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“12-2” means 12 gauge, two insulated current carrying wires, plus a bare ground. 12-2 wire usually has a black, white and bare ground wire. Sometimes the white is red instead for 220V circuits without neutral.
What can 12 2 wire be used for?
A 12-3 Romex will have a black(hot), red(hot), white(neutral), and bare copper. The red on a 12-3 is used for three-way light switches which are covered later.The following NEC regulations apply to Romex conductors: Wire Gauge or Type Rated Amperage Common Uses 12-2 Romex 20 A Lighting and Outlet Circuits, refrigerator.
What is the difference between 12 2 wire and 12 3 wire?
The designation 12/2 indicates AWG 12 wire with two conductors (AC hot and AC neutral), 12/3 indicates AWG 12 wire with three conductors (two AC hot and AC neutral). Both designations also typically include a smaller bare copper earth ground conductor. AWG 12/2 is used for a single breaker 120V 20A max circuits.
Can 12 2 wire be used for outlets?
There is no limit to the number of outlets you may connect on a single circuit breaker, but your use of 12/2 wire limits it to a 20 amp breaker. What you need to consider is how many of those outlets will be in use at a given time and the expected current draw from what will be plugged in to them.
What Colour is 12 2 wire?
Yellow Cable Type NM-B # of Conductors 4 Conductors w/ Ground Conductor Material Bare Copper Ampacity 20 Jacket Color Yellow.
What does a 12 2 wire look like?
12-2 wire usually has a black, white and bare ground wire. Sometimes the white is red instead for 220V circuits without neutral. In the latter case, the sheath is usually red too. 12-3 wire usually has a black, red, white and bare ground wire.
Can I use 12 2 wire for LED lights?
2 Answers. As long as you have a 15A circuit breaker on that circuit, it’s OK to use 12/2 NM cable for your lights.
Can I use 12 gauge wire for lights?
If you’re wiring a circuit on which there are both lights and outlets, or you just aren’t sure which wire gauge to use, you can’t go wrong by choosing a 12-gauge wire. It’s not quite as flexible as a 14-gauge wire, and it costs a bit more, but it’s always a safe choice on a 15- or 20-amp circuit.
How far can you run 12 2 wire?
You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit. That number drops to 50 feet if you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit.
How far can you run 12/3 wire 20 amp circuit?
Originally Answered: How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit? About 400 feet. After that voltage drop is a factor and the gauge will have to be increased or the voltage increased.
How many 12 2 wires can you put in a outlet box?
Capacities for two common sizes: Single Gang Boxes: A total capacity of 18 cubic inches allows for nine #14 gauge wires, eight #12 gauge wires, or seven #10 gauge wires. This is a wires-only capacity. With one device added to the box, subtract two wires in each category.
What is the difference between 14 2 wire and 12 2 wire?
A12/2 wire has two conductors and can carry 20 amps. A 14/2 wire has two wires, but can only carry 15 amps. The 14/2 wire can be used for lights or any other electrical equipment, but the load should not be more than 80% of the current capacity approximately 1500 watts.
Is it OK to use 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit?
Because it has even less chance of overheating, 12-gauge wire is also acceptable on a 15-amp circuit.
Can I connect red and black wires together?
Red Electrical Wires These wires are typically used for switch wiring as well as the interconnection between smoke detectors hard-wired into the power system. You can link two red wires together, or you can link a red wire to a black wire. Since red wires conduct current, they are considered hot.
What’s the difference between white and yellow Romex?
The color of the sheathing indicates recommended usages. For example, white sheathing means that the inner wires are 14-gauge and yellow sheathing indicates that they are 12-gauge. But looking deeper, the color of the wires inside of the sheathing reveals that different colored wires serve different purposes.
How do I know if my wire is 12 or 14-gauge?
Twelve gauge is about the thickness of a nickel, and 14-gauge is about the thickness of a dime. Also, look at the breaker for the circuit in question to see if it’s a 15-amp or a 20-amp breaker. A 20-amp circuit requires wire that’s 12-gauge or larger.
How many wires does 12 2 Romex have?
For example “12/2 WG” means two (black and white) 12-gauge wires plus a ground wire. Nonmetallic (NM) cable, sometimes called Romex, has two or three insulated wires plus a bare ground wire all wrapped together in plastic sheathing.
What is a Romex?
Romex is the trade name for a type of electrical conductor with non-metallic sheathing that is commonly used as residential branch wiring. Romex™ is a common type of residential wiring that is categorized by the National Electrical Code (NEC) as underground feeder (UF) or non-metallic sheathed cable (NM and NMC).
How much is Romex 12 2?
Covers 500 ft. (62¢ /ft.).
When should I use 12 gauge wire?
Using a 12-gauge wire is a safe bet for wiring a circuit that includes both lights and outlets, or if you’re not sure which gauge to use. It is more expensive and less flexible than 14-gauge wire, but it is always a good idea to use it on a circuit rated for 15 or 20 amps.
Is 12 gauge wire always yellow?
Yellow color-coded cable sheathing encloses 12-gauge wires. Yellow 12-gauge cable is typically used for 20-amp circuits that power general household outlets used for a variety of plug-in appliances. Dedicated appliance circuits also call for 20-amp circuits in most cases.
How many lights can you put on one switch?
There is no limit to the number of lights on a circuit. The load of the fixtures is what determines how many lights a circuit can accommodate. A conventional 15A circuit can have up to 1400W of lighting loads connected to it. A 1400 Watts lighting load can accommodate one 1400W fixture or fourteen 100W fixtures.
