Types of Romex Explained - 14/2 14/3 12/2 and 12/3 - WIRING BASICS

This video will show the types of Romex wire you will be using when wiring your home. You will see the similarities and differences between 12/2, 12/3, 14/2, and 14/3 wire, and their applications during basic residential wiring.
I’m finishing the basement in our 40-year old home, and videoing each step along the way in a future bedroom. I am NOT a pro - just a self-sufficient DIYer finishing my basement on a budget. I've leveled the concrete and converted an old garage door threshold into an exterior door and window, and now I’m building the last wall in the room. I could totally hire a pro to come in and wire this thing for me, but why hire it out when I can build it on a budget myself???
Links to Products Used for wiring the basement:
12/2 Romex: amzn.to/3U4K1TV
12/3 Romex: amzn.to/3tRq1d3
14/2 Romex: amzn.to/3Ua1Q4g
14/3 Romex: amzn.to/4b32xSQ
Dewalt 20V Drill: amzn.to/46WNwie
Tape Measure: amzn.to/41mnaEU
Dewalt 20V Impact Driver: amzn.to/3O62HyL
Wire stripping tool: amzn.to/48Yiub4
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Music: Giants Were Here by SLPSTRM
Link: artlist.io/roy...
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Romex Chart
01:34 Black, White, and copper wires
02:01 The Red Wire
02:27 Wiring outlets and switches

[@Signature_Listings]

That's what I'm talking about. Quick, easy, perfectly explained. Thank you!!

[@mancyclediy]

My pleasure - glad it helped!

[@RobertHolby]

Great description! From another science teacher, wonderful job!!!

[@mancyclediy]

Very cool - thank you Robert! Best of luck to ya!

[@Mrtrunks]

Great job at explaining it, good luck on your maker space.

[@mancyclediy]

Thank you!

[@ceo2435]

Perfect explanation. Thank you

[@mancyclediy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mateopena9262]

great description, I have a question, How far can a cable be used, 12 or 14, so that it does not heat up when using an 1100-wattage PV device? I have a distance of 13 meters. Is it better to change the cable from 12 to 10 gauge? Thank you.

[@mancyclediy]

Hi Mateo! Man, I’m afraid that questions about PVs are beyond me. Good luck with your project!

[@noam-levenson]

Great video. Thanks. Can I ask... For powering more power-hungry appliances like a water heater, we would be using a 30amp breaker and 10/2 wiring? How many different types of breakers are there and how many different types of wires? Thanks!

[@mancyclediy]

Great question - in short, yes, more power-hungry appliances require greater circuit and wire sizes. There are many, and there's a really great visual for romex sizes and there ratings you can check out here if you are interested: www.how-to-wire-it.com/romex-cable.html. Hope this helps!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

How can I learn electrical wiring from scratch? This was a good piece of info, but I would like to learn how to do wiring from scratch, so that I can do my own wiring. I would like to wire some lights in my house and also replace the knob and tube wiring throughout the house. Any tips appreciated

[@mancyclediy]

Awesome question. Self-sufficiency is really at the heart of what you are asking - you want to do more yourself. Nothing beats having someone walk you through it in person, but it is also possible to learn on your own. There's loads of great content on youtube. I only do a video every other week or so, but several of my upcoming vids will be about wiring, so I would encourage you to follow along. There's a couple DIYers that I would suggest to you also, including @EverydayHomeRepairs, @LRN2DIY, and @SilverCymbal. All good stuff that I personally follow. Good luck!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@mancyclediy Thanks!

[@Palacios_dj]

I have a light on the wall of a small room that has a 14/2 wire, my question is if I can draw electricity to put an outlet on that line of light? Or is it dangerous to connect a 12/2 wire to a 14/2 light?

[@mancyclediy]

Hi! You can totally do that. Your light will draw so little power that it only NEEDS the smaller gauge wire to get electrons through, but it is not problem to use a heaver gauge wire for that job.

[@Palacios_dj]

@@mancyclediy thank you so much for answering 😊 I really appreciate it

[@surferdude642]

You should check your breaker and wire gauge for that circuit. If it's a 15 amp circuit with 14 gauge wire, you should stick with that. It's not dangerous, but it's bad practice to mix different gauges because it can cause confusion to someone working on this at a later date.

[@Palacios_dj]

@@surferdude642 thanks for your reply

[@stephaniehenry5617]

I just noticed that I have 14 gauge wire connected to a 20 amp circuit breaker Is that an issue. Currently I only have a camera and landscaping lights connected to it for years now

[@SyedtheITguy]

Rock on teacher!

[@mancyclediy]

🤘🏼Thank you!

[@SyedtheITguy]

@@mancyclediy you reminded me of my high school chemistry teacher Mr. E Glad when you said you were a science teacher. I am researching to figure out if I can use the 14/3 cable for (Costco artika) ceiling LED lights and looks like I should be able to but if something you can comment on I’d greatly appreciate it.

[@mancyclediy]

Hey there! If those lights are on a 15 amp circuit (they probably are), then 14 gauge wire will be perfect.

[@SyedtheITguy]

Thank you for the reply and confirmation. I did double check and for the load I am adding 14 gauge is just fine. Thx again!

[@rsz90182]

The most important part is running it correctly within the breaker box.

[@mancyclediy]

Absolutely.

[@dragon411320]

So I heard the disclaimer loud and clear "ask a licensed electrician" and all that, but *hypothetically* one could run just all 12 gauge even when a 14 is usually used on a 15 amp breaker without negative consequence, no? Theory being it adds no inherent added load on the breaker/circuit itself and the larger conductive cross-sectional area would actually lend itself to slightly lower electrical resistance and thus lower heat generation (though probably a miniscule amount). Of course doing the obverse and using 14G on a 20 amp breaker would be the opposite and you got yourself a real fire hazard. Pardoning the 2/3 conductor difference and cost difference, just interested in the surface level physics involved as electrical is something I'm smart enough to know that I DON'T know enough about it and to not to mess with myself past changing light bulbs and not overloading 1700w (+/-) per given 15A/120V circuit.

[@mancyclediy]

Very well said. It sounds like you heard the disclaimer loud and clear, so I'll skip that and dive right in. Yes, you are correct - 12g wire does indeed offer greater conducting cross-sectional area and therefore less resistance to electron flow. Basically, a 15A breaker would kill the power well before the 12 g wire overheated, assuming its all installed correctly. You are also correct in the reverse situation: a 14g wire could potentially overheat before the breaker flips off if it was added to a 20A circuit. I hope this helps! THANK YOU for checking out the video!

[@dragon411320]

@@mancyclediy Thought so but wasn't quite sure, I knew the general basics but of course not everything is so simple at face value especially electronics. thanks for the answer (and good video). Discovered over the years that the only dumb question is the one you never ask and therefore never learn from.

[@mancyclediy]

@@dragon411320 Absolutely true - thanks for sharing!

[@tightwad]

I'd use 99% 12ga if I ever build again. HOWEVER, go wire something in 14ga, then do it in 12ga, if the beauty of14ga isn't apparent your Popeye, and have huge elec. boxes w no modern switches, outlets or timers. But 12ga kills any future worries or hassle immediately. Also a big fan of gray direct burial UF-B wire for its superior casing, utility, and UV light resistance. But it's spendy, and I'm THE TIGHTWAD 😢