Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:27 pm
A gauge wire is designed for every different application in your home wiring. These wires have specific sizes and should not run electrical power higher than their maximum ratings.
The wire gauges should be matched to their appropriate outlets and circuits to work correctly and avoid electrical accidents.
According to the National Electrical Code, a 12 gauge wire can handle 20 amps of electrical current. This 20 amp is the maximum ampacity of a 12 gauge wire, and running an unsuitable amount of electrical power through it sabotages the safety and durability of your home wiring. Any electrical current higher than 20 amps risks circuit failures and electrical fires. The National Electrical Code (NEC) allows for a 12 gauge wire to handle 25 amp with the exemption of motor loads.
How far will 12 gauge wire carry 20 amps?
A 12 gauge wire will carry a load of 20 amps over 400 feet on a 20 amp circuit. But through an extension cord, a 12 gauge wire will carry 20 amps over 50 feet with a 3.33 percent voltage drop.
Once the electrical current is moved over a specific distance, the voltage remains constant. The farther the electrical current moves across, the more its voltage drops.
However, you should note that the electrical rating of a 12 gauge wire differs over various lengths and distances. The reason is that voltage drops create gauge allowances for the wiring.
Therefore, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a 12 gauge wire can carry just 15 amps of electrical current over 100 feet with a voltage drop of 5.00 percent.
Also, over 150 feet, a 12 gauge wire can only carry a load of eight to ten amps. Thus proving that the farther the distance the electrical current has to travel, the less load the gauge wire can carry.
Therefore, the voltage drop is determined by the electrical requirements of your home equipment and appliances over a specific distance.
Can A 12-Gauge Wire Handle 25 Amps?
A 12 gauge wire can handle 25 amps but only in motor loads. Ordinarily, the peak rating which a 12 gauge wire can safely handle is 20 amps.
However, in-home wiring, the max rating of a 12 gauge wire is 20 amps, following electrical building principles.
Notwithstanding, as the wiring capacity of a 12 gauge wire is insufficient to immediately resist an overflow or surge of electrical current into a 25 amp circuit, it is not advisable to run a load exceeding 20 amps on a 12 gauge wire.
When the overflowing current is not immediately cut off, the wiring overheats, melts, and the entire circuit overloads while it smolders the wires, which leads to fires.
In addition, the smoldering of your circuit wiring might not be so noticeable until it spreads, and if it does not trigger an electrical fire, the melted wires damage your entire wiring.
Therefore, it is paramount to follow electrical standards, protocols, and regulations by only running the appropriate amount of amps through a 12 gauge wire to ensure your home is considered safe.
One way to ensure this happens is to ensure a certified electrician identifies the correct wire gauge for every application to prevent damage to your property and injury to yourself.
Can A 12-Gauge Wire Handle 30 Amps?
No, a 12 gauge wire can not handle 30 amps. A 12 gauge wire should never carry a load of 30 amps. It would be best if you did not run a load of 30 amps through a 12 gauge wire.
A higher electrical current running through a thinner wire can destroy it and cause lethal electrical shock to the homeowner.
The negative effects of running a load of 30 amps through a 12 gauge wire are excessive. The electrical overload and overheating will melt the cables’ protective insulation, resulting in house fires.
Also, the house wiring can be severely short-circuited multiple times, destroying home equipment. The fusion point is the heat it would take to make the wiring insulation melt.
When your wiring begins to show signs of melting, the fusion point has been surpassed, indicating that your circuits are overheating from the excess current running through them.
Making a 12 gauge wire handle 30 amps can lead to that situation. Ideally, you should run any 30 amp load through a ten gauge wire since this wire is equipped and designed with a gauge and ampacity that easily handles this amount of electrical current.
Can A 12-Gauge Extension Cord Handle 20 Amps?
Yes, a 12 gauge extension cord can handle 20 amps safely. However, when it comes to using extension cords, the amount of electrical current that can safely pass through a gauge wire varies and depends on several factors.
It simply means that a 12 gauge extension cord can accommodate amps larger than 20 while still being on the safe side, depending on the type of wire metal in the extension cord, the length of the wire, the temperature scale which it can handle, the kind of load mounted on this extension cord and the allowable voltage drop across a distance.
Let us consider these factors individually.
#1. The Type of Wire Metal
You should note that all wires are not always made of the same metal. For example, an aluminum wire will not handle as much power as a copper wire.
It implies that an extension cord with aluminum wires has less ampacity than an extension cord with copper wires. Therefore, a 12 gauge extension cord containing copper wires could handle amps higher than 20.
#2. Temperature Ratings
If an extension cord contains wires with insulators that can only handle little heat, then the ampacity of that wire would be pretty low.
On the other hand, a wire which can handle a high amount of heat without melting can handle a higher amount of electrical current.
Therefore, the higher the temperature rating of the gauge wire, the more amps the extension cord would handle as opposed to a wire with a low-temperature rating, which can only handle fewer amps.
For example, a 12 gauge extension cord handles:
#3. Wire Length
The longer the extension cord length, the more heat spreads along with the cable’s insulation, resulting in voltage loss.
The failure of voltage, in turn, results in the flow of fewer amps through the cord. Note, however, that this is different from the temperature rating of the metal inside the wire, as this involves the heat generated along the length of the wire, which bleeds voltage and leads to low ampacity.
Therefore, the longer your extension cord, the fewer amps it can carry.
#4. The Type of Load
Some home equipment requires a lot of electrical power to operate successfully. When the requirements of this equipment exceed the specifications for given insulation, it damages that insulation.
Over time, the extension cord would not be able to carry amps as before due to appliance damage, which has reduced the ampacity of the extension cord.
#5. Allowable Voltage Drop Across Distance
For a gauge extension cord to run the required number of amps across its length to its destination, there has to be a regulated amount of voltage drop.
The reason is that voltage drop reduces the number of amps running through the wire.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure voltage drops do not bleed out all of the power and end up supplying low electrical power to your home appliance.
If this is not prevented, the appliance can not function properly. Over time, it is damaged and overloads the extension cord, which causes the entire circuit to fail, triggers electric shocks, and even causes fires.
To ensure voltage drop does not drag down the ampacity of your extension cord, the distance the cord covers between the outlet and the appliance should be made short.
Also, the amount of voltage drop that would not affect the amps in your cord should be deduced and maintained.
All the above factors are only applied to the right extension cord that fits its specification. It is crucial to choose an extension cord based on the wire thickness you need and the length of the cable.
Conclusion
Generally, you should always follow safety protocols, no matter who is in charge of your home wiring or how little the wiring can be.
For example, do not mistake using the wrong gauge extension cord for an outlet and appliance, resulting in many electrical hazards.
On the other hand, extension cords with correctly identified gauges are pretty easy to use, as long as you never use indoor cords outdoors and keep all electricals away from water and moisture.
Related:
How many amps 14 Gauge wire handle?
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