Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [gauge]

For questions dealing with devices or instruments used to measure things.

Gauges are devices or instruments used to measure the amount, magnitude, or contents of something.

51 questions
11
votes
2 answers

Did my garage heater's thermostat wiring overheat because it's undersized?

Five years ago my electrician installed a Stelpro DRI0521W Dragon ceiling fan heater in my garage. It has a load of 20.84 amps. He installed a 30 amp breaker and told me that he used 12 AWG for the wiring. Two days ago I caught the heater running…
Gili
  • 259
  • 1
  • 12
9
votes
6 answers

Is it helpful to use a thicker gauge wire for only part of a long circuit run that could have higher loads?

A new circuit is going in to provide 20A power to a residential garage, mainly for power tools, but also for the garage door motor. All of that and a couple of overhead lights are currently drawing off a 15A circuit that powers various other rooms…
cr0
  • 1,716
  • 4
  • 34
  • 59
5
votes
6 answers

What gauge wire for long distance

I am trying to wire an outbuilding with the equivalent of a 15-A circuit from 300-400 ft (90 - 120 m) away. What gauge wire do I need? Also, does the full length need to be a constant gauge or can the thickness of the wire taper at it approaches the…
gothicsurf
  • 51
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
4
votes
3 answers

Gauge, amperage, and breaker box

I’m working on upgrading my shed in the backyard and I have some questions about the electrical wiring in the building. The current state of the wiring in there is just sad. I have a main wire coming into the shed, going into a junction box and…
Crazy Cucumber
  • 164
  • 1
  • 9
3
votes
1 answer

If a 12 gauge, 50 foot long copper wire can support 20 amps why is 6 gauge cable so much thicker

If a 12 gauge, 50 foot long copper wire can support 20 amps, why is the amount of wire in 6 gauge cable so much thicker and only rated to support 55 amps if your looking at 50 feet? Wouldn’t a stranded or solid copper conductor, only need to be as…
Fernando S
  • 31
  • 2
3
votes
3 answers

Splicing 8 gauge wire to a 6 gauge?

From the hot tub I have 4 6 Gauge insulated wires leading 20 ft to a sub panel with a 2 pole 50 amp gfci. I then have indoors into the basement a 6/3 w ground leading 30 ft to a junction box. The issue is the green looks a little thinner after being…
Steve
  • 31
  • 1
  • 2
3
votes
1 answer

Does my wiring plan sound OK?

I bought a house built in '69 in northern VA a few months ago. Having mapped out the upstairs circuits, I've discovered that the whole place is a wiring mess. I am remodeling each room and bathroom due to really bad drywall patchwork and insulation…
mjswartz
  • 131
  • 2
3
votes
2 answers

Have Shed/Man Cave & Need Unground Power Advice

I have a shed which is a little less than 100 feet from my home breaker box. I currently am poor-manning it running a 100 foot extension cord out there. I have already purchased a branch electrical box and wired the shed. I am about to rent a…
ThaKidd KG5ORD
  • 225
  • 1
  • 3
  • 9
3
votes
3 answers

Wire nut several wires together

I need a wire nut large enough so that I can bundle seven 14 gauge neutral wires together. I am trying to splice it so I can connect it to my new smart wifi leviton light switch. I don't know which wire nut size to buy. The boxes say for example:…
F C
  • 101
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
2
votes
1 answer

Use of 8AWG Cu in 1"ID grey PVC buried for 120' on 50 amp circuit

A 50amp 240volt breaker in an outside panel that also feeds 200amps to the house goes to a sub-panel 120' of run away in a shed using 8-3 interior clad cable (Romex? NM? whatever the term) inside of 1" ID grey PVC conduit. Other than some…
Mel White
  • 21
  • 1
2
votes
1 answer

Maximum breaker on NMD7 8/3 wire?

My mother in law recently replaced her 4 burner Frigidaire range and is often popping her breaker when she is cooking for a large party - ie 4 burners going and oven. I checked the specs for the range and they suggest a 50A breaker. The…
Eric B.
  • 123
  • 1
  • 5
2
votes
2 answers

Can I use a gauge designed for measuring air pressure to measure water pressure?

Looking around at the local home improvement center for a water pressure gauge, and all they seem to have is a gauge with 3/4" FGHT (Female Garden Hose Thread). Of course I could get a bunch of adapters (3/4" MGHT x 3/4" MPT -> 3/4" FPT x 1/2" FPT…
Tester101
  • 133,087
  • 80
  • 327
  • 617
2
votes
5 answers

How would you fix this bad circuit? 14 gauge on a 20 amp

I've got an old house with issues. This one is a circuit that starts at two 20A breakers, then maybe 60 feet of shared neutral 12/3, but ends with two 14/2 branches. The actual demand on the circuits is pretty low (just basic bedroom, but who knows…
Stumped
  • 71
  • 6
2
votes
2 answers

Can I splice #12 aluminum with #14 copper on 15 amp breaker?

I am renovating the 2nd floor of my 1970's home. I decided to change from 1 switched outlet with a lamp in each room to the switch controlling 4-6 LEDs. Breaker Box: Dual Pole 15 Amp Breaker Supply Wire: Black Aluminum 12/2 Splice: White Copper…
TL DIY
  • 21
  • 1
  • 2
2
votes
1 answer

two appliances on one 220 breaker?

I am trying to install a dryer at the far end of a large house. There is already a 220 circuit on a designated circuit running back there to operate a hot tub. The breaker box is full so no room to add another. Is there any way I can tap into that…
Steve Leighton Smith
  • 21
  • 1
  • 2
1
2 3 4