Can I use 12/2 wire for a 20 amp line?
- posted
17 years ago
Wiring amperage question
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- posted
17 years ago
Yes.
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- posted
17 years ago
12 AWG wire is intended for use with 20A breakers so you are good to go.
14A\\WG wire is for 15A breakers.
Doug Miller wrote:
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- posted
17 years ago
No, maybe. Depends on the length of the circuit and the expected load.
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- posted
17 years ago
here we go.........
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- posted
17 years ago
Yes, but you might want to think about a ground lead too, it might be code required.
Jeff
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- posted
17 years ago
I think a ground wire is a given now. I think you'd be hard pressed to find
12/2 without a ground.- Vote on answer
- posted
17 years ago
Do you _really_ think that if you walk into an electrical supply house and ask for a length of 12/2 cable, you're _not_ going to get cable with black, white,
*and* ground?????To the OP: ignore Jeff's post. If you're running a 120V 20A circuit, 12/2 is what you want -- it has the ground included. Don't buy 12/3, thinking that you need that to get the ground wire. You don't.
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- posted
17 years ago
Doesn't 12/2 generally already have a ground lead?
Chris
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- posted
17 years ago
The "" means he is grinning as he says it.
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17 years ago
Well, yes, but it's a stupid joke, because of course the ground lead *is* there.
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- posted
17 years ago
Well I for one, the quintessential pack rat, have got quite a bit of unused 12/2 WITHOUT ground lying in my basement, right next to a coil of Romex, so maybe the OP has some too.
Judging from some of the electrical inquiries We've all read here lately it's not completely beyond belief that someone might be thinking about using up some "old new stock" two wire Romex or even (G-d forbid) a piece of an old extension cord to install a new outlet.
But, I do agree that it WAS a stupid joke on my part.
Jeff
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- posted
17 years ago
12/3 will actually have 4 wires: black, white, red, and bare.
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17 years ago
Which, of course, is exactly why I told the OP not to be misled by Jeff's wise-ass post into mistakenly thinking that he'd need 12/3 to have a ground wire. Get with the program.
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17 years ago
Not if it is Al or Al Cu-clad.
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17 years ago
On 5 Dec 2006 12:31:38 -0800, "RayV" wrotF:
I was going to use it in two places:
1) new bathroom where the ceiling light is also a fan and heater + the light over the sink + the GFI outlets around the perimeter of the room2) in a new bedroom I'm adding on that will have a baseboard electric heater + ceiling light + perimeter outlets.
Can I stay with 12/2 and 20 amp breaker or should I go 10/2? Does this change your responses? Thanks.
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- posted
17 years ago
That depends on the ratings of the equipment you're adding, especially the heaters -- and also on whether you're planning to put all that on one circuit, or two (or more).
Post the electrical ratings of the heaters, including the voltage (baseboard heaters are often 240V), and we can give you a better answer.
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- posted
17 years ago
Calculate the maximum current when all the loads are on. If it's more than
20 A, then go to 10 gage wire.- Vote on answer
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17 years ago
Around here you cannot wire lights on a 20A circuit. Only dedicated receptacle circuits.
Chris
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- posted
17 years ago
Your light-heat-vent unit will probably require a dedicated 20 amp circuit, then the rest of the bathroom could be wired with an additional 20 amp circuit. You should run a dedicated circuit for the bedroom electric heat, and at least one 15 or 20 amp circuits for the balance of the room, keep in mind in the U.S. all bedroom wiring is to be AFCI protected