XHHW-2 COPPER BUILDING WIRE CONDUCTOR

Name: XHHW-2 COPPER BUILDING WIRE CONDUCTOR
Brand: Nassau National Cable
SKU: NNC3174X
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.88 (9013 reviews)

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XHHW-2 COPPER BUILDING WIRE CONDUCTOR

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SKU: NNC3174X

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XHHW-2 COPPER BUILDING WIRE CONDUCTOR

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Product Name	Length	Price (Per FT.)	Action
Product Name 14 AWG XHHW-2 Solid Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.30 Available Min: 150 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 12 AWG XHHW-2 Solid Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) Call 516-482-6313 for pricingOut Of Stock Min: 100 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 10 AWG XHHW-2 Solid Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.59 Available Min: 100 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 14 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.31 Available Min: 150 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 12 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.39 Available Min: 100 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 10 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.62 Available Min: 100 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 8 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $0.97 Available Min: 25 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 6 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $1.51 Available Min: 25 FT Max: 1000000 FT	Action Color
Product Name 4 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $2.24 Available	Action Color
Product Name 3 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $2.79 Available	Action Color
Product Name 2 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $3.44 Available	Action Color
Product Name 1 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $3.99 Available	Action Color
Product Name 1/0 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $4.74 Available	Action Color
Product Name 2/0 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $6.09 Available	Action Color
Product Name 3/0 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $7.29 Available	Action Color
Product Name 4/0 AWG XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $8.55 Available	Action Color
Product Name 250 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $9.94 Available	Action Color
Product Name 300 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $12.89 Available	Action Color
Product Name 350 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $13.72 Available	Action Color
Product Name 400 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $17.89 Available	Action Color
Product Name 500 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $21.29 Available	Action Color
Product Name 600 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $24.51 Available	Action Color
Product Name 750 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $40.09 Available	Action Color
Product Name 1000 MCM XHHW-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire	Length /FT	Price (Per FT.) $62.29 Available	Action Color

Product Information

Specification

XHHW-2 Copper Building Wire Conductor

XHHW-2 copper wire is single-conductor building wire with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, made to be installed in conduit or other raceways. It's rated for wet and dry locations at up to 90°C and 600V, and it's offered in solid 14 to 10 AWG and stranded 14 AWG to 1000 MCM.

Applications:

Copper XHHW-2 is installed in conduit and other NEC-recognized raceways for services, feeders, and branch circuits, in wet or dry locations at up to 600V. Typical uses by size:

14 to 10 AWG: 15A, 20A, and 30A lighting, receptacle, and equipment branch circuits, control wiring, and PV home runs in conduit
8 and 6 AWG: ranges, dryers, heat pumps, 50A and 60A EV charger circuits, and garage and shop subpanels
4 to 1 AWG: 100A to 150A home services, subpanel feeders, and generator transfer switches
1/0 to 4/0: 175A to 250A home services, 150A to 225A commercial feeders, and parallel sets, since 1/0 is the smallest size the NEC allows in parallel
250 to 1000 MCM: commercial services and switchboard feeders, often in parallel sets, plus transformer secondaries and large motor and chiller feeders
Isolated power systems in hospital operating rooms, where XLPE's low dielectric constant helps meet NEC 517.160
Underground runs in PVC conduit and rooftop conduit exposed to sun and heat

Also Known As:

XHHW RW90 Copper Building Wire, XHHW Cable, XHHW Service Wire, XHHW Copper Wire.

XHHW-2 Copper Data Center Applications

In data centers, copper XHHW-2 is pulled in conduit for everything from rack branch circuits to UPS and switchgear feeders. Data center loads run continuously, so NEC 210.19 and 215.2 size conductors at 125% of the load unless the breaker is 100% rated.

12 AWG: 20A, 208V rack circuits with L6-20 and L5-20 receptacles
10 AWG: 30A rack circuits with L6-30 and L21-30 receptacles, about 8.6 kW per 208V three-phase circuit at 80% loading
6 AWG: 60A, 208V three-phase circuits to high-density racks, about 17.3 kW at 80% loading
4/0: feeders to 225A remote power panels and 150 kVA PDUs (226A at 125%)
350 to 1000 MCM: UPS, switchgear, and generator feeders in parallel sets, such as two sets of 500 MCM for a 500 kVA UPS (752A at 125%)
Branch circuits under raised floors, run in conduit or flexible metal conduit as NEC 645.5(E) requires

Standards:

UL Standard 44
ASTM Standard B 3
Federal Specification A-A-59544
National Electrical Code
ICEA S-95-658 (NEMA WC 70) - Non Shielded 0 - 2 kV

Construction:

Conductor:

The cable has an annealed bare copper conductor (solid or concentrically stranded). The conductor has excellent electrical conductivity and excellent resistance to moisture. The conductor also has excellent resistance to compression, pressure, and heat.

Insulation:

The cable is insulated with a cross-linked polyethylene jacket (XLPE) that serves as a protective armor to the conductors. It is flame-retardant and resistant to abrasion, corrosion, moisture, dryness, chemicals, and heat.

*Data provided on this page is subject to change based on different manufacturers' variances

** Images are for display purposes only refer to Product Technical Details for accurate information on the product.

Download PDF Spec Sheet

FAQ's

What is XHHW-2 copper wire used for?

XHHW-2 is single-conductor building wire with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, rated 600V and 90°C in wet or dry locations. Copper XHHW-2 is used for services, feeders, and branch circuits in conduit or other NEC-recognized raceways. Small sizes (14 to 10 AWG) feed lighting, receptacle, and equipment circuits. Mid sizes (8 AWG to 4/0) cover EV chargers, subpanels, and 100A to 250A services. Large sizes (250 to 1000 MCM) carry commercial feeders, UPS and switchgear connections, and parallel service runs.

What are the main differences between XHHW and XHHW-2 wires?

Both use cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation and are rated 600V. The difference is the wet rating. XHHW is rated 90°C in dry locations but only 75°C in wet locations. XHHW-2 is rated 90°C in both, and it passes stricter UL 44 moisture testing. XHHW-2 can be used anywhere XHHW is allowed.

What is the difference between THHN and XHHW-2 wire?

Both THHN/THWN-2 and XHHW-2 are 600V building wires rated 90°C in wet and dry locations, so the real difference is the insulation. THHN/THWN-2 has thin PVC insulation with a nylon jacket. XHHW-2 has a single, thicker layer of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), a thermoset material that doesn't melt. XHHW-2 holds up better to abrasion, moisture, and cold. THHN/THWN-2 has a smaller diameter, so more conductors fit in the same conduit, and it usually costs less.

What size copper XHHW-2 do I need for a 100A or 200A service?

For a home, NEC 310.12 lets a 120/240V service be sized at 83% of its rating. That makes 4 AWG copper the standard size for 100A and 2/0 copper the standard size for 200A. For commercial and other non-dwelling services, use the full 75°C ampacity: 3 AWG copper for 100A and 3/0 copper for 200A.

What is the ampacity of copper XHHW-2 wire?

Per NEC Table 310.16, with no more than three current-carrying conductors at 30°C ambient, here are the 75°C ratings of common sizes and what each is typically used for:

12 AWG: 25A, limited to 20A circuits by NEC 240.4(D)
6 AWG: 65A, for 60A EV charger and subpanel circuits
4 AWG: 85A, the standard size for a 100A home service
2/0: 175A, the standard size for a 200A home service
500 MCM: 380A, for 350A feeders and UPS feeders in parallel sets

Most terminations are rated 75°C, so that column sets the usable ampacity, and the 90°C rating is the starting point for derating. The ampacity chart on this page lists every size.

Should I choose solid or stranded copper XHHW-2?

Solid XHHW-2 is offered in 14, 12, and 10 AWG. It's easier to terminate under device screws, which suits receptacle and lighting circuits. Stranded XHHW-2 is more flexible and easier to pull through long conduit runs with bends. NEC 310.3(C) requires conductors 8 AWG and larger installed in raceways to be stranded, so every size from 8 AWG up is stranded.

Copper or aluminum XHHW-2: which should I choose?

Copper carries more current for its size, so it fits in smaller conduit and connects to any standard terminal. Aluminum costs less and weighs much less, which matters on large feeders and long runs. Aluminum needs a larger size for the same load, usually about two sizes up: a 200A home service uses 2/0 copper or 4/0 aluminum. Copper is the usual choice for branch circuits and tight spaces, and aluminum is common for services and feeders 1/0 and larger.

Can XHHW-2 wire be buried underground?

Not directly. XHHW-2 is not rated for direct burial, so it can't go in a trench without conduit. It can be installed underground inside conduit, because underground raceways are wet locations and XHHW-2 is rated 90°C wet. For burial without conduit, use a direct burial cable such as USE-2 or URD.

Does XHHW-2 wire have to be run in conduit?

Yes, in standard building installations. XHHW-2 is a single-conductor building wire meant for conduit or other recognized raceways. It can't be run exposed outdoors or fished through walls like NM cable, so inside a wall it has to be in conduit, such as EMT or flexible metal conduit. The NEC allows a few exceptions, such as cable tray for 1/0 AWG and larger conductors with a CT marking, or open wiring on insulators, but these are uncommon.

Is XHHW-2 wire sunlight resistant?

Yes. NNC's XHHW-2 is marked sunlight resistant, so it holds up in conduit runs exposed to the sun and where the wire leaves the conduit, such as at a weatherhead. Sunlight resistance doesn't replace the conduit requirement.

Can XHHW-2 wire be used in cold weather?

Yes. XLPE insulation stays flexible in the cold much better than PVC-insulated THHN, which makes XHHW-2 easier to pull in winter. It's commonly rated for installation down to -40°C (-40°F). Check the spec sheet for the exact minimum.

Can XHHW-2 be used as PV wire?

Yes, for the parts of a solar system that run in conduit. XHHW-2 is widely used in PV installations for DC home runs from the array to the inverter and for AC circuits from the inverter to the panel, as long as the system voltage stays within its 600V rating. It doesn't replace PV wire in exposed array wiring between modules, where NEC 690.31 calls for PV wire or USE-2.

Is copper XHHW-2 used in data centers?

Yes. Copper XHHW-2 runs in conduit throughout data centers: 12, 10, and 6 AWG for 20A, 30A, and 60A rack circuits, 4/0 for remote power panel and PDU feeders, and 250 to 1000 MCM, often in parallel sets, for UPS, switchgear, and generator feeders. Its 90°C rating gives headroom for derating when many circuits share a raceway, and its XLPE insulation holds up to long pulls.

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