Electrical Material Guide
Wire
| Gauge of wire | Use | Ampacity | Maximum wattage load |
| 1 | Service entrance | 125 amps | 30,000 watts |
| 2 | Service entrance | 95 amps | 22,800 watts |
| 4 | Service entrance Main ground |
70 amps | 16,800 watts |
| 6 | Main ground 240 volt appliance (range) |
50 amps | 9600 watts |
| 8 | Single 120 volt appliance (doubled 240 appliance; dryer or heater) | 40 amps | 7680 watts (240 volts) |
| 10 | Single 120 volt appliance (doubled 240 volt appliance; dryer) | 30 amps | 2880 watts (120 volts) 5760 watts (240 volts) |
| 12 | small appliances; lighting |
20 amps | 1920 watts (120 volts) 3840 watts (240 volts) |
| 14 | lighting | 15 amps | 1440 watts (120 volts) |
| 16 -22 | Low voltage applications (door bells, thermostats) |
Cables
| Type - characteristics | Use |
| NM (non-metallic) sheathed cable | Residential grade indoor wiring |
| NMC (non-metallic cable) enclosed in solid plastic | Residential indoor wiring for damp locations |
| UF (underground feeder) | Can be buried under ground |
| THHN/THWN | |
| Coaxial cable | carries analog signals |
| Telephone wire | carries analog or digital signals |
