what type of romex should i use

What type of Romex should I use? Romax is a brand of wire that is rated for a non-metallic dry usage situation. This can be used in wood type construction or construction that is in a dry location.

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Can Romex be used in Conduit?

Most local codes won’t mention Romex because it is not a type of wire, hence the confusion. People don’t know whether or not a conduit is appropriate for Romex because Romex is not a standard cable whose use is regulated in the industry. It is no different from any other brand.

Does Romex need to be secured?

Nonmetallic, or NM, cable (commonly known by the brand name Romex) must be secured to electrical boxes at the point where the cable enters the box. This code requirement is an important safety feature that protects the wiring connections inside the box in case the cable is pulled.

Can I use a PVC sheath for Romex cable?

PVC sheath cannot protect the bare copper wire in a Romex cable. The other two conductors are more or less okay. But the copper conductor is vulnerable. If you leave the Romex cable in a dangerous location, elements such as oil and gas could infiltrate the jacket, harming the ground wire. Therefore, you should use a conduit to protect the wire.

What is the difference between a conductor and Romex cable?

House wiring cable known as romex cable comes in a variety of sizes and combination's. I am just going to cover a few basics for choosing the proper romex cable for use on circuits that I discuss on this website. Conductor is the term used for wires that are in a cable. For example a 3 conductor romex cable has 3 separate wires inside the cable.

Should I use 12 or 14 gauge Romex?

Only use 14-gauge wire for an outlet if the outlet is on a 15-amp circuit. If the outlet is on a 20-amp circuit, it should be wired with 12-gauge wire. You can also use 12-gauge wire for outlets on 15-amp circuits.

What is the difference between 12 2 and 12 3 wire?

0:000:23What is the difference between 12/2 and 12/3 wire? #shorts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip12 2 or 12 3 wire. This is 12 3 wire and what makes it 12 3 is that you got three wires other thanMore12 2 or 12 3 wire. This is 12 3 wire and what makes it 12 3 is that you got three wires other than the ground. And 12 2 means you got two wires other than the ground.

Which is better 14 or 12 gauge wire?

Using 12-gauge wire instead of 14-gauge is a good choice, even though the 12 AWG wire price is greater. The highest current rating for a 14-gauge wire is 15 amps, whereas that for a 12 gauge automotive wire is 20 amps under typical residential settings.

What kind of Romex do I need for 20 amp circuit?

12/2 RomexYou can use a 20 amp circuit breaker with 12/2 Romex as 12/2 wire is rated for 20 amps.

How many receptacles can be on a 20 amp circuit?

The answer to the question how many outlets on a 20 amp circuit is ten outlets. Always comply with the 80% circuit and breaker load rule, allowing a maximum load of 1.5 amps per receptacle. Remember that your circuit, wire sizes, and outlets must be compatible to avoid overheating and electrical hazards.

Can I use 12-gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?

The perfect wire gauge of a 20 amp breaker is the #12 AWG wire. This is a bigger wire with 25A ampacity and can handle 20 amp current while also satisfying the NEC 80% rule for safety.

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 happens if you use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?

The answer is NO, see answers below but 14 gauge wiring in the circuit requires a 15 amp breaker. If you spend a few dollars more and use number 12 wire you can use the 20 amp breaker.

How far can you run 12 2 wire on a 15 amp breaker?

You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit.

Will a 12 2 wire carry 30 amps?

Yes, based on the National Electric Code or NEC, you can use 12-2 AWG cables for THHN or THWN-rated wires. These cables are made for general purposes and can hold up to 194 degrees without taking any damage. It simply means these wires can withstand the heat temperature drawn by a 30 amp circuit breaker.

How many outlets can you put on 14-gauge wire?

If you are using standard two-receptacle outlets, you can wire four of them to a single 15-amp circuit using 14-gauge electrical wire. 14/2 wire on a 15-amp circuit can power 8 receptacles.

Can 14-gauge handle 20 amps?

You can not use 14 AWG anywhere on a circuit that has a 20A breaker.

What is the purpose of 12 3 wire?

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 Romex?

A 12-2 Romex will have a black(hot) and a white(neutral) wire as well as an unsheathed copper wire for ground. 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.

Where can I use 12-2 wire?

What Size Wire Should Be Used to Run an Outlet Circuit?14/2 wire can be used to wire outlets on circuits conducting 15 amps or lower.14/2 wire cannot be used to wire outlets on 20-amp circuits.12/2 wire can be used on both 15-amp and 20-amp circuits.

What is a 12-2 wire?

"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. In the latter case, the sheath is usually red too.

How to secure cable in metal box?

Securing Cable With an Internal Clamp . Some metal boxes come with saddle-shaped clamps already mounted inside the box. Usually, there are two clamps that can hold two cables each. If a clamp is not next to the knockout you are using, simply unscrew the clamp and move it to the desired location.

How to install a locknut clamp?

To install this type of clamp, insert the threaded end into a knockout hole in the box, then thread on the locknut onto the threaded end from inside the box. Tighten the nut with pliers. Insert the cable through the clamp saddle and into the box, and tighten the screws on the saddle to secure the cable.

Do you need a knockout hole for a box?

A box should not have open knockout holes that are empty, as this compromises the protection offered by the box enclosure. Look on the side of the box and locate the knockout where you want to install your cable. Some knockouts have a straight slot in their center.

Can you run two cables through the same box?

Never run two cables into the box through the same knockout opening. Each cable requires its own knockout opening and clamp.

Can you run two wires into a box?

This excess wire provides the slack necessary to make various wire connections to devices and also provides enough excess wire in case the wires need to be trimmed off in the future. Never run two cables into the box through the same knockout opening. Each cable requires its own knockout opening and clamp.

Do cable clamps need to be tight?

Each cable requires its own knockout opening and clamp. Be careful not to tighten cable clamps so much that they crush the cable sheathing or damage the insulation on individual wire conductors. The clamps should be just tight enough so that the cables can't be pulled free by hand. Read More.

What is the sheathing on NM cable?

The sheathing on NM cable does offer some protection against incidental physical damage. Sheathing on Romex is made of tough polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thermoplastic. The sheathing on both 14 and 12 AWG wire is 15 mils thick. Still, no matter how strong the NM sheathing, it is not meant for exposed applications. Typical locations include:

What type of conduit is protected from physical damage?

Protection from Physical Damage:  Cable shall be protected from physical damage where necessary by rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, Schedule 80 PVC conduit, Type RTRC marked with the suffix -XW, or other approved means.

Can you use NM cable on concrete?

The National Electrical Code forbids the use of NM cable in situations where it is exposed in a manner where physical damage is possible. One example of this is where a do-it-yourself electrician attaches NM cable across the front face of studs or ceiling joists or where it is attached across the face of concrete foundation walls.

Can NM cable be attached to studs?

While it's allowable for NM cable to run through holes bored in the centers of exposed framing members, it cannot be attached across the front face of studs, since this creates the possibility of snagging or damage to the cables.

Can NM Cable be Run Inside Conduit?

If an electrical inspector has flagged NM cable that has been run incorrectly, you might be tempted to install the conduit, then reuse the same NM cable by running it through the new conduit.