wiring size comparison

[Junkman]

I have been doing some wiring in my home, using up the last of my roll of 14 gauge wire, and purchased another box today. The one that I had used up, was probably 10 years old, and when I started using the new wire, it is much smaller in diameter than the old wire. What has changed, I always thought that a 14 gauge wire was the diameter of the copper wire. The only thing that I can say about the new wire, is that a smaller diameter wire, is a lot easier to work with.
Out of curiosity, have all the other gauges of wire also been downsized?

 

[Marctrees]

I have never heard of what you're talking about, that would be way beyond REALLY weird.

REALLY weird.

REALLY REALLY weird.

Is it from a normal manufacturer, or somekinds shipped from Jina on Ebay stuff?

All I can think of.

Of course, stranded is an overall larger OD than solid, but you know that.

Maybe what you had was 12Ga, and somehow you thought it was 14??

Marc

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Take pics of both wires.

Can u read the gauge on the wire?

 

[Marctrees]

If not Ga, then mic them, and compare to AWG table on Google.

Let us know what you find. Marc

 

[Junkman]

Turns out that it was 12 gauge, and I misread the markings on the outer sheath. I then headed out to the garage to check the rest of what I have, and found that one box had a slightly thicker plastic jacket, but the wire itself was the same. Teach me to try to read the jacket with poor lighting.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have some 20+ year old NM and the overall dimension is a bit more, but that is strictly the insulation.

 

[lazer50]

I worked at b e l d e n wire and cable richmond indiana for 3 years we ran all kinds of the same a w g wire with different wall thickness requirements resulting in many different o.d. sizes