14-gauge wire is safe to use when wiring an outlet on a 15 amp or lower circuit.You’ll risk overheating the wire, failure and a possible fire. It’s dangerous to use a 14-gauge wire for an outlet on a 20-amp circuit because the amperage is too high for the wire. Can I Use 14 Gauge Wire For An Outlet?ġ4-gauge wire can only be used to wire an outlet on a 15-amp circuit. The thickness of a wire is measured at the copper, not it’s sheathing. 14/3 wire has three 14 gauge hot wires and a ground.14/2 wire has two 14 gauge hot wires and a ground.12/3 wire has three 12 gauge hot wires and a ground.12/2 wire has two 12 gauge hot wires and a ground.The first number is the gauge of each wire while the second number is how many hot wires are in the sheathing. Keep in mind this thickness is for each individual wire in a 12 or 14 gauge wire. Here’s a chart showing the thickness of both 12 and 14 gauge wires: Wire Gauge This is why electricians use 14 gauge wire for 15 amp circuits and 12 gauge wire for both 15 and 20 amp circuits. The wire needs to be thick enough to safely handle the power without overheating. Wire is made from copper which is an excellent conductor of electricity.Īs electricity runs through the wire it produces heat. The reason why 12 gauge wire can handle more amperage than 14 gauge wire is it’s thickness. For example, white and yellow wire are generally used indoors while a grey sheathing typically means its an outdoor wire. The color of the sheath dictates where the wire should be used. The ground wire is either green or bare copper.īoth 12-gauge and 14-gauge wiring will come wrapped in an outer sheathing. The ground wire does not conduct electricity but is very important because it grounds the circuit. The black and white wires are “hot”, which means they conduct electricity. 12-gauge wire can also be used for 15-amp circuits.īoth 12 and 14-gauge residential wires contain 3 wires: black, white and ground.14-gauge wire is typically used for 15-amp circuits.12-gauge wire is typically used for 20-amp circuits.Both 12 and 14-gauge residential wiring contains 3 wires: white, black, and ground.There is less voltage drop when running long distances with 12-gauge wire vs 14-gauge.12-gauge wire can handle higher amperage than 14-gauge wire.12-gauge wire is thicker than 14-gauge wire.Both wire gauges are commonly used in residential homes. Thicker wire is also able to carry electricity for longer distances without voltage drop.ġ2-gauge wire is typically used for 20-amp circuits while 14-gauge wire is used for 15-amps. The thicker the wire the more amperage it can handle without overheating or risking a fire. 12-gauge wire is thicker than 14-gauge wire. The lower the number the thicker the wire. The difference between 12-gauge and 14-gauge wire is its thickness and the amount of amperage it can safely handle.Ī wire’s gauge refers to its thickness. What’s The Difference Between 12 Gauge & 14 Gauge Wire? In this article, we’ll discuss 12 vs 14 gauge wiring, which you should use, which is better, and what they cost. This adds a lot of expensive electrical work. If a home’s outlet wiring is 14 gauge and 15-amps, you can’t upgrade to a 20-amp circuit without changing the wiring. This makes upgrading 15-amp circuits to 20-amp very easy because the existing wiring can handle more power. For this reason many builders use 12 gauge wires throughout the home so the wiring will work with either a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit. Most large appliances and power tools require 20 amps to work properly. So should you use a 12 or 14 gauge wire for an outlet? It depends on the amperage.īecause 12 gauge wires can be used on both 15 and 20-amp circuits, they’re more versatile. But you can’t use a 14 gauge wire on a 20-amp circuit because its too thin to handle 20-amps. You can also use a 12 gauge wire when the circuit is 15-amp because its a thicker wire. A 12 gauge wire can be used with a 20-amp circuit. A 14 gauge wire can be used with a 15-amp circuit. Thicker gauge electrical wires can handle more power. Smaller numbers represent thicker wires while higher numbers represent thinner wires. The gauge of a wire refers to its thickness. Should I Use 12 Or 14 Gauge Wire For Outlets?īoth 12 and 14 gauge wires can be used to wire a home’s electrical outlets.
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