what wire size is needed on a one 20 amp, 120-volt bathroom circuit? what wire size is needed on a one 40 amp, 120/240-volt electric range branch circuit?
what wire size is needed on a one 20 amp, 120-volt bathroom circuit?
what wire size is needed on a one 40 amp, 120/240-volt electric range branch circuit?
Proper wire size is an important fact to be considered in any of the electrical wiring installation. Wire sizing is the selection of diameter of the conductor used. The term gauge represents the current carrying capacity of the wire.
Building codes suggests the type and size of the wire that should be used in an electrical installation.These specifications help us to minimize the chances of electrical fires which maybe caused by heat rise in overloaded wiring system.
Wire gauge is specified by using numbers from 0 to 40. As the gauge value increases the diameter decreases. Which means a wire with 8 gauge will be having a larger diameter than a wire with 12 gauge.
what wire size is needed on a one 20 amp, 120-volt bathroom circuit?
In most of the cases household wiring for 15A/20A, 120 V circuits is either 12 gauge or 14 gauge copper wire. The gauge depends on the value of maximum current to be carried and length of the wiring.
Diameter of 12 gauge wire = 0.0808 inches
Diameter of 14 gauge wire = 0.0641 inches
- Here the circuit current value is 20A which is a higher value of current. So the wire used must be having a larger diameter. Here 12 gauge wire will be having a larger diameter than a 14 gauge wire. So building codes will not allow to use a 14 gauge wire in such cases. All wiring in such circuits must be 12 gauge or a wire with larger diameter than 12 gauge.
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