Should I use 10 or 12 gauge wire?

RULES OF THUMB. Many techs will repeat these rules of thumb and rely on them in all circumstances: “Twelve-gauge wire is good for 20 amps, 10-gauge wire is good for 30 amps, 8-gauge is good for 40 amps, and 6-gauge is good for 55 amps,” and “The circuit breaker or fuse is always sized to protect the conductor [wire].”

Can you use 10 2 wire outlet?





Yes, you can use 10 AWG copper conductors with a 20 ampere breaker. The smallest size conductors you could use with a 20 ampere breaker, are 12 AWG copper conductors. There’s no problem using larger conductors, other than cost to you, and difficulties associated with working with thicker conductors.

Can I mix 10 and 12 gauge wire?

You haven’t said how you will manage the transition from 10 gauge to 12 gauge. If you are thinking of wire nuts in a junction box, then the answer is that you cannot do this safely. The 20A breaker’s job is to protect the load wire connected to it. A 12 gauge wire needs a 20A breaker to protect it.

What can 10 2 wire be used for?

NM-B is primarily used in residential wiring as a branch circuit for switches, outlets and other loads. NM-B may run in air voids of masonry block or tile walls where locations are not damp.

Can you wire house with 10 gauge wire?

Yes, since #10 wire can handle more amperage than #12, #10 wire would be a suitable substitute for #12. However, since #10 is larger and less flexible than #12, you may have a wiring device or junction box space issue.

When should I use 10 gauge wire?





10-gauge are used in electric clothes dryers, 240-volt window air conditioners, electric water heaters supporting 30 amps. 6-gauge are used for cook tops and ranges carrying 40-50 amps. 4-gauge are used for electric furnaces and large electric heaters protected at 60 amps.

How far can I run 10 2 wire on a 20 amp circuit?

How Far Can You Run 10 Gauge Wire? You can run a 10 gauge wire up to 85 feet on a 20 amp circuit. If you opt to use this type of wire on a 15 amp circuit, it can run up to 115 feet.

How far can you run 10 2 wire on a 30 amp breaker?

Other Things You Need to Consider When Installing a 30 Amp Circuit Breaker. You must also consider the wire length for your 30-amp circuit, in addition to the wire AWG. A maximum length of 150 feet is allowed when using a 10-gauge wire size.

Can I use 10 gauge wire on a 15 amp receptacle?

Only for 15 Amp items, 14 or 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465, or smaller for 20 Amp ones. The #10 wire wouldn’t fit into a back wired receptacle and wouldn’t work with screw terminals or devices with wired connections.

Which wire is best for house wiring?



If what you need the wire for is the wiring of your home, copper wires will be most appropriate for you. Copper is more conductive than aluminum but is also heavier and more expensive. If your project requires long-distance application, then you should probably opt for the cheaper, more lightweight aluminum wire.

How many amps will 10 2 wire carry?

What Type & Gauge of Wire Should I Use?

Type NM-B (Typical Indoor Applications)*
10/2 with ground Electric Wall Heater – up to 30 amps
8/3 with ground Double Oven Range – up to 45 amps
6/3 with ground Built-in Double Ovens – up to 55 amps Double Oven Range – up to 55 amps

Can you use 10 2 wire for a dryer?

This is an outdated wiring method where you’re just bonding the frame of the dryer to the neutral/ground wire. As long as the wire was intact, you would have no problems.

What happens if wire gauge is too big?



no. Any time you have a high impedance source constant power load. If the wire resistance goes down, the voltage at the load goes up (less voltage drop in the wires) and the load will automatically reduce its current draw to make up for the additional voltage, to maintain the same power.

Can I use 10 gauge wire for lights?

The minimum wire size for a 30-amp, 240-volt circuit is 10-gauge, but to prevent poor performance because of voltage drop, you should consider upgrading to 8-gauge if the outlet is far from the panel. For a 50-amp circuit, you need a 6-gauge wire at a minimum.

How far can you run 10 gauge wire before voltage drop?

As an example, for a 120-volt circuit, you can run up to 50 feet of 14 AWG cable without exceeding 3 percent voltage drop.
For 240-volt circuits:

14 AWG 100 feet
12 AWG 120 feet
10 AWG 128 feet
8 AWG 152 feet
6 AWG 188 feet

Can I use 10 gauge wire for lights?



The minimum wire size for a 30-amp, 240-volt circuit is 10-gauge, but to prevent poor performance because of voltage drop, you should consider upgrading to 8-gauge if the outlet is far from the panel. For a 50-amp circuit, you need a 6-gauge wire at a minimum.

Can you use 10 gauge wire on a 15 amp breaker?

Only for 15 Amp items, 14 or 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465, or smaller for 20 Amp ones. The #10 wire wouldn’t fit into a back wired receptacle and wouldn’t work with screw terminals or devices with wired connections.

How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?

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.

What is bigger 10 gauge wire or 12 gauge wire?

The general rule of thumb is that the smaller the gauge number, the thicker the cable.

What happens if wire gauge is too big?



no. Any time you have a high impedance source constant power load. If the wire resistance goes down, the voltage at the load goes up (less voltage drop in the wires) and the load will automatically reduce its current draw to make up for the additional voltage, to maintain the same power.

What happens if wire gauge is too small?

The smaller wire loses more electricity to the heat loss than the larger capacity wire. For example, 100 feet of 12 gauge wire delivering 15 amps of current loses 77 watts of energy. A 10 gauge wire of the same length only loses 48 watts of energy when delivering the same load of current.

What gauge is standard house wiring?

In terms of home electrical wire, you’ll usually be working with 12 or 14-gauge wire. But for appliances, you’ll be using 10, 8, or 6 gauge. Things like stoves, water heaters, dryers, and air conditioning units use these larger gauges because they require a lot of amperages.

Which wire is better for house wiring?

If what you need the wire for is the wiring of your home, copper wires will be most appropriate for you. Copper is more conductive than aluminum but is also heavier and more expensive. If your project requires long-distance application, then you should probably opt for the cheaper, more lightweight aluminum wire.

How many amps can 10 2 wire carry?

What Type & Gauge of Wire Should I Use?

Type NM-B (Typical Indoor Applications)*
10/2 with ground Electric Wall Heater – up to 30 amps
8/3 with ground Double Oven Range – up to 45 amps
6/3 with ground Built-in Double Ovens – up to 55 amps Double Oven Range – up to 55 amps