electrical wiring

collector42001

At a auction the other day I bought 2 rolls of Romex, one has a yellow sheth with no print anywhere on it saying the size, "12 or 14," the other roll is gray, which I thought gray was for 14-2 but this has print on it saying AWG12 GROUND TYPE- 600 VOLTS. What exactly did I buy in these 2 rolls.

Scuba_Dave

Where are you located ?

WaldenL

The yellow I've seen is 12, but it's odd that there's no printing on it. Nothing? On the gray I've seen gray for all sorts of sizes, its more the white that's 14. Depends on your definition of gray I guess. But if it's marked 12 I'd say it's 12. The sizes are different enough that you should be able to compare them to a known sample and tell for sure -- just make sure you're comparing the copper, and not the insulation.

nap

If there is no printing on it, you bought some scrap copper. Wire must be marked with size, type, and voltage rating to be legally acceptable to he used for power wire.

as to the other; it is what it says. What does it say for type of wire? Romex will have NM on it.


There are no requirements for sheathing. What has been fairly common is white (or actually a bit off white) for #14. Yellow for #12, and orange for #10.

rjniles

I would say with the yellow jacket, it is # 12 with ground. The gray jacket may be an old roll of wire. Compare the copper conductor size with a known sample. Be sure the size of the bare ground is the same as the insulated conductors. Old "Romex" used a ground wire smaller than the conductors and is no longer compliant.

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clashley

The gray *could* be UF (underground feeder). As noted elsewhere in the thread, code requires that the sheathing be stamped with AWG, etc.

Can you post some pics?

collector42001

The gray roll of wire has - (UL) AWG 12 CU1 CDR WITH AWG 12 GROUND TYPE UF-B 600 VOLTS SUNLIGHT RESISTANT - I just talked to a buddy and he thinks it's underground 12-2, not sure. And I just took a second look at the yellow roll again, not a thing on it, no print at all but looks to be about the right dia. for 12-2.

clashley

Depends on how old it is, and the sheathing color is not universal. My home was built (1972) with black NM-B 12/2 & 12/3 for most of the 120V branches, I've used some white 12/2 for a shop wiring project (purchased around 1992 or so) and most of the newer #12 I've purchased recently has been yellow. All of the sheathing is clearly labeled, so there hasn't been any confusion/concerns, but the color of the sheathing doesn't necessarily mean much in my experience.

clashley

Yep, that's underground feeder. It's rated for direct-burial (although there are codes concerning placement, depth, etc, so you can't necessarily just pop it into the ground wherever you please). The sheathing on UF cable is much tougher than on standard NM-B.

WaldenL

UF-B is underground feeder (lamp posts, pumps etc). But w/out any markings the yellow won't pass an inspection, so it's scrap.

collector42001

I'm in Ohio

collector42001

I only have 5 bucks in the yellow roll, and there's about 100 feet of it, so I'll scrap it then.

nap

you can use it for purposes that do not require a rated wire. You just cannot use it for power wiring.

jbfan

How much did you pay for the UF and how many feet.
Some of the 12/2 I have in yellw is not printed, but embedded in the jacket.
Run your hands along the jacket and see if you feel anything.

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