2007-09-28 13:05:06 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
14-2 wiring is used for general lighting with a 15 amp breaker.
2007-09-28 13:09:24 · answer #1 · answered by snowman 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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Anyone that knows anything about electicity SHOULD tell you that you need to match the wire size with the amperage requirement of that circuit which is LIMITED by a specifically sized BREAKER and can only have a LIMITED number of outlets hooked onto it. Codes vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. That means for a 15A lighting circuit, hooked on to a 15A breaker, you CAN use #14-2AWG -----and for a 20A plug-in circuit, you should use #12-2. Remember that the HIGHER number 14 is actually SMALLER wire and will carry LESS current. IF you have any doubt, use #12, and if you KNOW you are going to plug a heater into that circuit, you should consider using #10AWG. Contractors may tell you that the most common #14 is good for everything. They also make money by going on the cheap. Do NOT use smaller. It can, and eventually will at some point, cause a fire from overheating.
2016-04-08 15:31:53 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wire For Lighting
2016-12-18 13:16:24 · answer #3 · answered by fuchser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
12
2016-03-13 06:14:25 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As for the electric panel, Older houses used to have 60 amp main breaker. I had a new meter box and breaker panel box put in 10 years ago and the electrician said a 100 amp panel was good. Now I find out (From an electrician.) I should have had a 200 amp panel put in. You should upgrade to a 200 amp main panel if you are removing a old 60 amp panel.
2007-10-01 13:35:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the others have pointed out... 14-2 with ground is the norm... it is what is required to meet most codes. I prefer 12-2 with ground myself, its a little heavier wire. I always keep this on hand for work.
Our home had only a 60 amp circuit panel box installed when we bought it. When I rewired my home, I used 12-2 for all the 120v circuits (lights and wall outlets), with anything from a 15 amp breaker, to 30 amp, depending on the circuit. I installed a 200 amp, 40 circuit box, changed the meter base (utility company required this and the mast to be upgraded), and they upgraded the transformer on the pole feeding our home.
You can purchase 12-2 with ground by the roll (usually about 250 ft) or by the foot, depending on your project. Obviously, if you only need to go 50 feet, you don't need a whole roll. Buy plenty tho.. you don't want to come up short and have to make a second trip to the store, lol.
Don't forget to turn off the electricity before working on the circuit... that sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how many get shocked because they did just that.
Have Fun
2007-09-28 18:58:36 · answer #6 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Generally 14/2 solid NM-B Romex. Though we just ripped out over 500 feet or more of 10/2 for lighting ! Very uncommon to see 10/2 ran for lighting but in million dollar homes with low-voltage smart lighting all the lights run on 12 volts, not 110 volts, so the bigger wire is required for voltage drops and other anomalies.
2007-09-28 17:39:28 · answer #7 · answered by Kris_B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always use 12/2 with a 20A breaker to allow for future expansion, but 14/2 on a 15A breaker is the smallest allowed by code
2007-09-29 07:41:36 · answer #8 · answered by Daniel S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stand corrected
I first answered 12 and 20
then I remembered that is what my area requires
so I come back and say my bad
then I see a down finger
you can kiss my ***
we have a top job below putting a 30 amp breaker on a 12 wire, and nothing is said
2007-09-28 13:09:41 · answer #9 · answered by daorangejello 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
14-2 with ground for lighting, 15 amp breaker. 12-2 with ground for outlets, generally 20amp breaker.
2007-09-28 13:13:00 · answer #10 · answered by pappy 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋