Number of strands #12 awg cu.

[EEC]

In table 8 NEC, under column for stranding, 7 is listed for 12 awg. What does that 7 represent? I counted the number of conductor strands for thhn 12 awg and came up with 19 strands. Each strand measured .018 in. diameter

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I guess it would depend on the size of each individual strand. I always thought that the 7 strands meant 7 strands--- obviously not all the time.

 

[charlie b]

Well, you know the NEC is just the minimum necessary for safety, and the manufacturers are free to exceed the minimums. :grin:

Or, you can look at note 1 to that table, in which they concede that other stranding possibilities are available. I think the 7 just means that if you have one with 7 strands, the rest of the properties will be as shown.

 

[augie47]

this shows my age, but I seem to rcall back in the RHW, TW and THW days, those #12 cables had 7 strands.

 

[hunt4679]

this shows my age, but I seem to rcall back in the RHW, TW and THW days, those #12 cables had 7 strands.

That was what I was thinking, we see alot of it in older commericial buildings around here

 

[mivey]

this shows my age, but I seem to rcall back in the RHW, TW and THW days, those #12 cables had 7 strands.

I believe you are correct.

 

[qcroanoke]

this shows my age, but I seem to rcall back in the RHW, TW and THW days, those #12 cables had 7 strands.

I too will show my age and say I have pulled a few thousand feet of THW. Thhn was around I think, not sure....

 

[wireguru]

7 strands in #12 is class B stranding and is still found in Tray Cable and some other odd places (some RHHW I believe) you can get #12 all the way into 104 strands of #30 (UL1015/TEW/MTW) and beyond...

 

[KentAT]

We use XHHW-2 wire a lot at my plant. It has 7 strands for sizes 14awg thru 2awg.