5 Common Questions About Romex Electrical Cable

Wire and cable distributors and suppliers get asked similar questions from end users that should be addresses

. Questions as to where and how Romex can be used and the reasons it cannot be used for someones particular installation.

Can Romex be used outdoors?

NO! Its engineered and manufactured in the lowest possible cost in order to save money for contractors, electrician and installers. If it had state-of-the-art insulation and jacket material then you would have to pay state-of-the-art pricing as well. Its built in a cost effective way for as an affordable indoor electrical cable only. Do not even run it 10 feet outdoors or that 10 feet will be affected by outdoor moisture, chemicals and gasses that its not approved to handle.

Does Romex always come with a ground wire?

Most likely. There are types of Romex without a ground wire but they arent commonly stocked in any manufacturer or distributor warehouse. Most often you will see a Romex 14/2 cable with a description that mentions an additional ground wire included. There will be a total of 3 wires and one of them will not have insulation at all.

Is Romex the same as NMB cable?

Yes. Southwire is a manufacturer of wire and cable who own the brand name of Romex. Its a brand name product that is manufactured as a type of NMB cable or Non Metallic cable. Southwire, and most end users, believe it to be the best product on the market but that can be argued as it is manufactured by many companies.

Can I use Romex outdoors if its in conduit?

NO! You cannot use Romex outdoors at all for any reason. There is still moisture and chemicals inside of conduit that can attach the thin PVC jacket and complicate the ground wire.

Does Romex come in different color jackets?

NMB cable has jacket color designations based on the gauge size of the cable and rarely manufactures cables without those color codes. The color code goes like this, 14 AWG cables are gray, 12 AWG cables are yellow, 10 AWG cables are orange and the larger gauge sizes are black. Its possible to have a special manufacturing job done for your application but it would have to be approved by the manufacturer and you would be held to a very large minimum order in the area of 30,000 feet.

Speak to your NMB cable supplier with any more questions you might have. They would be glad to help you in hopes of getting an order!

by: Christopher Bell

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