I can't seem to find this answer anywhere on the net, but does anybody know what gauge electrical wiring is code in home construction in Minnesota? I heard 12 gauge, but I believe my home built in 2003 was done so with 14 gauge. When doing some electrical work in my home in 2004 with my father-in-law, our local Menards also said 14 gauge was code at the time, at least that's what we heard. I just had another contractor over to help finish our basement off, and said code was 12 gauge.
It depends on what size breaker the wire is fed by. 14 is a 15 amp limit, 12 is 20 amp. Typical lights are 14 wire, receptacles are 12.
It all depends on the load draw on your ckts. lighting is done with 14 wire only if the ckt load is 15a or less hire a qualified electrician you'll probably burn your house down if you do this yourself Also if you had an electrician at your house and he simply said code was 12 ga he is not qualified and does not know what he is talking about.
The gauge of wire is dependent on 1. the current 2. the length (voltage drop) That is, you need to account for voltage drop. The gauge for a 20 amp circuit that is only 5 ft in length would be different than for a 20 amp circuit that runs 300 ft.
