What wire do you use for 12 volt?
12 Volt Wiring: Wire Gauge to Amps
| Amps @ 13.8 Volts | LENGTH OF WIRE American Wire Gauge (AWG) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10–15 | 14-ga. | 8-ga. |
| 15-20 | 12-ga. | 8-ga. |
| 20-35 | 12-ga. | 8-ga. |
| 35-50 | 10-ga. | 6 or 4-ga. |
How many amps can 12 gauge wire handle at 12 volts?
Maximum current (amps) in a 12V electrical circuit vs. size (AWG) and length of wire.
| American Wire Gauge (#AWG) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Length (feet) | Maximum Current (amps) | |
| 30 | 12 | 10 |
| 40 | 12 | 8 |
| 50 | 10 | 8 |
How many wires does a 12-2 wire have?
#12–2 cable is two (2) wires each #12 awg (American Wire Gauge), one white (neutral), one black (hot) plus a bare #12 ground wire, all in a single jacket. This cable is rated 20 Amps, to be used to connect a string of outlets or lights to a 20 Amp circuit breaker.
How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?
You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit. That number drops to 50 feet if you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit.
Can you oversize electrical wire?
yes, as long as it fits under the breaker lugs it is fine. Many times wire is oversized due to long distance pulls resulting in increased voltage drop. The thing you cannot do is undersize the wire for the rated breaker it is under.
How many amps is #12 wire good for?
20 AMPS
Size & AMP Ratings
| NM, TW, & UF WIRE (Copper Conductor) | SE CABLE (Copper Conductor) |
|---|---|
| 12 AWG – 20 AMPS | 6 AWG – 65 AMPS |
| 10 AWG – 30 AMPS | 4 AWG – 85 AMPS |
| 8 AWG – 40 AMPS | 2 AWG – 115 AMPS |
| 6 AWG – 55 AMPS | 1 AWG – 130 AMPS |
Can I use 12-gauge wire for lights?
If you’re wiring a circuit on which there are both lights and outlets, or you just aren’t sure which wire gauge to use, you can’t go wrong by choosing a 12-gauge wire. It’s not quite as flexible as a 14-gauge wire, and it costs a bit more, but it’s always a safe choice on a 15- or 20-amp circuit.
Should you tape wire nuts?
Never use tape in place of wire nuts—it’s simply not secure enough, and it’s vulnerable to damage. Some people like to use wire nuts and wrap them with tape. This fine to do, but you probably won’t find any wire nut manufacturers advising you to do it.