Question for pro electricians
#1
07-03-04, 12:54 PM
Question for pro electricians
IF the wires installed for a house addition are different the rest of the house, is there a problem? The amps are the correct type for each wire gauge however. Thanks in advance for all your help.
#2
07-03-04, 01:06 PM
Can you expand a little by what the difference is:... wires in metal conduit as compared to wires in a sheath like romex, aluminum vs copper etc... As for correct amps do you mean the circuit breaker is the correct amperage for the wire guage connected to it?....RL
#4
07-03-04, 01:52 PM
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I'm not a pro electrician, but you can only have a 15 amp circuit on 14g.
You can have either a 15 amp or 20 amp circuit on 12g.
Mike
You can have either a 15 amp or 20 amp circuit on 12g.
Mike
#5
07-03-04, 02:22 PM
Member
If all the wire on the circuit is sufficient for the breaker (i.e., 14 or larger on a 15-amp or 12 or larger on a 20-amp), then there is no problem either if you have mixed gauges on the same circuit, or different gauges on different circuits. If it's not already a done deal, then there are some that would suggest you not mix wire sizes within a circuit to avoid future confusion. But if it's already done, then sleep well--it's fine and safe and code-compliant.
What brought on the concern?
What brought on the concern?
#6
07-03-04, 03:23 PM
John, are you saying there is NO problem even if you have mixed gauges on the same circuit, or different gauges on different circuits? As long as you have the proper amp? I'll find out if the guages are mixed on the same circuit but I believe the only concern was that when the addition was done a different gauge wire was used. Thanks for your help everyone.
#9
07-03-04, 05:03 PM
Member
The fact that you have more than one gauge wire on a circuit is not a sufficient condition to declare either a hazard or a code violation. We cannot, of course, declare it safe either, since there are still a million other things that might be wrong. But again, mixed gauges on a circuit is not by itself a problem.
Your actual situation, different gauge wire in the addition, is also not a sufficient condition to declare a problem.
So unless you have some other reason to worry about this installation, I see no cause for concern.
Your actual situation, different gauge wire in the addition, is also not a sufficient condition to declare a problem.
So unless you have some other reason to worry about this installation, I see no cause for concern.
#10
07-03-04, 05:13 PM
What John is saying if you have 14 awg and 12 awg mixed on the same circuit as long as you protect the circuit for the smallest guage wire it is acceptable, maybe not the best though, in this case 14 awg is your smallest guage so you would use a 15 amp breaker. If your addition is 12 awg and your house is 14 awg, you are still ok just that the 12 awg can be protected with a 20 amp breaker.....RL
