is aluminum okay?

[fosgate]

I am wanting to do a run from my garage to a future site for a slab. the length is about 80 feet or so and the slab will hold about 200 amps (going to be half shop and half billiard room-- basic 110 outlets, one or two 220 outlets, and lighting). my father-in-law has about 100 feet of 2/0, maybe 1/0, aluminum cable, leftover from Entergy, the local utility company. It's the same wire they ran from a transformer to a outside breaker box and then about 50 ft underground to go up into a mobile home.

I was always taught to use copper wire but here, the utility company used aluminum and there's plenty left over to do what I need. Is it okay to use it?

[kactuskid]

Aluminum wire is used all the time for feeder cable when over 8 Gauge, though the torque requirements must be adheared to and anti-oxidant applied at the connections. It's the smaller gauge stuff that is dangerous and not used anymore. As always you should verify with your local inspection department as local codes vary.