![]() ![]() Firstly, they allow for three-way switches to work. In addition to the black (hot) and white (neutral) there is also a red wire. If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that this type has 14 gauge wire, but now there are three conductors? That’s right. The higher service allows for countertop appliances to draw more power. For example, an option for kitchen wiring is to serve the outlets with 12-2 wiring. ![]() Heavier gauge wiring is necessary for heavier electrical loads. With wire guages, a smaller number indicates a thicker wire. This is a 12 gauge wire with two conductors. This is what generally brings power to the lights and outlets in the house. 14 gauge wire is served by a 15 amp breaker. Most wiring in the house will be 14 gauge with two conductors the hot (black) and the neutral (white). See below for the common types in a conventional new home: 14-2 (white) The colour only indicates the gauge of the conductors not the number of conductors. The colour is indicated in brackets beside each wire type. Newer wiring also has colour coded sheathing. The wire gauge and number of conductors can also be found written on the wire sheathing. Wire Gauges for Copper Wiring (aluminum wiring requires heavier gauges for each purpose) In addition, because aluminum is malleable and expands and contracts with temperature changes, overtightened connections at fixtures and in the electrical panel can loosen over time causing shorts and sparks.Īll aluminum installations really should be inspected by an electrician to ensure everything is in safe working order. Electricians inspecting these devices often note scorching on the devices. Original aluminum-compatible outlets were not always adequate. It turns out that even original installations can be problematic. Because copper and aluminum can corrode when in contact with each other, shorts, sparks, and fires can occur. ![]() A person may buy a house without knowing it has aluminum wiring may replace a light fixture or an outlet which has standard copper connections. There are several issues with aluminum wiring. It can be identified as ‘aluminum’ or ‘AL’ written on the sheating. For about 10 years, during a time that copper prices were quite high, aluminum was used as a less expensive alternative. Aluminum - 1965-1974Īll of the types listed above use copper as the conductive material. I’ll give you three guesses why it was later called NMD 90. Not only was it much easier for the electrician to pull through walls, but it had a temperature rating of 90☌. NMD 6 was an improvement over NMD 3, as it had a sheathing that was rated for 75☌ which provides more tolerance for heavier electrical loads. NMD 3 is essentially the same as NMD 1 but it was the first that included a ground wire. The outlets can be replaced with GFCI outlets to provide grounding at those points and the electrician can determine if certain areas would be better served with newer wiring or additional circuits. If this system is in your home, it’s a good idea to have an electrician assess it. In some cases with modern electrical use, this may not be sufficient. This type of wiring had sheathing that was rated to 60☌. The receptacles still had two slots without the rounded hole. This type was similar to knob-and-tube in another way. This type offered additional protection to the wiring versus the single layer of the knob-and-tube wires. This was the first type of wiring that bound the hot and neutral wires (white and black, typically) together into a secondary sheathing which was made from a woven fabric infused with a tar-based material. Other types of wiring may have a metal sheathing or be rated for exterior and/or wet conditions. It means the jacket, or the sheathing, around the wire is not a metallic material and it’s for dry locations. You are also likely to see ‘NMD’ with a number, such a NMD 7 or NMD 90. Have you ever noticed the writing along the length? It describes various things like the manufacturer and the testing and safety standards they were built to meet. This piece is intended to provide a brief description of the rest of the wiring that is common in homes. As wiring goes, it’s very easy to identify and most people know that at the very least, it should be assessed by an electrician. I previously posted a short piece on Knob and Tube. ![]()
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