What Type Of Electrical Wire To Use For Home?

By | March 25, 2022

There are two main concerns to take into consideration when deciding about the kind of electric wire to be used at home. One is the dimension of the electrical wire, and the second is the issue of safety connected to wiring conditions. In this article, we will talk about how to figure out the size and which kind of electrical wire you should use at your home.

The most well-known appliances and requirements that are found in the majority of homes, their ampacity rated (within brackets), and the required wire gauge are listed below to help you understand.

Home Electrical Wiring

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  • Lamp cords and lighting fixtures with low voltage (10 Amps)18 gauge

  • Clothes Dryers Window air conditioners with built-in Ovens Heating Systems for Water (30 Amps)10-gauge

  • Cook Tops (45 Amps)- 8 gauge

  • Furnaces, large electric heaters (60 Amps)6-gauge

  • Fireplaces, large electric Heaters Sub Panels (80 Amps) 4 gauge

  • Service Panels Sub-Panels (100 Amps) 2 gauge

  • Service Entrance (150 Amps/200 Amps)1-1/0 gauge or 2 gauge

When it comes to the wire size, it's determined by the gauge system for wire. Aside from that, you need to be attentive to the capacity of the wire, and how the wire can feed. If the gauge of the wire is less, its ampacity is increased. Ampacity is the maximum amount of current that can be handled by a wire without becoming too hot to ignite an explosion.

A properly covered plastic wire is referred to as NMC (also known as Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable – is at present considered to be the most suitable option for wiring indoors. There are a variety of these non-metallic wires. But, the three fundamental types of them are NM, NMC, and UF electrical wires.