The Complete Guide to Home Wiring Amazon  | PowellsIndieBound |
When working with electricity, it is important to ensure you have electrical wires large enough to carry the load. The diameter of the wire is referred to as the wire gauge. A smaller number is a larger wire.
If your wires are too small for the current, they can overheat and start a fire. Of course, for any questions, consult a licensed electrician.
Wire size requirements are based on amperage, not voltage. There are tables available to tell you what wire gauge you need for a given amperage.
Two common sizes in household electrical wiring: 14 gauge wire can carry 15 amps safely, and 12 gauge wire can carry 20 amps.
For more sizes, see this wire gauge chart.
Submitted by amillar on Sun, 2006-01-15 23:59