2-2-2-4 Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder Cable

Two #2 AWG aluminum hot conductors, one #2 AWG aluminum insulated neutral, and one #4 AWG aluminum insulated equipment grounding conductor. All four conductors are individually insulated, rated 600V, with USE-2 or XHHW-2 insulation.

A 4-conductor aluminum cable for feeding power from a service panel to a mobile or manufactured home. Standard configuration is 2-2-2-4 aluminum, all rated 600V. Modern MHF uses USE-2 or XHHW-2 conductor insulation, both listed for direct burial and wet locations. The "four conductor, all insulated" construction sets it apart from standard SER, which usually has a bare ground.

For a residential dwelling service or main power feeder to a dwelling, 2-2-2-4 aluminum is rated for 100A under the reduced-sizing allowance in NEC 310.12 (formerly 310.15(B)(7)). For non-dwelling applications, the standard 75°C ampacity from NEC 310.16 applies: #2 AWG aluminum is rated 90A at 75°C. Use the 100A dwelling allowance only when the feeder is serving as the main service or the main feeder to a dwelling. For a subpanel in a shop, barn, or hot tub circuit, use the standard 90A rating unless the AHJ approves otherwise.

Yes. The individual conductors inside standard MHF are USE-2 or XHHW-2, both listed for direct burial in wet locations. Follow NEC 300.5 for burial depth: 24 inches for direct-buried residential feeders under 600V, 18 inches under a concrete slab, and shallower depths where protected by conduit.

Two main differences. MHF has an insulated ground; standard SER has a bare ground. And MHF is rated for direct burial and wet locations because it uses USE-2 or XHHW-2 conductors; SER is not. Both are 600V and both are commonly aluminum. Use MHF when the run will be underground or when the destination requires a separated ground and neutral all the way to the subpanel.

The sequence is: hot, hot, neutral, ground. 2-2-2-4 is two #2 hots, a #2 neutral, a #4 ground. 2-2-4-6 is two #2 hots, a #4 neutral, a #6 ground. The 2-2-4-6 costs less because the neutral and ground are smaller, but the smaller neutral limits it to circuits with balanced loads where the neutral does not need to carry the full unbalanced current. 2-2-2-4 is the safer default for a full-load service or feeder.

Yes, and most customers do. MHF is commonly used for pole barn feeders, detached garage subpanels, hot tub circuits, small outbuildings, and RV pedestals. It works well outside its original purpose because all four conductors are insulated, the assembly is direct-burial rated, and aluminum keeps cost reasonable at feeder sizes. Whatever the destination, code still applies: NEC 250.32 requires a 4-wire feeder to a separate structure, and MHF is already 4-wire.

Voltage drop, not ampacity, is the sizing limit at long distances. Rule of thumb for a 100A load on 2-2-2-4 aluminum at 240V single phase, keeping voltage drop under 3%: about 100 to 125 ft. Beyond that, upsize one AWG per additional 100 ft. For 200 ft runs, move to 1/0 aluminum. For 500 ft and beyond, plan on 4/0 aluminum. Do the actual voltage-drop calculation for the specific load and run length before ordering.

For a 100A subpanel dedicated to a hot tub or spa, MHF is a common choice because it delivers the 4-wire feeder NEC 680 requires and is rated for direct burial. NEC 680 adds bonding requirements around the tub itself (equipotential bonding grid) that are separate from the feeder cable, and GFCI protection at the subpanel is required. Use the standard 90A rating from NEC 310.16 rather than the 100A dwelling allowance, since a hot tub subpanel is not a dwelling service.

At 100A load, 240V single phase, on 2-2-2-4 aluminum, expected voltage drop is roughly 3% at 125 ft, 5% at 200 ft, and 7% at 300 ft. Standard practice keeps total voltage drop (feeder plus branch circuits) under 5%, with the feeder itself under 3%. Use a proper calculation with the actual load current and run length before ordering.