Dirty Secret about the New 2024 Romex Wire Colors

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you for watching - Hope you found this interesting!

[@John-Smith02]

1. Heads up. Apparently the bots who comment names to try and see the personal info are now just straight up saying random numbers and addresses, which if true, lends credence to the theory that they're trying to find personally identifiable information about the KZbin channel. I can't confirm it because I don't think I've seen them comment street names, just people names. 2. Do you do research on these topics or do you just know these or worked as an electrician or handyman? How do you know all this info, from gardening to electrical, etc.

[@InconsistentManner]

14/2 w/ground, 12/2 w/ground, 12/3 w/ground, Etc. is Romex nomenclature just a little fyi for you. i have a 1000ft reel of 14/2 with no ground that is topped with tempered glass as my coffee table. Has about 300 or so feet left and the story is my uncle is a commercial master electrician and he left it at my dads house in 95/96. dad was going to scrap it in 2002 but I said id use it as a coffee table in my first home. almost everyone loves it.

[@JohnCap523]

😂

[@leeames9063]

I was really hoping that the different color wiring was so I could designate one color for the kitchen, another color for the bathroom, and so on. Then when I need to troubleshoot an issue say in the kitchen, I can just look for the color wire for the kitchen. Oh well

[@JohnCap523]

@@leeames9063 Yea, that way it decorates at the same time… 😜

[@pipisugbo]

Noted - only use wire dated 10+ years old before doing my illegal DIY projects 🤣

[@dwayne7356]

A new market for thieves stealing copper from houses. Selling old dated wire to DYI-ers.

[@tankerkiller125]

Was going to say, gatta get out and buy me some wire, so that when I do have a project 6 years from now I'm already backdated 6 years.

[@dickslocum]

@@tankerkiller125 I bought a 150 ft roll in 1989 when I bought the house. still have a bit left

[@ggsmith48906]

Ha! Exactly! The only reason they do this is so an inspector can date the wire in your house and tell if you pulled a permit!

[@BK-pc3ei]

@@ggsmith48906 the new standard is for safety and more easier to understand

[@adamdejesus4017]

ROMEX got the trade name from Rome, NY where it was first produced. Rome, NY is known as the "Copper City" because it had copper mills for making wires and Revere copper cookware.

[@deadmanswife3625]

And it's important because I have to pass through there when going up to the Adirondacks to get away for a month

[@bahrben]

I grew up in Rome and had no idea about the Romex connection. Thanks!

[@mrgcav]

Sounds fishy to me. Prove it. Did NM cable come from New Mexico ??? What about BX cable ???

[@jamesalles139]

@@mrgcav have you ever fished a cable through a wall cavity?

[@Uvoted4this]

The key here is to go to garage sales and auctions and buy Old Wire with old dates. That way you're covered no matter what.

[@vincentstragier6628]

Or the respect the code...

[@peterdog8754]

I have a few thousand feet of NOS nm cable for just such a purpose. 😂

[@iamnotpresent]

@@vincentstragier6628 It's not about respecting the code.. If everyone was allowed to do their own work, to code, that would be fine. But people aren't even allowed to work on their own homes in some places!

[@FireHazardMan103]

Or just use a wet cloth and some rubbing.

[@whermanntx]

@@FireHazardMan103name is fitting for the advise.

[@evancombs5159]

I feel like instead of using a different color for the 3s they should have used the same color but stripped. Having a color represent a combination of two different concepts is mentally more difficult for humans than color representing a single concept and strips representing another concept. Although, I'm sure they chose just to use colors only because adding strips would make the manufacturing process more expensive.

[@uzlonewolf]

I was just thinking the same thing.

[@quantumleap359]

Striped wire has been in wide use in other applications for decades. A striped wire would really stand out without being gaudy. The stripe could also indicate the color of the traveler wire. Oh well, what's done is done. Great, to the point video!

[@tompw3141]

Striped wire is fundamentally different to make. The plastic is injected around the conductors in a continuous process. Changing to a different single colour just means loading in different plastic. Stripes would require a whole new machine and process.

[@l00k4tstuff]

With all the homes starting to have solar, generators, and backup circuits, it seams to me some type of indicator would be helpful, too. As to striping the outside, as long as it's a longitudinal stripe, I can see how that will be helpful (especially considering the line above) because in an enclosure only an inch or so of outer jacket will be visible, and that's where the additional identification will be important.

[@evancombs5159]

@@l00k4tstuff wiring I've seen that used stripes usually use diagonal stripes, so that is what I was imagining.

[@thomasleahy3767]

Good info. I am buying a roll of each size now, for all of my projects ten years from now

[@iratashman7202]

At least you’re young enough for that 😊

[@diltzm]

Eh just use mc lol

[@lkeil84]

Might be a good idea as wire will probably cost 5 times as much then any way.

[@1puppetbike]

Richie Rich

[@jprevard]

🤣🤣Super clever 🤭

[@edwardconley5250]

I've been seeing some of these new colors at my local Menards, and wondered what was going on. Thanks as always for the great information!

[@ChessIsJustAGame]

Yep, same here. Wondered if it was some new "wokeness" stuff going on.

[@jankington216]

​@@ChessIsJustAGamewoke is when you know your rights and how the government works, what are you on about?

[@ProleDaddy]

​​@@jankington216 God, there's so many bootlicking troglodytes out there. Thank you for not being one.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Appreciate the information I've only ever seen Yellow & White Romex.

[@deadmanswife3625]

And gray for my flagpole lights

[@deadmanswife3625]

Oh yeah and I have orange on my water heater and my baseboard heaters on the porch

[@steveurbach3093]

I have some pale blue 14/2 w/g from quite a while ago.

[@gtbkts]

There's a pink wire that has 240 running through it to hook up my water heater. I don't know the rating on it. I should probably check it out😅

[@lkeil84]

That has, been since 2001 and there is orange for #10 wire, but not used often except for a dryer perhaps.

[@karenstein8261]

It’s time to give credit where it is due - AND to separate fact from fiction. We owe color-coded Romex to Rex Caufield, who wrote in Fine Homebuilding magazine that he used spray paint for his convenience in sorting wire coils on the job site. A few years later and Southwire started marketing colored Romex. Color coding is NOT required; it’s just marketing. A few years back, one contractor ordered his cables in a custom color, just to reduce job site theft.

[@colinleslie2458]

At least some companies have been printing manufactured dates for quite a while. It was one of the ways I figured out which circuits were run several years after our house was originally built during one of the early homeowner remodels.

[@95dodgev10]

I'm glad they kept the common ones like 12/2 the same. I've been rewiring my house slowly so by keeping the 2 conductor wire colors the same that means my house won't be some weird hybrid caught in the middle of a major industry change

[@someonerandom704]

are you following the national electric code though?

[@95dodgev10]

@someonerandom704 I'm sure there's a few things I've done wrong like improper stapling or whatever. But when it comes to critical stuff I've been doing my best to either research it myself or I talk to my buddy that's an electrician. The work I've done so far is 100 times better than some of the sketchy crap I've found. The original work was done well for the time but any electrical tape and the fabric wire coating is all degraded. The diy stuff that was done was anywhere from poorly done to 1 step away from a fire hazard. One example was a 14g wire ran off a 20 amp breaker and that's one of the less sketchy things. Almost no junction box has a cover, some wires were ran into the box through the cover opening and only twisted and taped.

[@jrob8931]

Nice job! Especially with your on-camera work: You look very confident and comfortable and natural facing the camera, which is not easy. Thanks for another great video.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you for the nice word,s I really appreciate it

[@shaneanderson1229]

I think the extra colors are a great idea. Just a hint for the DIY types, nail polish remover on a rag will wipe that printed date off the cable without bothering the jacket itself. You know, just for curiosity’s sake.

[@2mustange]

The trick with DIYing your own electrical is to do it right so if anyone questions you then you pull a permit to have it reviewed for after the fact

[@Demopans5990]

Which leads to a second point. Pay now for the experience, or pay later after one of the cheap contractors botches the job again

[@scottwhitcher265]

"Permit" implies that someone has the right to deny me to do what I have the right to do.

[@rich7447]

@@Demopans5990 It's not that simple. I graduated from Electrical and Computer Engineering and am qualified to design powerplants in the state that I reside. However, I am not qualified to change out a receptacle in my own home. Do you see the issue?

[@dallas5374]

@@rich7447nope

[@busnorth]

I'm also a commerce electrical engineer architect. I draw it on papper. Do the math. But can't do my own work.

[@dwayne7356]

Prior to 2024, the color was up to the manufacturer. I believe it is not in the NEC yet and is just a manufacturing thing. I had installed a baby blue 12 AWG in my house in the late 1980s. If you have a house built before 2024, do not trust the wire color without verifying the actual wire gauge. Color standardization did start until the 1990s on some wire gauges. Be careful.

[@onecrazywheel]

Manufacturing Dates many times have been on NM cables for 20-30 years. I have beeen an electrician for 2 decades and all of Southwire Romex cable jackets have had dates. Even MC (Metal Clad) cable has inside clear ribbon manufacturing dates and wording on the inside ran with the conductors. Great video. I think it was Canada who first started using these colors many years ago. I would see the blue and pink NM cables in videos and found out that is what they would require up there. Im from Florida.😊 Im an electrician in a hospital. We use AC cable all the time. Similar to MC cable snd it has a green jacket. It show that it is Healthcare Rated. We can use it in a Healthcare Facility then. 😅 Great video. God bless. Jeff - Sunny Central Florida ☀️🙏

[@sqeekykleen49]

Lol yes the blue NM was to identify afci for bedroom circuits. There is some of that NM with 2pair and a bare... for gfi recepticals? Idk two circuits, because no neutral sharing... it makes the combos trip😂.

[@john-hughboyd233]

The US has been copying the Canadian Electrical Code CSA C22.1 Part 1 for years

[@kennysboat4432]

Here's what not being able to pass inspection on diy work does: it makes it so people don't get inspected.

[@TwilightxKnight13]

As a retired master electrician, in my experience, only licensed professional electricians regularly obtain permits which is when the local inspector gets involved. More often than not, if the work can be done fairly quietly, handymen and DiYers don't get permits and thus never inspected. Plenty of kitchen renovations being done everyday without a permit or an inspection. I'm not saying its right, just that it happens. If you are careful, you can even replace a live service panel on your own and no one is the wiser. Of course if you have to get the local power company involved like increasing a service, say from 100amp to 200 amp, they will insist on an inspection before they will restore power.

[@cch201992]

@@TwilightxKnight13i just added a 70 amp breaker and a 50amp breaker on my 200amp service on 8/3 no permits👀 70amp for EV charger and 50 amp for welder. It's my understanding if it's the homeowner doing the work no permits are required🤷🏼‍♂️

[@SimonBarsinister]

​@cch201992 Usually depends on the municipality. I've lived in municipalities that allowed you to do the work yourself and others that do not.

[@palfruswyrmrest8321]

@@cch201992 I don't know if permits are not required for homeowner-done work, but they are highly recommended. Some code requirements are not critical, such as the number of outlets on a kitchen counter wider than 11 inches, and some are, such as requiring a dedicated ground wire on a 300 foot long, 100 amp sub-panel to my barn. Fortunately, I asked several people at HD and the second guy gave me the correct information. Had that been an inspector, everything I did would have been closely inspected.

[@rakashaagain]

@@TwilightxKnight13 I do most of my reno and electrical work, even replace breaker in my breaker box. It's easy and code is easy to read.

[@danrich6448]

You can also buy a 14-2-2 wire that has 4 conductors (black, red, and 2 whites) and a ground. The jacket is white. 12-2-2 is also available and is yellow. Great for running 2 arc fault circuits together.

[@themagiccoasterlover]

Manufacturer's putting dates in cables is a big reason theres a market for old cable. People will buy it up, sit on it for years and sell it for a marked up price to people looking to do home renovations.

[@billrobert3226]

Aint no way you have a source on that info

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

Source, experience. People tend to not write stuff down when they know they're trying to break the law.

[@homestar92]

Can't really mark it up too much though - if the wire is so expensive that it's suddenly worth pulling a permit then the market for the old wire goes away.

[@EnthalpyUplusPV]

Why would you go through the trouble of buying old wire from sketchy sources so you can wire your house wrong and maybe burn it down rather than just do it right?

[@danielotoole72]

A striped jacket indicating x/3 would have been better than 10,000 different colors. Thanks for the video. As a DIYer I saw the blue at Home Depot and thought they were just trying to differentiate from Lowes or something. Was only wiring up a closet light, so didn't investigate further.

[@barryb3476]

SouthWire and CerroWire manufacturer for both Mendards and Home Depot. Neither change their color for the distributors. Now, CerroWire does supply to other companies that have standard colors they use for their installations. Like a purple 10/3.

[@palfruswyrmrest8321]

Your stripe idea makes the most sense, but probably costs more to implement. The idea of one color per gauge is logical, I doubt the number of conductors is of the same interest to an inspector

[@dcf8978]

New flavors???!?!? O was getting tired of Vanilla and Lemon... finally someone has answered my prayers!!

[@elitearbor]

Short, sweet, to the point, and nothing to draw it way out in time. Well done video!

[@N20Joe]

I've seen customers get busted using new wire and claiming an old project a few times now. I might just buy up a few rolls and sit on them for when I do projects in my own house now!

[@johnbeaudin]

I'm not somebody likely to do this kind of work, but I was very entertained and educated by this excellent video.

[@durvius2657]

Honestly this is really cool. Even the dated wire. I'm a fan of easily accessible transparency.

[@GroovyGrandpa2]

They should make them smell like different fruits too, For us blind electricians. 😊

[@richardb2795]

I work as a residential electrician. The first time I’ve seen blue 14/3 romex cable at our shop was last month. We are still going though our previous pallet of white 14/3. We have been using pink 10/3 for many months now but the brand we use is different from that shown in this videos.

[@pfcrow]

Thanks. I was wondering why all the Romex in my house was white, regardless of whether it was a 15A or 20A circuit. I had thought they had messed up, but now I see that it's simply that the wiring predates the introduction of yellow (just barely). Thanks!

[@igfoobar]

So the take home message is: buy plain THHN and put it in conduit! :)

[@AtomicHermit]

It is dated too, but hard to read inside a conduit - which is also date stamped.

[@Recreationaltrespasser]

Date stickered, which should be installed facing the wall for aesthetic purposes

[@theodorgiosan2570]

Or use MC/BX.

[@jamesherrin3655]

Cannot put Romex in conduit. Especially in the ground.

[@davisladd6473]

Conduit has a date on it as well.

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

Excellent, informative, no-nonsense video presentation.

[@Species-lj8wh]

Glad homeowners can do there own electrical work in my state. Still need inspections and to follow 2013 IECC codebook.

[@billrobert3226]

Not nec?

[@vikingranch6377]

Nice rundown, I’d noticed the change, but hadn’t realized that they weren’t just brand coloring

[@TowerThree]

The new colors for the /3 is so the inspectors can see it for switches. All new switches need a neutral in the box, so no more /2 to a switch

[@foogod4237]

It can also help to identify 240V circuits, and feeder circuits with a shared neutral, as being something different than the ordinary outlet/light circuit runs...

[@KaiserTom]

You can do 2 conductor for a switch, you just need to feed the switch then the light. You also only need one switch in a lighting circuit to have a neutral, so the 2nd switch on a 3 way can be line, traveler, and switched hot and not need a neutral.

[@billrobert3226]

Remember there are many exceptions to the nuetral in a switchbox rule. anything with conduit, and if more than one switch controls a light and the boxes are within sight of eachother, only one needs a neutral

[@billrobert3226]

​@foogod4237 unless it's a 2 wire 240! Although that is less common in modern appliances, i still haven't seen a 240 water heater with a nuetral and I would assume that would be the case unless you have some fancy water heater with built in electronics like a screen or wifi

[@1djbecker]

@@billrobert3226 Older appliances used 120V for lights, motors, timers and controls. With LED lighting, inverter-driven motors and world-compatible electronic controls is is easy to foresee a day when there won't be a need for a neutral on the dryer and range circuits either.

[@ericbaker8807]

Used the pink 10-3 to run a new dryer line at my grandparents house recently. I was pretty confused initially when I went to Lowe's to pick up some wire haha. Didn't know they changed color until I googled it.

[@DavidMartin-bx6wm]

This is amazing for a DIY guy because it empowers me to make sure i know what I'm doing before I do a project.

[@Brian-Burke]

I had no idea Southwire owned Romex. Great video and good info. Thank you.

[@SilverCymbal]

Of all the products I use, wire is so important. I just messed with some 40 year old outdoor boxes, and having the wire still be pliable and not fall apart shows how important the quality of this stuff is.

[@Brian-Burke]

@@SilverCymbal Agreed. I'm big on paying more for quality and reputable brand names.

[@toTheWatcher]

Super helpful and honesty a change that has been needed for a long time

[@lezzistarsmith]

Finally! Make some damn good sense, glad industry stepped up & likely to be code enforced

[@jessegarman7899]

I appreciate coming across your video. I will be doing a new house build in about six months and it never occurred to me. That yellow was for 12 gauge. I am specifying 20 amp circuit solved throughout the house and I wanna make sure that that is what happens.

[@patrickfirst5614]

Your content is always interesting and relevant. I as wondering, haven't they come out with 16/2, for lighting circuits? I thought I saw a video a few months ago, but the 16awg romex wasn't fully approved yet. I could be mistaken.

[@greggv8]

For LED lighting circuits that only have lights.

[@munozinni]

Hola 👋 señor Silver Cymbal 👋😃👋that was a great video very informative and for a minute what I thought when I saw the pink wire I thought the lgtv is sticking its nose in the electrical industry now 😩😫that’ll stink to deal with that but fortunately it’s all for identification only thank you for the information keep up the great content…Saludos!!!👋😃👋

[@sqeekykleen49]

Saludos, el arcoiris... se lo llevaron como bandera...y pintaron los cables...😮.

[@kliajesal4592]

Aspiring Sparky here. Thank goodness for color coding!

[@gnic76]

So be sure to keep an extra roll of wire around for later work, just so you can pass it off as old work. 😂

[@BigD1395]

Very informative, I've never done a lot of electrical work but it's nice to know now that we own our own home.

[@RedHuntsman]

I bought and new custom home in 2010 and I noticed that all the wire was yellow except for heavier gauge wire. They had wired the entire house without any 15amp circuits. I never blew a breaker in that home.

[@mike95826]

Didn't they also add "foot" markers to make it easier to know how much cable you had without having to measure? I have seen it on some kinds of cables but no sure it is on all NMC yet.

[@sqeekykleen49]

Ol coax rg6 on dss and rg59u on broadband.... Obsolete now....fiber 🎉😊

[@davidbowser]

Depending on the age of your home, BX might also be ungrounded (old 2 prong outlets). Almost all the BX in my house is ungrounded and I have been slowly replacing it or running ground wires when replacing outlets and light fixtures.

[@mattb9664]

I want to know more about changes to the actual AWG measurement...I have 14 AWG in white Romex jacketing throughout my 1975 house, but it seems like it's actually 12 AWG because of how stiff and durable it is. When I buy new White-Romex 14 AWG..it's extremely easy to work with and bends very very easily. Did they actually thin out 14 AWG while still being able to call it 14 AWG?

[@jrherita]

Is the old wire aluminum instead of copper, or actually 12 gauge?

[@sqeekykleen49]

​@@jrheritathe older wire is stiffer, and the new is softer to work with... noticed the other day, a 50a range cord....2 # 8 and a pair of # 10 they used to be #10 on the 30a dryer plug... and #6 was what the stove took. 😮

[@scotteebee]

What about the new stuff coming out for 10A breakers?

[@sqeekykleen49]

Cat 5 with power! Cctv did a PoE system on cat5 12v would definitely smoke the rj45 plugs..😂. Led lighting .... probably 20 or 25 bulbs... and at that number I don't think that 10 Amp would trip....😮 😅 imo 14awg is small enough 😅😅...

[@claymeister00]

we also have Red romex for Electric heat The conductors are red and Black. it is the same colour whether its 12/2 or 10/2.

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Mental note to Sharpie over the date on the cables. 🤣

[@rickhobbs3313]

I work at a local Lowe’s in their Electrical & Lighting department. Yes, we are stocking the new color coded wire by Southwest wire. I admit that I came from the alarm industry, I’ve never been or worked as an electrical contractor and I always tell customers to check with an electrician because not one. I’m learning a lot from this and different videos. That being said, I understood you to say that xx/3 w/ground has a the third (usually red) conductor as a traveler for applications that have multiple switches. May I now see it schematically how that is. However, I thought that a three conductor w/ ground was for specifically a 220VAC circuit. Someone said to me that a 220 circuit was wired in old homes with a two conductor W/ground. How is that possible? Is the ground being used as a neutral wire? Thank you for allowing me to as this question. If you have another video that explains it, please note it.

[@bjportnoy]

4:32 snitches get stitches

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

Which one has glow in the dark sheath?

[@sqeekykleen49]

Copper clad by the sea...give it a few years, it glows. Maybe AFI can make it safe? I don't care for it, cu is not that much more....

[@matgaragepaul]

When I built my detached garage a few years ago, (2018) I ran 12/2 for the 110v circuits, and 12/3 for some light duty 20 amp 220V circuits (VFD's for a couple little 3 phase machines). As I recall, the 12/3 cost almost twice as much, but only has 1 additional wire. Ouch. I did pull permits and get all inspections (rough in and final). Cost a few bucks, but alot cheaper than any issues that would come up if something were to happen, or when I sell this place. Plus I take pride in the inspection stickers. I did my homework, and passed inspection on the first visit.

[@davemeise2192]

Good explanation. I wondered what the new colours were all about at our local Home Depot. I couldn't get consistent answers from staff.

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

Cool video, thanks. I didn't know about the colors past yellow. Even just 4 years ago in 2020 I bought a bit of 12/3 that was still in the yellow sheathe.

[@MCW1955]

A very professional video.

[@SnowblindOtter]

As a former Southwire employee, I can say that from the distribution side the different colors were a godsend for quality and inventory control in the CSCs during the few months I actually got to handle them. Now if only they can do the same thing with the MC, NMC, and UT, nothing is more frustrating than a quality error because two nearly identical materials are sitting next to one another.

[@MrFiver1111]

In Spain they are black or white for normal and then the green is for halogen free and orange for fire resistance. The wire size is printed or engraved in the insulation in mm²

[@famitory]

would be nice to see an official sollution for running the 10v control signals for dimmable LED lights in paralell with the power inside one cable.

[@SilverCymbal]

I agree, I worry also for the folks that ran pink for low voltage data cabling as this may create some confusion there too

[@richardlea818]

I just ran into this going to buy some 12/3 the other day. They’re charging roughly double for the fancy new purple coating. Neat.

[@Enlightn76]

incorrect. They are charging nearly double for the 1 addtional conductor. been this way for a decade or more regardless of color.

[@richardlea818]

@@Enlightn76 obviously 3 wire is more expensive than 2 wire, but i paid $55 dollars for a run that only cost $35 ish dollars a few months ago. I’ve bought wire before man

[@dallas5374]

Bidenomics

[@karlbrundage7472]

Fortunately for me, I live in a county that doesn't require inspections beyond the construction- electric meter-base and the septic tank and drain-field. I wired my house with 12-2 throughout, except for the kitchen range and the hot-water tank. I like to over-build and I was tired of having the lights dim in my older home whenever someone turned on a hair dryer. My advice: Upgrade your wiring. You won't regret it...............................

[@greggv8]

No 14 gauge for my home wiring. I have a huge roll of yellow jacket 12/2 that I picked up for $60 at a yard sale years ago. Can't go wrong using 12 gauge on 15 amp circuits. Ensures an extra safety margin. I've heard there's an addition to the NEC for 16 gauge wire that's exclusively for circuits that only have LED lights, but nobody makes 16 gauge yet. Replacing all your incandescent lights with LEDs will cut your power bill *and* reduce the load on your wiring.

[@Akapickles]

Lots of DIY projects out there getting called by inspectors. I just inspected a place with only 12/2 wire on every light and outlet. 20+ junction boxes in the attic and 15 in the basement. Only a handful of 20A breakers. Wire color makes inspecting things like this so easy.

[@geoffgeoff143]

I am still amazed at how backwards electrics are in the USA

[@danlux4954]

2:37 google shows in Canada. This blue NMD 90 14/2 wire is coded for bedroom outlets terminating at Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI).

[@imark7777777]

I'm glad they did it but I was definitely shocked to see the bold color choices.

[@syitiger9072]

Lol thought the wire manufacturer went woke

[@PerrySummers]

First time seeing one of your videos. GREAT informational piece. Liked, and subscribed!

[@jeremywatts2768]

Its nice that you dont have to break out the micrometer to ensure that its 14 (1.66mm) or 12ga (2.06mm)

[@hamjudo]

Micrometers are way to fiddly. I just use a milliohm meter, a tape measure, and a calculator. A regular ohm meter has two test leads with one conductor each. They suffer because they have to subtract out the resistance of the test lead itself. A milliohm meter runs a known current through one conductor to each test probe and has a sense wire to measure the voltage at the test probe. These are sometimes called 4 wire meters. The fancy versions let you choose the test current, so you can overwhelm noise from magnetic or capacitive coupling, or use a wee tiny current if something sensitive might come in contact with the conductor under test. Oh wait, that's for testing traces on printed circuit boards. For house wiring, I look at the color, read the label, or compare the wire to a known sample. It's a good thing I only do wiring on my own property.

[@ps.2]

Or you can just try to bend it. You cannot possibly confuse the two then, as 14ga is soooo much more flexible it's not even funny. As an amateur, when working with 12ga wire for switches or receptacles, I almost dread stuffing the excess into the box while closing it up. Whereas with 14ga it's simply never an issue.

[@jeremywatts2768]

@@ps.2 If you saw the thick sheathing on the conductors and casing for my wire, you'd question it too.

[@syitiger9072]

U can easily tell the difference between 14 and 12

[@rolandsolomon7728]

Thanks for the detailed, yet simple explanations.

[@ramosel]

I just ran a hundred feet of 6/2.... which is now Black... Black used to be the color for 12/2 before yellow. I mined out about 400ft of old Black 12/2 from my house when I moved an illegal sub-panel from a closet. 12/3 direct bury is grey.

[@janellgorski7189]

12-2 used to be white before it was yellow. It is in his video.

[@ramosel]

@@janellgorski7189 Yep, but it doesn't change the fact that I have 400ft of BLACK 12/2 from the 70s when the house was built.

[@sqeekykleen49]

​@@ramoselthat cable has green letters on it. Midnight black, that jacket is tougher than that Gray uf bullshit... but it says NM... some had a 16 awg bare egc on 12/2 w ground... that little 16awg would glow before the zinscos would trip..😂 😂

[@LethalMercury]

I had heard that a 16 gauge cable had been approved for LED lighting on 10 amp circuits, is this true? And if so, what color would it be?

[@busnorth]

I like this idea. Trouble is, in the 60 they had blue and black with white. I don't remember the gauge but I did use a lot of the sky blue. Every room had it's own 15,20 amp breaker and lights were shared. Some rooms had more then one lights on separate wires and yes 2 light switch. There were many dedicated individuals circuits. At least 5 plug boxes pre room. I'd help my dad after school wire new homes and insulate then sheet rock with nails.

[@peterwarner8541]

No idea what you’re talking about on this one being in the UK but I like your videos regardless!

[@andrelam9898]

Watching the occasional UK electrician installing wiring... yeah it's radically different in Europe (and UK being a little different from other mainland European electrical requirements). you guys pull wires through mostly plastic conduits, we have preformed wires with the protective sheathing (mostly plastic). Our fuse panels are also radically different from how they look and are installed compared to Europe.

[@rf159a]

The metal jacketed cable is typically called MC Cable. BX Cable is generally old cable without a ground. They were permitted to use the jacket of the cable as a ground. That is no longer allowed and all MC Cable contains a ground wire.

[@sqeekykleen49]

Metal clad, yes, and then there is AC armored clad... bx was the transition from knob and tube... then NM came along.... 😊

[@joshm3342]

Essential info, well presented. Thanks!

[@bfoley77]

@ silvercymbal is there a pdf chart or diagram with this information?

[@SilverCymbal]

Great question, I will add it to ther description too, right here: assets.southwire.com/ImConvServlet/imconv/ad6d1d19e76fa74a35f4effc34c7f8039bb5ab9e/origin?hybrisId=otmmHybrisPRD&assetDescr=2403_3-C_Romex_NMB_Cable_SpecSheet_WEB

[@BartlettTFD]

GREAT information. Thanks 👍

[@bluenetmarketing]

Great information! Thanks.

[@senseijay51]

I remember installing some other colors back in the 80s. Notably, there was a light blue NM 14 ga if I recall.

[@lkeil84]

That date thing on the wires was awesome. I am retired now, but cannot even tell you the amount of times I busted people for work without permit in the 20 years I was an Inspector. Now don't get all in a huff about those damn inspectors. If I saw it and it looked like a really nice installation, I may just pretend I did not see it. But when it was pretty ugly, rip it all out and do it properly.

[@FireHazardMan103]

How would you feel about 10 AWG being used in a 20 amp circuit for outlets or 12 AWG used for 15 amp circuits?

[@jamesphillips2285]

@@FireHazardMan103 Oversizing is allowed, but not typically done for cost reasons. I asked for our feeder wires to be oversized because the design temperature at the target current for the standard size is 90C. But the power meter was only rated for 65C. I actually derived rule 4-0006 of the Canadian electrical code by noticing that some electrical tape had two separate temperature ratings from two different standards bodies. (Forget the exact steps: but that rule points out that you can't design for 90C if your terminals are only rated for 75C (default if not otherwise marked)).

[@TwilightxKnight13]

Orange for #10 has not always been dedicated. For years, orange was used primarily for UF - underground feeder - cable. It was a point of confusion for many homeowners and DiYers

[@willfriar8054]

if we keep in mind that the electric code is the minimum you're supposed to use. just make sure you're the next size wire up. work very neatly. make sure you do everything in the box exactly perfect. follow the code.

[@soundspark]

Wire size is dictated not only by current but by the length of the wire run, as a long run can have unacceptable resistive losses.

[@willfriar8054]

@soundspark exactly and if you don't know how long the run is for alternating current and direct current is twice as much resistance. the length of the wire run from the breaker box to the load is critical. you can't run 18 gauge 300 ft and expected run a welder..

[@ajbrant3296]

In the past you used to be able to buy 2 conductor romex. Whenever I lookup pricing for romex I always specify w/g that insures that I am always getting a ground wire. It actually is how it is sold BTW.

[@scratchdog2216]

Honestly thought this post was intended as a humorous poke in the ribs at certain aspects of modern culture. Fortunate to have lots of old wire in the trade here for our own use. This all makes complete sense from an inspection POV.

[@Robert-ug5hx]

DEI wiring the silliness never stops

[@kimstockdale632]

14-2 includes 3 conductors, but the ground doesn't count. I should have known that, but didn't. Thank you for clarifying.

[@syitiger9072]

Ground isn’t classified as a conductor

[@KRich408]

I'm upgrading the wire in My 1914 house. It's been updated in the 60-70s some of the old 12/2 white is actually a heavier gauge than the new 12/2 yellow? I'm not sure why they made it thinner and called it 12/2 20a wire

[@albrown8890]

My house was built in the 70s and is wired with 12/2 with black sheathing. I agree, it seems stiffer and thicker than the new 12/2.

[@tomf9292]

As an electrician for 40 yrs, I think this is good especially for us folks who’s eyes aren’t that great!! LOL!

[@ChoiDuong0944]

Very informative. Thank you.!

[@MikeHarris1984]

I can definitely hear the northeastern accent in your voice. The amount of times I heard "Why-A" instead of wire is insane. Lol

[@janellgorski7189]

What color is the new 16-2 NM??

[@SilverCymbal]

To my knowledge, others may add to this, there is no electric wire that is 16/2 for the US, meaning for household wiring. Its rated for 13amps and I think it may be used for marine, RV and audio as well.

[@janellgorski7189]

@@SilverCymbal It is new, the last year or so. (I think 2023 NEC? I can't confirm. Maybe addendum, I only see a few things on the net about it.) It is for a 10 amp breaker. For lighting circuits. Some places are already stocking 10 amp breakers for it. Lowes is showing the wire in blue. 16-2 NM-B, but they are showing it as 20amp. That is not right. They updated the wire size because of all the low power LEDs in use.

[@SilverCymbal]

@@janellgorski7189 Very interesting. I will definitely look further into this. This makes sense as so many circuits now truly never needover 10amps. I believe this is done in europe a lot, its godo to see it coming here. Thank you for sharing this

[@partsdave8943]

What specification is the Purple? I don’t recall if you said.

[@tedreid1035]

3:02

[@partsdave8943]

@@tedreid1035. Thanks but that is clearly pink. See 4:39

[@tedreid1035]

@@partsdave8943 Looks purple to me. Take another look and the text in the video. 3:02.

[@iceman9678]

What will the 10amp wire color be? 🤔

[@annnnonnymous]

Quick and informative, good video.

[@sparkydstoolboxtalk1024]

The cause for the change in color is less for inspection purposes, and more so Southwire can make more money. Inspectors are electricians, and electricians can visually identify a three wire from a two wire romex by eye. Southwire has a history of tweaking their products to try to get more sales, and the rest of the industry quickly follows. For example about twelve years ago Southwire star making sim-pull pre lubricated wire for use with conduit, which boosted their sales. These companies have no incentive to change unless it makes them more profitable, or building code changes.

[@RyanDuffy]

The X/3 wires are also used for lights with dimmers or smart switches.

[@greensavant2573]

Excellent thing to know if you are looking to buy a house!

[@brianbeasley7270]

Wow! That's informative. Thanks.

[@bloominflowers6766]

Looks more like the DEI people designed this "rainbow" of colors ! Lol...Great information keeping us updated ahead of what is coming our way. Thank you again .