14-2 or 12-2?

rpallison

I am adding 4 convenience outlets to my garage. It only has one on each side wall now, and I want to have three on each side. What size is the correct wire size?

Jackofall1

Garage 12-gauge 20 amp circuit. Remember that you will have to have a GFI in the circuit.

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Daltex

+1 .....14 AWG is for lighting

stickboy1375

Either or is correct, as long as the breaker matches the wire size run.

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Jackofall1

Yes either is correct, but if you are going through the trouble of pulling wire for a new circuit especially in a garage then use 12 ga on a 20 amp circuit as there is a higher likelyhood in a garage for high amperage requirements, such as a compressor, table saw,,,etc....

Mark

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stickboy1375

You realize 12 AWG is only 600 watts more capacity, and I have never seen a 20 amp cord on any standard appliance.


meaning... its probably just a waste of money to run # 12... because if you are using two appliances, they will trip a 15 and a 20 respectfully.

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Jackofall1

Yes I realize this, let me ask you if you were running a new circuit to your garage what would you use, I know I would use a minimum of a 20 amp circuit.

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ddawg16

If your going to go through the trouble of running wire....why not go 12/2....labor is the same...cost difference minimal....and it means you can actually put something that needs 20a on it.

Actually....if it was me....I would be running additional ckts....a garage can never have too much power.....

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stickboy1375

Exactly... Two 15 amp circuits trumps one 20 amp circuit every time.

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Daniel Holzman

I have to agree with the 12/2 posts for a garage. There are a number of heavy duty tools like an air compressor that may overtax a 15A circuit, so two 15A circuits doesn't cut it. I ran all 12 gage in my house, if you buy it in large rolls (250 feet) it isn't much different in price than 14 gage, it isn't much harder to work with, and you can run larger individual devices on it. Course then you need a 20A GFI, which costs a few dollars more than a 15A GFI.

Gac66610

Wow, really? Don't think I would trust 12-2 for the range, dryer, or A/C.

Wire comes in different gages for a reason, have you ever checked the amperage on one of your almighty 12-2 lighting circuits?

If I were to guess, I'd say 6a or less on most of them, seems like a waist for 12-2, on a 20a circuit.

Not saying, just saying