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What is the difference between 12 2 wire and 12-3 wire?
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.
What would you use a 12-3 wire for?
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.
When should I use 12 2 wire?
As long as you have a 15A circuit breaker on that circuit, it’s OK to use 12/2 NM cable for your lights. Since the maximum current on the circuit will be 15A, you won’t need special switches. You should label the wire that it is 15A, not 20A, so that someone else doesn’t come along and treat it as a 20A circuit.
Can I use 12-3 wire for outlets?
It’s 12/3 + ground. Yes, this is allowed. If your needs warrant it, you might consider a multi-wire circuit, which will give you twice the available power. At the very least, do not cut the extra wire short, just push it o the back of the boxes out of the way, so it can be used if needed.
What type of wire is Romex?
What is Romex Wire? Romex wire is made out of two or three THHN wires combined with a grounding bare copper wire. Like the THHN wires, Romex wire can’t be used outside because of its minimal PVC jacket protection.
Which is the best wire for house wiring?
Here, the list of the Top 10 Best Wire And Cables Brand in India.
- Polycab Wires.
- Havells India Ltd.
- Finolex Cables Ltd.
- Sterlite Tech cables.
- Plaza Cables.
- KEI Industries Ltd.
- RR Kabel.
- V-Guard Industries Ltd.
Do you need 12/3 wire for ceiling fan?
Unless the circuit is 20 amps there is no need for #12. Lighting circuits were normally fine on a 15 amp breaker. Xx-3 cable from the switch to the fan gives you more options for switching. Answers based on the National Electrical Code.
What is the purpose of 12 2 2 Romex?
Voltage rating – 600 volts….Product Details.
| Cable Type | NM-B |
|---|---|
| Wire Size | 12 AWG |
| # of Conductors | 4 Conductors w/ Ground |
| Conductor Material | Bare Copper |
| Ampacity | 20 |
How far can you run 12 2 wire on a 20 amp breaker?
After these distances, the circuit will go over the recommended 3% voltage drop. 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.
Can I mix 12 gauge and 14 gauge wire?
It’s perfectly safe to use it. Don’t worry about confusing future workers. If they want to add something to the circuit, they will have to go turn off the circuit breaker first, and then they will see they are working with a 15 amp circuit.
What is the difference between 2 wire or 3 wire?
The simple explanation is that a 2-wire system does not include a Neutral wire at the light switch, the 3-wire system does include the Neutral at the switch. 2-wire Lighting Systems This is the most common lighting system in Europe, almost all homes use this system, especially in the UK and Nordic regions.
What is 12 – 2 wiring?
“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 is a 12 3 cable?
12-2 cable is three wire cable, all 12 gauge. One conductor is black, one white, and one is bare (no insulation). Except for a switch loop, the black is used for the hot wire and the white is used for the neutral. The bare wire is always a ground. 12-3 cable is four wire cable, all 12 gauge.
What is 12 3 wire?
12-3 cable is four wire cable, all 12 gauge. One conductor is black, one is white, one is red. and one is bare (no insulation). Except for a switch loop, the black and red are used for hot wires and the white is used for the neutral. The bare wire is always a ground.