What gauge wires in standard home outlets and switches?
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What gauge wires in standard home outlets and switches?
I would like to get the perfect size strippers for replacing these items, but they couldn't tell me at lowes. I keep stripping wire.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Welcome to the forums!
Gotta love the expertise of the Big Box associates. HD seems to do better, most of the time.
To answer your question, 14, 12 and, occasionally, 10 AWG, usually solid. Light fixtures sometimes have conductors that are 16 or 18 AWG, stranded. That's true for lamp cord, as well.
What you need is something like a Klein Tools Kurve Wire Stripper/Cutter.
Gotta love the expertise of the Big Box associates. HD seems to do better, most of the time.
To answer your question, 14, 12 and, occasionally, 10 AWG, usually solid. Light fixtures sometimes have conductors that are 16 or 18 AWG, stranded. That's true for lamp cord, as well.
What you need is something like a Klein Tools Kurve Wire Stripper/Cutter.
#3
For strictly residential wiring (14 and 12 gauge NM) I like to use these. Kurve Dual Non-Metallic Cable Stripper/Cutter-K1412 at The Home Depot
They not only strip the individual wires, they strip the casing off the NM, and cut, too. Sort of an all around tool for residential work. Go to a smaller or larger wire size, and you will need to use a different stripper.
They not only strip the individual wires, they strip the casing off the NM, and cut, too. Sort of an all around tool for residential work. Go to a smaller or larger wire size, and you will need to use a different stripper.
Last edited by chandler; 12-12-12 at 03:59 AM.
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If you happen to have a crimping tool, they usually can strip wire. Mine will do from 22 AWG to about 10 AWG. But if I didn't have the crimper, I'd use something like the suggested Klein tool.