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ROMEX® 12/3 wire is used in buildings for circuits that use higher amperage than the standard 20 amps. Most people are not familiar with this type of wire because it is used to hook up heavy-draw appliances such as water heaters and central air conditioning.
What is the difference between 12-2 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.
How far can you run 12/3 gauge wire on a 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.
Can you use 12-2 Romex 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 size Romex do I need for outlets?
The following NEC regulations apply to Romex conductors: Wire Gauge or Type Rated Amperage Common Uses 14-2 Romex 15 A Lighting Circuits 12-2 Romex 20 A Lighting and Outlet Circuits, refrigerator 10-2 Romex 30 A Electric water heater, baseboard heaters 10-3 Romex 30 A Electric Clothes Dryer.
Can I use 12 3 wire for outlets?
ROMEX® 12/3 wire is used in buildings for circuits that use higher amperage than the standard 20 amps. In most cases, there is no plug outlet because it is directly wired into the unit itself.
Can I use 12 3 wire for a stove?
1 Answer. Not even remotely close. You need 8 gauge copper or 6 gauge aluminum wire.
How long can you run Romex?
As an example, for a 120-volt circuit, you can run up to 50 feet of 14 AWG cable without exceeding 3 percent voltage drop.For 240-volt circuits: 14 AWG 100 feet 12 AWG 120 feet 10 AWG 128 feet 8 AWG 152 feet 6 AWG 188 feet.
What is code for buried electrical wires?
Low-voltage (no more than 30 volts) wiring must be buried at least 6 inches deep. Buried wiring runs that transition from underground to above ground must be protected in conduit from the required cover depth or 18 inches to its termination point above ground, or at least 8 feet above grade.
What size wire do I need to run 400 feet?
It should be #6 or larger depending on the distance from the panel to the load and the type of load. For a straight resistive load you’ll likely have to go to #4 wire.
How high should receptacles be above countertop?
On countertop outlets, it is standard to install outlet boxes so the tops are between 15 and 20 inches from the countertop surface. Make sure all outlet boxes are set at exactly the same height, since these outlets will be highly visible.
How far can you run a 12 gauge 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.
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.
What type of Romex wire do I need?
Most 120Vac household circuits are fine using a 12 or 14 gauge wire. The smaller the gauge Number the larger the conductor size. So when your needing a three conductor cable to wire up a basic 2-way switch, you will need a 14/2 w/ground cable.
What wire is used to wire a house?
Wire Gauge The most common sizes you’ll find in residential work are 14-gauge and 12-gauge. Larger appliances such as electric stoves, electric water heaters, electric dryers and central air units will often use 10-, 8- or even 6-gauge wire.
Does Romex wire copper or aluminum?
Despite the NM label, the individual electrical conductors within the cable are indeed metal—normally about 65-percent copper.
Can I mix 12 gauge and 14 gauge wire?
Originally Answered: Can I mix 12 and 14 gauge wire? The 12 gauge can carry more current, therefore; you must not use 14 gauge in place of 12 gauge, but you can use 12 gauge in place of 14 gauge, but 12 gauge is larger.
What kind of wire do you use in a bathroom?
You’ll need at least one 20 ampere circuit to supply the bathroom receptacles, which cannot serve any other rooms. You cannot use 14 AWG conductors anywhere on a 20 ampere circuit, all the conductors must be 12 AWG or larger.
How many amps does a dryer pull?
Residential electric clothes dryers use between 7.5 amps and 30 amps. However, 30 amps is by far the most common. The National Electrical Code (NEC) standards require that 240V dryers have a dedicated 4-wire circuit (10-3 type NM cable with ground) protected by a 30 amp breaker.
What size wire is used for hot water heater?
Electrical wires Since the generic breaker size for water heaters is 30-amps, the best wire size is a #10 American Wiring Gauge (AWG). I suggest you use a 10-2 Non-Metallic Cable (NMC) for a 30-amp 240Volt circuit.
What size wire do I need for a dryer?
The NEC requires that dryers have a dedicated circuit with a minimum of 30 amps. This calls for a 30-amp, double-pole breaker wired with 10 AWG wire.
