conductors, and it has to be a four-wire cable with an equipment ground because the mobile home panel is fed as a sub-panel. The mobile home feeder cable in 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 is built for exactly this pull: USE-2 rated for direct burial, two 4/0 hots, a 2/0 neutral and a 4 AWG ground. At 100 ft, voltage drop on 4/0 aluminum is under 2 percent at full load, so no upsizing is needed for distance. One 500 ft reel covers the job with plenty left.

Buy listAbout $3.76 before shipping and tax

200 A direct-burial feeder, pedestal to mobile home panel

600V Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder Cable (Type USE-2 / RHH / RHW-2, Direct Burial, AA-8000 Compact Aluminum)

MHF4/0-4/0-2/0-4/500'$3.76 per footIn stock

This is the one cable in the catalogue purpose-built for a pedestal-to-mobile-home feeder: USE-2/RHW-2 insulation approved for direct burial, four conductors so you get the separate equipment ground a mobile home feeder requires, and 4/0 AA-8000 aluminum phases, which is the standard size for a 200 A dwelling feeder. The 4 AWG aluminum ground matches a 200 A overcurrent device and the 2/0 neutral is the usual reduced neutral for a 120/240 V dwelling load. At 100 ft, 4/0 aluminum at 200 A drops about 4 V, under 2 percent, so distance is not a concern. The 500 ft put-up is the smallest one in this configuration and is the right buy for a single run.

100 ft of trench plus about 10 ft of rise and termination slack at each end is roughly 120 to 125 ft, which one 500 ft reel covers with about 375 ft left over.

Also consider: MHF4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0/1M gives a full-size 4/0 neutral and 2/0 ground if your load calc or inspector wants a full neutral, but it only comes on a 1000 ft reel and costs considerably more; for one run the 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 on a 500 ft reel is the right call.

$3.76

1 ft

Product page and datasheet

Everything on the list is in stock.

What we can't supply for this job

We do not carry the conduit sleeves and fittings for the risers where the cable leaves the ground at the pedestal and under the home.
We do not carry aluminum-rated lugs or anti-oxidant compound for the terminations.

Assumed: The pedestal breaker is 200 A and the mobile home panel is 200 A, 120/240 V single-phase. The 100 ft is the trench length; the vertical rises at the pedestal and under the home add roughly 10 ft each end. Cable goes directly in the trench, not in conduit for its full length. A reduced neutral (2/0) is acceptable for your load; most mobile home feeders qualify.

Direct burial cable typically goes 24 in. deep, with conduit or a sleeve where it comes up out of the ground at both ends; confirm depth and protection with your local authority having jurisdiction.
The mobile home feeder rule calls for four insulated, color-coded conductors including the equipment ground; verify with the inspector that this cable's ground construction is accepted before you trench.
4/0 aluminum at 200 A relies on the dwelling-unit feeder allowance; confirm your AHJ applies it to mobile home feeders, otherwise you may need the next size up.
Terminate aluminum only in lugs listed for aluminum, torqued to the manufacturer's spec.
The URD triplex in the catalogue is not a substitute here because it has no equipment grounding conductor.
Aluminum pricing moves daily; lock a seven-day written quote from the cart before you order.

Your job is different? Adjust it.

Change the numbers to yours and get your own list at today's prices.

Describe the job. Get the buy list.

You get the parts, the quantities, today's prices and the reasoning, ready to add to the cart.

Questions that come up on this job

Why can't I use the URD triplex for this run instead of the four-conductor mobile home feeder cable?: The mobile home panel is fed as a sub-panel, so the feeder needs a separate equipment grounding conductor along with the two hots and the neutral. URD triplex has only three conductors and no equipment ground, which is why the 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 mobile home feeder cable is the right product here. Confirm the ground construction with your inspector before you trench.
Is 4/0 aluminum really enough for 200 A, or should I step up to the next size?: 4/0 aluminum is the standard size for a 200 A dwelling feeder and relies on the dwelling-unit feeder allowance. Some local authorities do not apply that allowance to mobile home feeders, in which case you may need the next size up, so confirm with your AHJ before ordering.
Do I need to upsize the cable for voltage drop at 100 ft?: No. At 100 ft, 4/0 aluminum at 200 A drops about 4 V, which is under 2 percent, so distance is not a concern for this run.
I only need about 120 ft. Do I have to buy the whole 500 ft reel?: The 500 ft put-up is the smallest length offered in this configuration, so one reel is the purchase for a single run. The 100 ft trench plus roughly 10 ft of rise and termination slack at each end comes to about 120 to 125 ft, leaving roughly 375 ft on the reel.
How deep does this cable go, and does it need conduit?: Direct burial cable in this application typically goes 24 in. deep, with conduit or a sleeve where it comes up out of the ground at the pedestal and at the mobile home. Burial depth and protection requirements vary, so confirm them with your local authority having jurisdiction.
Anything special about terminating the aluminum conductors?: Land the aluminum only in lugs that are listed for aluminum conductors, and torque them to the manufacturer's specification. If the existing pedestal or panel lugs are not rated for aluminum, they will need to be replaced with ones that are.

Other jobs

Prices are today's and follow the copper and aluminum markets each weekday; quantities are for the example job. Confirm code requirements with your inspector. How we price