The selection and installation of electrical wiring is something that should be a crucial hidden project in a remodeling project. Whether you are simple decoration, or fine decoration, the problem of wiring remodeling you always can not get around. It is not only related to the safety of daily electricity, but also directly affects the comfort of future home life and future maintenance costs.
House wire is a system of wires installed in and around the house. It is mainly made up of two parts: the conductor and the insulation. The conductor is usually made of copper or aluminum, and the outer layer is wrapped with non-conductive wire insulation and sheath. However, for many homeowners, do not know which is good and how to choose is quite a headache. So, in order to take less “detour”, today in this article to explain the relevant knowledge.
What type of house wire is used to wire a house?
Household wires can be divided into various types according to their functional characteristics and application scenarios:
Solid copper wire
Solid copper wire is also named BV single-core wire. It consists of a solid copper wire as a conductor, wrapped with PVC insulation. It has good stiffness and mechanical strength and is therefore easy to wire, fix and install. However, BV hard wires may not be as flexible as soft wires when bending and therefore require special care in certain specific scenarios.
In the house, solid copper wire is mainly suitable for some household appliances, lighting equipment, and small appliances with a voltage of 450v~750v and below. Solid copper wire has different gauges; commonly used sizes are 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.0mm, etc. If space efficiency and visualization are important to you, flat double copper core BVVB cables can be laid directly along the wall, which is an option when it is not possible to alter the conduit.
Stranded copper wire
Stranded copper wire is made from multiple strands of fine copper wire stranded together with an outer insulation layer for greater flexibility and better conductivity. It is also commonly referred to as BVR wire. Due to the multi-stranded design of the flexible wire, its current carrying capacity is higher as compared to a hard wire of the same cross-section. It is also easier to install and maintain, especially where frequent movement or bending is required.
Since stranded copper wire has a soft structure, it is mostly used in applications where softness is required for fixed wiring. For example, internal connections in distribution boxes and automotive wiring harnesses. It has the same specifications as solid copper wire. The number of stranded copper wires can be varied: 7-strand or multi-stranded copper wires, these conductor constructions are classified as Class 2 and Class 5.
wire house for ethernet
House wires also include weak wires, which are mainly used for transmitting signals rather than electrical energy. Weak wires mainly include network cables, telephone cables, TV cables, etc. They usually have lower voltage and smaller current, but require higher quality of signal transmission.
Installing Ethernet can also improve the security of your home network by reducing some other signal interference from around the house. In addition, Ethernet house wires can help you connect other devices in your home, such as printers and some smart home devices.
Aluminum house wire
Aluminum House electrical wire and cable refers to wire with aluminum as a conductor and an outer layer of insulation. In the past, aluminum house wires often appeared in family houses due to their low cost, but due to their low electrical conductivity, high electrical loss, poor tensile strength, low corrosion resistance, and the joints are particularly prone to oxidation, they are prone to tripping, power outage, even fire. If you insist on using aluminum wires for household wires, we recommend choosing a larger size, such as if you need 2.5mm copper wires, then we recommend using 4mm aluminum house wires.
Now that we have a good understanding of the types of house wiring, how do you choose the gauge of wires used for home improvement? Today we will solve this problem.
What Gauge Wire for House?
The size of the wire is an important factor that should not be overlooked when shopping for household wires. Different sizes of cords have different carrying capacities and applications. After all, a wire that is too fine gauge may not be sufficient, while a wire that is too thick may add unnecessary cost. The bigger the wire gauge number, the lower the amperage carried and the bigger the house wire conductor resistance. Below are some typical gauge and applications required for your home for your reference.
- 14 Gauge house wire, It is the most commonly used home wire gauge in residential buildings. The rated current of the 14-gauge wire is 15 amps. It is used for electrical light wire and general sockets wire. The power is not large for these applications, and the 14-gauge wire can be used.
- 12 Gauge house wire, also the common gauge for home, rated at 20 amps, mostly used for kitchen outlets, laundry rooms, and some appliances that carry a lot of currents.
- 10 Gauge house wire, rated at 30 amps, used for electric furnaces, water heaters, ovens, and other electrical appliances.
Of course, some circuits may use larger house wire gauge, depending on appliance current and local electrical codes. It is worth noting that when determining the wiring gauge, in order to ensure the safe use of electricity, it is necessary to consult the local electrician or check the local electrical code. The following is the house wire diagram.
| Wire Gauge (copper) | Nominal cross-sectional area(mm²) | Size(amps) | Most common application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1.318 | 13 | extension cords |
| 14 | 2.075 | 15 | Electrical light and general sockets |
| 12 | 3.332 | 20 | kitchen outlets |
| 10 | 5.26 | 30 | electric furnace and electric dryer |
| 8 | 8.37 | 40 | air conditioner |
After understanding the above information about house electrical wire, we can learn about the colors and then see what household wires refer to.
House Wire Color
We often see different colors of household electrical wires when buying online or installing on a project. This is mainly to differentiate the properties of the wires and is considered an agreed upon standard. The benefit is that it unifies the wire colors for different lines for easy identification and future maintenance. Here are some common house wire colors used in house wiring:
Red and yellow: live wires, which provide the mains voltage and transmit the live current from the power source to the socket, switch, or appliance;
Blue: The neutral wire is neutral wire, which is often used to carry current and form a power circuit with the live wire;
Green and double-color: Generally, it is a double-color wire composed of yellow and green, which belongs to the ground wire. When the circuit fails, the current is led to the ground to protect personal safety, protect equipment and eliminate static electricity.
If your home wire has been used for a long time, then you should check your house wires and understand the consequences of ageing household wires.
Is old electrical house wiring safety?
Old electrical wire for hosue may not be safe. Old electrical systems can cause safety hazards over time, and aging circuits and environmental influences can cause wires and conduits to become stiff and brittle.
The old electrical system cannot meet the needs of modern electrical equipment, and the previous house electrical wire may not meet the current electrical codes and standards. Old insulation materials may deteriorate over time, and there is a risk of directly exposed house wire conductors, making it unsafe to use electricity. Therefore, in order to ensure people’s own safety and standardize the use of electricity, people need to regularly check and repair the wires. Therefore, if you want to buy some house wires to your home, you’d better plan a budget in advance.
How much does it cost to wire a new house?
Wiring a new house needs to contemplate many aspects, such as house size, type of home wiring, wiring location, and local electrical requirements. It mainly includes house wiring labor costs, product price, materials and equipment, and some specific needs of your own. The following is only a rough estimate, for reference only, and should be combined with the actual local conditions.
| Component | Cost($) |
|---|---|
| Labor cost | 1500~8000 |
| House wire price | 1500~6000 |
| Materials & equipment | 2000~10000 |
| Specific needs | Extra cost |
| Total cost | 5000~20000 |
The labor cost depends on the scale, time, and complexity of the house wiring. The price of materials and equipment will vary because of factors such as materials, quality, and service. About the house wire price, please ask the wire supplier. Some specific needs of electrical home wire will add additional costs. It is recommended to consult multiple local electricians to compare prices.
Conclusion
Electricity safety in the household is vitally essential, and slight carelessness may result in death from electric shock or fire. Therefore, choosing the right household wire can reduce the risk of accidents. When purchasing cable for house, gauge, insulation, conductor, length, and quality need to be considered and must follow the local electricity rules and standards. Finding a reliable manufacturer and supplier is also crucial.
Need further help?
If you’re still having trouble deciding which home power cable to buy, feel free to contact one of our consultants for one-on-one personalized advice. ZW Cable will provide you with suitable price and high-quality house wires, and then you an buy cost-effective cable product.
