Is it wrong to run 14-2 wire for outlets?

Question

I've seen outlets that say "15A" but I've always learned that we should always run 12-2 for outlets. Won't the conflict? Or if the breaker is only 15A then I can run 14-2 wire for outlets? Please explain in details. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

#14 wire is rated 15 amp. #12 is rated for 20 amps. Most hose appliances are rated at less than 15 amps. Most household recepticals are rated at 15 amps, as long as the breaker is set for 15 amps, there wont be a problem, the problem happens when some people put bigger breakers on wire that can't take the amperage. so #12 wire on a 15 amp receptical is fine as long as the breaker is 15 amp. and yes you can run #14 15 amp wire to these devices with a 15 amp breakers, the voltage means nothing, its all about amps, most every wire is rated at least 600 volts. but its amprage that is what causes problems. everything is rated on amprage. breakers, wire, devices. etc,

Answer 2

15A breakers are common for light circuits while 20A breakers are commonly used for outlets. While 14-2 wire could be used for all circuits I prefer to use 12-2. The cost difference just is not enough to warrant using the smaller #14 wire.

Answer 3

I always run 12 in outlets. Then if someone wants to plug in a space heater, it won't trip breakers. There is good advice in the other answers. Be aware that there are different ratings for the receptacles (plug) used for 15A and 20A. If you are switching circuit breakers in the box from 15A to 20A and also ask these kinds of questions, you should be asking an electrician. You have to consider the rating of the box, and of the pole the breaker is on. Electricity can be very dangerous...

Answer 4

As the wire size number gets smaller, the current carrying capacity gets larger (and generally the wire starts to cost more). #12 is bigger wire than #14; #8 or #10 is bigger than either #12 or #14)

Putting in #14 wire for a circuit that uses a 15 amp breaker is fine. HOWEVER, when/if you ever find that that circuit seems to trip the breaker (when you overload it with more than abt 1800 watts (15 amps x 120 volts), you will find it a nuisance and costly to either run another circuit or worse still, discard your size 14 wire work and replace it with larger wire and a larger circuit breaker.

The issues that determine your decision(s) are safety, costs, and convenience. (Smaller wire costs less and is easier to work with while larger wire costs more, has higher load capacity, and is harder to work.)

Finally, for your 15amp outlet... if you wire it with #12 wire and still use a 15amp breaker (you could use a 20amp breaker safely with #12 wire) overloads will either trip the breaker or burn out the outlet; you can almost always deal with that a lot easier than having to replace the wiring.

Answer 5

John, no-strings is right on the money. Almost all of the new homes are built utilizing 15 amp breakers with #14 wire. In higher amperage places where major appliances (life refrigerators, freezers, etc,) are used they will run a #12 wire and put it on a 20 amp breaker.

Answer 6

Is it wrong to run 14-2 wire to 20amp breaker in Resdent home

Answer 7

Size matters. The lower gauge will carry the load but, what happens if there is an extra load to carry. What if you want to upgrade a particular circuit to a higher amp. You have to run different wires, means you have to carry more types of wire to do a job.

Go with the standard, it means less fires that have to be put out later.

Answer 8

fairly, the fast cord (black) (white) that run from their respective pigtails connect the opening to the wires. the golf green (with one long) is very for grounding. That would desire to be there to maintain you secure. whilst including in a sparkling line (2 cord device with floor) you could in all probability in simple terms hook onto the 2nd set of screws on the opening. in simple terms save black with black and white with white and floor with floor. it is significant to notice that the plug is polarized. which ability the warm is often on one area of the plug and the independent on the different. The brass screws are for the warm and the silver screws are for the independent (((((CORRECTED information))))). yet in a different thank you to inform this is this is thru finding on the blade slots. the warm blade slot is often shorter than the independent. WHY? via fact you elect to have the potential to get capability remote from the plug greater effective than you may get it in. the floor is likewise there to help interior the form of a short circuit. do no longer neglect approximately it. it is significant on your safety. desire this helps. 'av'a g'day mate. ") extra: "no longer as think of" is nice, the brass screw IS the warm and not the way I had it. i became incorrect. Sorry, it became an oversight. thank you for clarifying my blunders. i'm no longer a proud guy, greater like humble. yet confident, the brass IS the warm. Sorry for any confusion i'd desire to have created. i'm going to would desire to take my drawing down so no person else gets perplexed.

Answer 9

listen that is a fire waiting to happen.you never go over the amount of volt.them allowed