
Differences Between THHN & THWN Wire
- THWN. Water resistance is a major reason for the use of THWN wire. ...
- THHN. THHN wire is the original version of the dual-rated cable. ...
- MWR. Machine wire rated (MWR) wire often has the dual THHN/THWN rating stamped on its nylon or PVC jacket.
What is the difference between THWN and THHN?
THHN is a code for thermoplastic high heat resistant nylon coated wire which is allowed for use in dry to damp location and rated for a maximum temperature of 90ºC (194ºF). THWN is a code for thermoplastic heat and water resistant which is suitable for use in both dry and wet locations with a maximum temperature rating of 75ºC (167ºF).
What does THWN mean on wire?
THWN Wire THHN is a code for thermoplastic high heat resistant nylon coated wire which is allowed for use in dry to damp location and rated for a maximum temperature of 90ºC (194ºF). THWN is a code for thermoplastic heat and water resistant which is suitable for use in both dry and wet locations with a maximum temperature rating of 75ºC (167ºF).
What is the difference between XHHW-2 and THHN?
THHN wire comes with a dual rating: THHN / THWN, which means it’s appropriate for both dry and wet applications. XHHW-2 wire is the next generation XHHW wire. While its main use is for residential, commercial and industrial buildings, it is also used in raceways, feeder and circuit wiring.
What is THHN wire rated for?
THHN / THWN / THWN-2. THHN wire is approved for up to 600V and is listed by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), as rated for 90° C (194° F) in dry and 75° C (167° F) in wet environments. THHN wire comes with a dual rating: THHN / THWN, which means it’s appropriate for both dry and wet applications.

Can I use Thhn wire in underground conduit?
Can I directly bury a THHN wire? The short answer is no. THHN and THWN-2 Copper Building Wire is only approved to be buried in conduct, as it lacks the characteristics that would make it eligible for direct burial. UF-B and USE-2 are the standard direct burial cables.
Can THWN wire be used in outdoor conduit?
THHN is still the single conductor wire used outdoors and in conduit, because the THWN rating can resist water, oil, gases, and solvents.
Is THWN wire waterproof?
What Is THWN Wire? THWN is similar to THHN, except it is water-resistant, adding the “W” into the acronym. THWN is rated for up to 167°F or 75°C in wet environments, but its successor, THWN-2, is rated for 90°C in both wet and dry environments.
Can Thhn wire be used in wet locations?
THHN is thermoplastic, highly heat-resistant (up to 90 degrees C.), and nylon-jacketed. It is not suitable for wet locations.
Is it OK to run Romex in conduit?
No, you can not run your Romex wiring in conduits. What you're looking at in the code book is referring to THHN and other wiring, that while insulated with a single coat is not insulated with a second covering and bound to 2 or 3 other wires.
Can I run Thhn in PVC conduit?
THHN (thermoplastic high heat-resistant nylon-coated) is the best wire for pulling through PVC conduit. Other types of wire have a sticky rubber sheathing that makes them almost impossible to pull.
Is Romex THWN?
Romex wire is made out of two or three THHN wires combined with a grounding bare copper wire. Like the THHN wires, Romex wire can't be used outside because of its minimal PVC jacket protection.
Is Thhn wire rated for outdoor use?
THHN (Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon-coated) wire is designed with a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) insulated nylon sheath. Most THHN building wire comes with the dual rating THHN/THWN, meaning it is usable in both wet and dry conditions, as well as both indoor and outdoor use.
Is THWN wire stranded or solid?
The solid conductor THHN wire has a solid copper conductor and its AWG is size 14-10. The stranded conductor THHN wire, on the other hand, has an AWG size of 14-4/0 and a stranded conductor of 19 copper strands. The aluminum conductor THHN wire is not made of soft hardened copper but with aluminum.
Do I need Thhn or THWN?
The main difference between these two standards is their maximum temperature in wet locations. THWN has a maximum temperature of 90°C in dry and wet locations, whereas THHN wire can only be used in temperatures as high as 75°C in wet locations. However, most of these wires, so you can use THHN and THWN interchangeably.
What kind of wire do you use for outdoor conduit?
The applicable rules for outdoor cables and conduits include: Exposed or buried wiring/cable must be listed for its application. Type UF cable is the most commonly used nonmetallic cable for residential outdoor wiring runs.
Is Southwire Thhn also THWN?
Also marked as THWN-2 in sizes 8 AWG and larger and in sizes 14, 12, 10 in SIMpull BARREL™ cable drum or SIMpull® CoilPAK™ configurations only. Marked as THWN in sizes 14, 12, and 10 AWG. Marked sunlight resistant in sizes 8 AWG and larger.
What is THHN Cable
THHN is a code for thermoplastic high heat resistant nylon coated wire which is allowed for use in dry to damp location and rated for a maximum temperature of 90ºC (194ºF).
What is THWN Cable
THWN is a code for thermoplastic heat and water resistant which is suitable for use in both dry and wet locations with a maximum temperature rating of 75ºC (167ºF).
How long does THHN last?
THHN is not insulated sufficiently to hold up over the underground utility’s lifespan, which may last 30 years.
What happens if a THHN is used as a tracer wire?
If THHN is used as tracer wire, when it fails, the line will need to be excavated, and the THHN wire will require replacement. While THHN wire is less expensive than tracer wire, the small increase in price is insignificant compared to the tremendous cost associated with excavating a line to replace the tracer wire.
Is THHN wire a tracer wire?
The wire itself may be aluminum or copper, but it is not tracer wire. THHN satisfies most residential and industrial electrical needs and has approval for up to 600 volts and 194 °F. THHN is less expensive than tracer wire.
What is a THHN wire?
Both THHN and THWN wires are used in a variety of installations. Thermoplastic high-heat resistant nylon-coated wire, or THHN, is a common wire used for connecting branch circuits and appliances. Its counterpart is called THWN (or THWN-2). This thermoplastic heat- and water-resistant nylon-coated wire is designed to operate in ...
Why use thwn wire?
THWN. Water resistance is a major reason for the use of THWN wire. These cables are installed in environments where a conduit is not mandatory; this additional flexibility makes it the preferred cable among electrical contractors, given that both wire types need not be carried.
Is THHN wire dual rated?
THHN/THWN wire is often dual rated; the differences between the two are minor in most applications. As a result, most manufacturers have decided to make these into one type of product. Both offer the same gauge range, are offered in solid and stranded versions and are rated for 600 volts.
What does THWN mean?
THWN or THWN-2, as it’s sometimes referred to when dual-rated, functions essentially the same except for its water-resistance. Hence, the addition of the “W” in the acronym. Let’s dive in deeper into both THHN and THWN to better understand their uses, characteristics and advantages.
What is THHN wire?
Thermoplastic high-heat resistant nylon-coated, or THHN wire is arguably the most popular type of building wire used in construction. It was developed to endure heat up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 167 degrees if it’s exposed to oil. The wire is usually two-conductor and often found in ROMEX-style cabling that exists in most homes and other structures.
What does the N in THW wire mean?
The absence of the “N” in THW just means that it does not have a nylon outer coating. The nylon coating appears like a small piece of plastic covering a shoelace, protecting the wire in a similar way. Instead, THW wire is equipped with a thermoplastic insulation that is both heat and water resistant.
Why are THHN wires positioned within conduits?
It is strongly urged that these wires are positioned within conduits to prevent the release of any toxic materials. THHN wires use a thinner PVC insulation and this is a key factor when it comes to the wire’s electrical characteristics.
How many volts can a THHN wire handle?
However, using this type of cable comes with a number of other additional advantages: Handles high voltages. THHN wire can manage up to 600 volts.
Why use THWN wire?
THWN. The major reason for using THWN wire is because of its water resistance. The wire is essentially the same as THHN with the additional of its ability to assist in water resistance. These types of cables can be installed in areas where a conduit is not required.
What is XHHW insulation?
Put simply, XHHW refers to a specific insulation material, condition of use, and temperature rating for electrical wire and cable. The acronyms can be broken down as such: 1 X: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) 2 HH: High Heat-Resistance 3 W: Water Resistance
What is the difference between THHN and XHHW?
In addition to the specifications noted above, the main difference between THHN / THWN / THWN-2 and XHHW / XHHW-2 and is in the wire’s jacket. The jacket on the THHN family is thinner – this means that while more THHN can be fit through many obstacles, its jacket doesn’t offer as much protection as the XHHW jacket. As well, the coating on the XHHW’s jacket is more resistant to chemicals, ozone and abrasions while THHN’s thinner coating, under extreme conditions, can lead to current leakage and can break down from chemical or environmental exposure, emitting a toxic smoke when burned.
What is THHN wire?
THHN / THWN / THWN-2. The most popular type of building wire used in construction is Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon coated (THHN) wire. THHN wire is also commonly used in machine tools, control circuits and some appliances. THHN wire comes in a variety of characteristics:
What temperature is XHHW-2?
XHHW-2 is approved for use up to 600V and is UL Listed for 90° C (194° F), in both dry and wet locations. The previous generation of XHHW had a lower temperature rating, approved up to 75° C in wet environments, making the next generation XHHW-2 wire a more useful and an ‘all environment’-type product.
Is THHN a toxic smoke?
As well, the coating on the XHHW’s jacket is more resistant to chemicals, ozone and abrasions while THHN’s thinner coating, under extreme conditions, can lead to current leakage and can break down from chemical or environmental exposure, emitting a toxic smoke when burned.
Is XHHW wire flexible?
Flexibility: Surprisingly, even though XHHW has a thicker and more protective jacket, it is also more flexible than THHN wire. This is due to the XLPE insulation of the XHHW allowing the cable to bend and flex more easily than the PVC insulation of the THHN – making XHHW much easier to work with during the installation process.
What does "than" mean in a sentence?
The word then is generally used to express the idea that one thing took place after another.
When to use "then" or "then"?
The word then is used to add information to an expression, is often used in the sense of reiteration, to convey the sense of a consequence and sequence of something. The word than is used in the sense of the difference in comparison.
Is "then" an adverb?
The two words then and than have a clear difference in their grammatical category and their usage. The difference between then and than is that then is an adverb while than can be both a preposition as well as a conjunction . The correct usage of these two words is an essential fact in English grammar practice.