Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
Wiring a 200 amp service means the cable has to carry the full load safely, survive the burial or the conduit pull, and show up in the length you actually ordered. For most people, the Nassau 1/0-1/0-1/0-2 SER Aluminum Service Entrance Cable is the best all-round choice for a 200 amp run. For an underground mobile home feed, grab the 4/0 Mobile Home Feeder. And when you need to go pole-to-building without a conduit sleeve, the Sweetbriar URD Triplex is the direct-burial pick.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind KitchPrep. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You just need to match the cable to your meter, trench, and breaker. You need to know which cable matches your meter, your trench, and your breaker — and this guide breaks down the 200 amp service cable choices so you can order with confidence.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best 200 Amp Service Cable
Buying service cable is really a matching game. You have a 200 amp panel, a set distance from the meter to the panel or from the pole to the house, and a decision about whether the cable runs above ground or underground. Match those three and the cable choice falls into place.
Match the wire gauge to your amperage
The wire gauge (a number that describes how thick the metal conductor inside is) is the single most important spec. For a 200 amp service, you are looking for 4/0 aluminum or a code-approved equivalent like 1/0 in a full SER assembly. Thicker wire carries more current with less heat, and undersizing means re-running the whole line.
Decide between above-ground and underground
SER cable is built for service entrance work — the run from your meter to your main panel, usually in conduit or along a wall. URD cable is rated for direct burial, meaning you can trench it into the ground without a protective sleeve. If your run goes underground, you want direct-burial rated cable; if it stays above ground, SER is the right tool.
Count your conductors before you order
A 3-wire cable carries two hot legs and one neutral, which is what a basic 200 amp service needs at the meter. A 4-wire cable adds a separate ground conductor, which is what you need for a sub-panel or a mobile home feeder where the neutral and ground must stay separate. Order the wrong count and you make a second trip to the supply house.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Wire Size | Conductors | Voltage | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau 200′ 1/0 SER Aluminum Service Entrance Cable★ Best Overall | Above-ground service entrance runs | 1/0-1/0-1/0 AWG | 4 | 600V | Amazon |
| Nassau 100′ 4/0 Mobile Home Feeder Cable | Underground mobile home service | 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 | 4 | 600V | Amazon |
| Nassau 200′ Sweetbriar URD Triplex Direct Burial | Direct-burial pole-to-building feeds | 4/0-4/0-2/0 | 3 | 600V | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Nassau Electrical Supply 200′ 1/0-1/0-1/0-2 SER Aluminum Service Entrance Cable 600V
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 40+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The flexible four-conductor SER that handles a full 200 amp service entrance run without a fight.
For anyone running service from the meter to the main panel, this is the cable that fits the job best. The 1/0-1/0-1/0 AWG wire size (that is the thickness rating for each of the three current-carrying conductors) is code-appropriate for a 200 amp service when paired with the right breaker and lug. The 2 AWG bare conductor (the uninsulated ground wire inside the jacket) gives you a dedicated grounding path in the same cable, so you are not pulling a separate ground run alongside it.
This one earns the top spot because of its four-conductor layout. It carries two hot legs, a neutral, and that bare ground all in one jacket, so you make fewer connections at the panel and have less chance of a wiring mistake. The 600 volt rating covers residential service with headroom to spare. The multi-strand construction (many thin aluminum strands twisted together instead of one solid rod) makes it noticeably more workable than a stiff solid-core cable, which matters when you route it through a meter base or bend it around a panel corner.
The honest caveat here is length accuracy. Buyers report one order arriving 6″ short of a 50 ft section, so measure your run with slack before you cut anything. The cable itself holds up fine once installed — the recurring theme in owner feedback is that it works exactly as described with no issues. The one thing that surprised several buyers is simply that it was not stocked locally, which is why ordering online made sense for them.
Why it earns the top spot
- Four conductors in one jacket — two hots, a neutral, and a bare ground — so panel connections stay simple.
- 1/0-1/0-1/0 AWG aluminum with a 2 AWG bare ground, code-appropriate for a 200 amp service.
- Multi-strand build is more forgiving to bend and route than solid-core cable.
- 600V rating gives plenty of headroom for residential service work.
What to know before you order
- One delivered section came in 6″ short — measure with slack and do not cut until you have confirmed the length.
- Sold as a single 200 ft count, so it is a one-shot purchase, not a per-foot option.
Reach for this if: you are wiring an above-ground service entrance and want a single cable that carries all four conductors to the panel.
Look elsewhere if: your run goes underground — this is a service entrance cable, not a direct-burial type.
2. Nassau Electrical Supply 100′ 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder Cable 600V
The 4/0 feeder built specifically for a mobile home underground service — thick wire, correct conductor count, no guesswork.
If you are feeding a mobile home, this cable is the one that matches the job exactly. The 4/0-4/0-2/0-4 construction (the size and arrangement of the four conductors inside) gives you the thicker 4/0 gauge on the two hots, a 2/0 neutral, and a 4 AWG grounding conductor. The wire is rated for 200 amps, which is the standard service size for a mobile home, so you are not undersizing anything.
That means it carries a separate ground conductor, which is exactly what an underground mobile home feed requires when the panel keeps neutral and ground on their own bars. The 4 AWG ground is sized to the circuit and comes built into the jacket. Compare that to the 3-conductor Sweetbriar and you can see why the mobile home feeder wins for this specific job — one more wire means one less workaround at the panel.
Buyers consistently back this up. One owner confirmed it is “the correct conductors for a 200a Mobil home underground service,” ordered 180 ft and received exactly that, and after nearly three years underground there was still no issue with the wire. That is a strong real-world signal for a cable that sits in the dirt. The one recurring complaint is shipping, not the wire itself: at least one delivery arrived damaged, so inspect the spool before you accept it. Cable OD is 1.54 inches (the outside diameter of the whole jacketed bundle), which is worth knowing if you are sizing conduit or a trench.
Where it shines: the four-conductor layout and 200 amp rating make it a direct code match for mobile home underground feeds — no extra ground wire to buy or pull.
The practical catch: it ships as a single 100 ft spool, and at least one buyer had a rough delivery. Check the jacket for gouges the moment it lands before you trench it in.
Your pick if: the run is a mobile home service going underground and you need a grounded four-wire feeder at 200 amps.
Keep looking if: you only need a three-wire above-ground service entrance run — the extra ground conductor is wasted money there.
3. Nassau Electrical Supply 200′ Sweetbriar Aluminum URD 4/0 4/0 2/0 Cable Wire Direct Burial Triplex
The direct-burial triplex that runs 200 ft from pole to workshop or house without a protective sleeve.
When your run goes into the ground and you want to skip the conduit, this is the cable to look at. The 4/0 4/0 2/0 triplex (three conductors: two heavies and one lighter neutral) is rated for direct burial, so you can trench it in and cover it up. It runs 200 ft, the longest spool on this list — double the length of the 100 ft mobile home feeder. If your run is a long pole-to-building span, that extra length translates directly to fewer splice points and fewer connection failures.
The trade-off starts with the wire itself. This is 4/0 aluminum at 739 lbs per 1000 ft, and it is stiff. Owners who ran it report it is “extremely stiff, very hard to pull through conduit” — one described using 70 ft for a pole-to-workshop feed and noted it fits 1-1/2″ conduit per code but will not make 90° bends, and that 2″ conduit is workable but difficult. So the honest read is: if you stay direct-burial and avoid tight bends, it is a clean install. If you plan to route it through conduit with elbows, plan on the 2″ sleeve and take your time. The insulation thickness is 80 mils (the protective plastic wall around each conductor), and the outside diameter is 1.389 inches.
The reason it still belongs on a shortlist is the value. The same wire priced from a local electrical supplier ran hundreds more, and one buyer confirmed after years in the ground: “Still powering my house and have had no issues.” That direct-burial durability is the point. Just note the label leaves the amperage rating off the spool, so confirm your amp draw against the 4/0 sizing before you close the trench.
What pulls buyers in
- Direct-burial rated, so no conduit sleeve needed on a straight trench run.
- 200 ft length — twice the length of the 100 ft mobile home feeder — cuts down on splice points.
- 4/0-4/0-2/0 aluminum triplex with 80 mil insulation and a 1.389 inch outside diameter.
- Owners mention years of trouble-free service once buried.
Where it gets tricky
- Very stiff — will not make 90° bends in conduit, so keep the route straight or upsize to 2″ conduit.
- The spool does not state the amp rating, so confirm your draw matches 4/0 sizing yourself.
Grab it if: you need a long direct-burial feed and can keep the trench mostly straight.
Think twice if: your route has tight conduit bends — the stiffness will slow the pull more than the length helps.
Understanding the Specs
Wire Gauge and Ampacity
The wire gauge (the thickness rating of the metal conductor) determines how much current the cable can safely carry — its ampacity. For a 200 amp service, 4/0 aluminum or a code-approved 1/0 SER equivalent is the usual spec. Undersize the gauge and the wire runs hot; oversize it and you pay for copper you do not need. Match the gauge to your breaker size first, then pick the cable length.
SER vs URD Cable Types
SER cable is built for service entrance work — the physical run from the meter to the main panel, typically in conduit or along a structure. URD cable is designed for underground direct burial, so it can be trenched without a protective sleeve. The physical difference shows up in the jacket and insulation: URD carries thicker insulation rated to survive soil contact, while SER is tune for above-ground routing.
Number of Conductors
A cable’s conductor count tells you what jobs it can do. Three conductors (two hots and a neutral) is typically enough for a basic service at the meter. Four conductors (adding a dedicated ground) is what you need for a sub-panel or a mobile home feeder where neutral and ground are kept separate. Order one conductor short and you dig a second trench.
Voltage Rating and Insulation
The voltage rating (like 600V) sets the maximum service voltage the cable’s insulation is built to handle safely. Residential service runs well below that, so a 600V cable gives you headroom. Insulation thickness, measured in mils, adds another layer of durability — a thicker insulation wall resists abrasion better when the cable is pulled through conduit or backfilled into a trench.
FAQ
What gauge wire do I need for 200 amp service?
Can I bury SER cable directly in the ground?
What is the difference between 3-wire and 4-wire service cable?
How do I know if the cable is rated for 200 amps?
Will 4/0 aluminum carry 200 amps underground?
How much cable length should I order for a service run?
Can I run 4/0 URD cable through conduit?
Is 600V rated cable safe for residential service?
What does the 2/0 mean in 4/0-4/0-2/0 cable?
Do I need a permit to install 200 amp service cable?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most buyers, the 200 amp service cable winner is the Nassau 200′ 1/0 SER Aluminum Service Entrance Cable because it packs four conductors — two hots, a neutral, and a bare ground — into one workable multi-strand jacket that fits a standard above-ground meter-to-panel run. If you need a grounded underground feed for a mobile home, grab the Nassau 100′ 4/0 Mobile Home Feeder — its four-conductor layout and 200 amp rating match that job exactly. And for a long direct-burial run where you want to skip the conduit, the Nassau 200′ Sweetbriar URD Triplex is the one to reach for, just keep the route straight because this wire does not bend easy.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, KitchPrep earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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