I am remodeling an old house and need to install new wire, from a 200 amp box, to the kitchen for an electric range. My question is what size breaker and what size wire for a run of no more than 15 feet?

 

Depends on the range. The installation instructions for the range will tell you want size wire and breaker to use. The wire will probably either be 8/3 or 6/3, and the breaker will probably be either 40-amp or 50-amp. If you want to run the wire and you haven't bought the range yet, then run 6/3 and don't install the breaker until you buy the range.

 

This house is for resale. I am not going to install a range. What would a builder install?

 

The builder would install the cheapest wire that the range he installed could tolerate.

 

John, thanks for the info. One more question: Is there a different recepticle for the differnt size breakers?

 

In general, different size breakers require different receptacles. But both 40-amp and 50-amp breakers use a 50-amp receptacle.

 

For any range 12kw and under all that is required by code is #8cu on a 40 amp breaker.

If this is a typical home, and not a very high end one with a huge kitchen, you would be perfectly safe with #8NM and a double pole 40 breaker..