Just wondering what size wires you guys use for your residential wiring?
Edward
..I'll usually go with #14, unless it's gonna be heavily loaded...
12 is usually the min. wire size. The only place We use 14 would be for undercabinet lighting.
Russell
Until recently, our county required nothing smaller than #12 be used on houses for lighting or outlets.
We still use #12 though. Very little price difference between #12 and #14 and the cost of the breakers is the same.
For commercial work, it is #12 stranded all the way. Easier to pull through pipe, easier to make up, and less chance of shorts from nicked wires.
box fill is easier to comply to with #14
#14 is easier to make up in all those fixtures that have smaller intergral splice boxes (like recessed , or UC lights)
a segregated system of exclusive lighting circuits in allows for genny interface to address these circuits (ok, they could be #12, but it's just easier to identify @ the panel))
positive ID bettween power & lighting can be made quickly with the new color designations
I agree with Sparky all the way.
Some people will only use 12 and that is fine. I sometimes hear the reasoning "It's safer" but somehow they can never give me a valid reason why.
The money issue is a non-issue. I seriously doubt anyone uses 14 because it's cheaper. It's easier and can help with code compliance. In a 3 gang box with three 3-ways, feeds and possibly switch legs you'll be hard pressed to stay under fill with 12. Then install dimmers!!
I use 14 for lighting and 12 for receptacles.(residential) Commercial it is 12 stranded.
Edward
Residential - 14 Lighting, 12 receptacles. Especially in can light runs and 3 or 4 way switched legs like Speedy Petey said.
Every once in a while 14 has been used for a 15a receptacle run, but not often.
Commercial - 12 is min. in our town.
[sea story]BTW - anybody ever hear of the EC in Chicago many years ago (60's), who was installing 12 for the first and last 2-3 feet of the run, and using 14 inbetween? He was doing a lot of big apartment buildings, and apparantly (back in the day) the cost dofference was significant.
Chicago AHJ found out, and not only hit himn for the 'discovery' site, they pulled all his tickets for the previous 4-5 years, and went back and reinspected. Turns out he'd been doing it for quite a while. Penalized him for all they could under statute of limitations.
Guess the 'cost savings' wasn;t so great after all...[/sea story]
..No problem with #14 in Jersey for residential lighting ...or...receptacles..except of course where the "good book" calls for #12...