How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

In article .com, CJ wrote:
I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the way
through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:18:24 -0700, CJ wrote:

I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Metal encased in what? EMT conduit, BX, Greenfield, or ??????
You are much too vague. Did you try to read the wires themselves? In
Conduit they are usually labelled. Or put a micrometer on the copper
wire ends.

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

On 19 Sep, 15:24, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article .com, CJ wrote:
I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the way
through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

-- Or use a wire stripper:

....with the power off of course!!

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

On Sep 19, 3:24 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article .com, CJ wrote:
I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the way
through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.


If you compare it to another wire, bend it. 14 bends easier than 12.

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

In article .com, Terry wrote:
On Sep 19, 3:24 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article .com, CJ
wrote:
I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the
way
through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.


If you compare it to another wire, bend it. 14 bends easier than 12.

No need to bend it. A visual comparison is easily enough to tell the
difference.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

on 9/19/2007 8:04 PM Doug Miller said the following:
In article .com, Terry wrote:

On Sep 19, 3:24 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:

In article .com, CJ

wrote:

I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the

way

through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.


If you compare it to another wire, bend it. 14 bends easier than 12.


No need to bend it. A visual comparison is easily enough to tell the
difference.


If one has samples of both.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

How can I tell if the wires are 14 gauge or 12 gauge?
 

In article , willshak wrote:
on 9/19/2007 8:04 PM Doug Miller said the following:
In article .com, Terry
wrote:

On Sep 19, 3:24 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:

In article .com, CJ

wrote:

I have a metal encased electrical wire, I think its 14/3, how can I be
sure. I don't have the romex yellow (12 gauge) or white (14 gauge)
which makes it easy to determine. Is there data on the wires telling
me what gauge they are?

Compare it to a wire that you know is either 12 or 14.

Or use a wire stripper: if you put 12-gauge wire into the 14-gauge hole on
a
stripper, the teeth will cut through the insulation, and bite on the
conductor. Conversely, the teeth on the 12-gauge hole will not cut all the

way

through the insulation on a 14-gauge wire.


If you compare it to another wire, bend it. 14 bends easier than 12.


No need to bend it. A visual comparison is easily enough to tell the
difference.


If one has samples of both.

You need only one sample -- as long as you know what it is.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.