12 AWG min. for commercial?

[jimmyglen]

I guess I have always thought you had to use #12 for commercial but when I have tried to verify this in the NEC - I cant find anything

is this an actual article or on old rule of thumb?

I have gone over conductors, recot and branch circuits articles.

Thanks in advance


jim

 

[480sparky]

You won't find it because it's not there.

But the job specs may require it.

 

[jflynn]

You won't find it because it's not there.

But the job specs may require it.

Not in nthe NEC,however there are cases were you would use #14 wire,ex:control wiring..

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

In my 26 years of wiring i have never seen #14 exsept for controls in commercial.Usually runs are long and loaded so no savings in using it.But if it suits your needs then fine to use.Specs will almost always want min #12

 

[acrwc10]

There are some local codes that don't allow smaller then #12 in some citys. Not NEC though. Pacifica CA. is one.

 

[jimmyglen]

thanks for the reply

i didnt think it was in the NEC but I couldnt confirm

thanks again

 

[Dexie123]

Fixture wire?

 

[masterinbama]

Very little savings especially with MC cable. Priced some yesterday 250' 12-2 $109.00 250' 14-3 $101.50. I was planning to use the #14 for my fixture whips it was cheaper to get the fixtures with whips installed.

 

[480sparky]

Very little savings especially with MC cable. Priced some yesterday 250' 12-2 $109.00 250' 14-3 $101.50. I was planning to use the #14 for my fixture whips it was cheaper to get the fixtures with whips installed.

What was the price for 14-2?

 

[masterinbama]

sorry the 14-2 was $105.50 don't know if it's a volume thing or what that was at the big orange box

 

[peter d]

sorry the 14-2 was $105.50 don't know if it's a volume thing or what that was at the big orange box

You can usually get much better pricing for MC cable at a supplier.

 

[480sparky]

sorry the 14-2 was $105.50 don't know if it's a volume thing or what that was at the big orange box

Pricing is always about volume.

Compare prices of a 24" T12 fluorescent bulb against a 48".

 

[nyerinfl]

You can usually get much better pricing for MC cable at a supplier.

I'm paying about $130 for a 250' roll of 12/2 from my supplier. Beginning of the year it was just under $110. Never buy any 14 MC so don't have anything to compare with that.

Edit to add: Just about any commercial drawings I come across specify 12 as a minimum, as stated earlier. Typcially the only exceptions to this I typically come across are pre-whipped troffers, as stated earlier.