3
/
11
Wires come in different sizes/gauges to work with the amperage of the circuit in which they’re used. It’s counterintuitive, but the larger the number, the smaller the wire.
The most common sizes you’ll find in residential work are 14-gauge and 12-gauge. Larger appliances such as electric stoves, electric water heaters, electric dryers and central air units will often use 10-, 8- or even 6-gauge wire.
If you’re adding an outlet, you need to use wire the same gauge as the existing wiring. How do you tell your old wiring gauge? Here’s a simple visual.