

Every 10/3 cable contains a red and black “hot” wire, a white “neutral” wire, and a bare copper ground wire. 10/3 cable also includes a 4th ground wire.The “3” in 10/3 indicates the number of live copper wires in the sheath.

The “10” in 10/3 indicates the gauge (thickness) of each copper wire in the sheath.It’s thicker and able to handle the draw of a 220v appliance.ġ0/3 Wire is used to power larger appliances. On these lines 10 gauge wire can be used. But 14 gauge wire is too thin for the 220v outlets used for air conditioners, ranges or electric dryers. Based on that load they use a 14 gauge wire such as 14/2 or 14/3. This is why wire gauges are sized based on the amperage of the line.įor example, an average residential home uses 15 to 20 amp circuits for all 110v outlets, switches and lights. If this heat gets too hot it can actually melt the wire, which could cause a house fire. When electricity rushes through a copper wire it creates heat. The thicker a wire the more amperage it can safely conduct without overheating. So 10 gauge wire is thicker than 12 and 14 gauge wire. Which means the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Therefore, 10/3 wire contains 3 x 10 AWG wires in the sheath. The second number is the number of live wires in the sheath. Wires are rated in the AWG standard (American Wire Gauge). The first number in a wire’s classification is the gauge, or thickness, of the wire. Using 10 gauge wire in a residential home is becoming more common thanks to solar panels and more electric appliances being used inside the home. The outlets powered by a 10/3 wire are usually 220v 30-amp and have a special 4 pronged design which varies based on the appliance that will be plugged into it. 10/3 is considered a heavy duty residential wire for 220 v 30 amp circuits which typically wire larger appliances. It’s thicker than standard 12 or 14 gauge residential wiring and not used for regular outlets, switches and lights. This is what home’s typically use for all the 110 v outlets, switches and lights.ġ0/3 Gauge wire is used on higher amperage lines with a 220v draw such as an electric dryer, dual fuel ranges, and air conditioners. This is more than you’ll need for a standard residential circuit of between 15 to 20 amps.

When choosing the correct wire size for a project, you should consider the amperage of the line. The ground wire is either left bare copper or wrapped in green. This color coding helps electricians wire a house correctly. Each live wire is wrapped in either a black, red or white sheathing. So 10/3 wire contains 3 live 10 AWG (American Wire Gauge) wires and 1 x 10 AWG ground wire. The 10 in 10/3, signifies the thickness of the wire while the 3 refers to how many live wires are in the sheath. 10/3 cable contains 3 live wires as well as a ground wire. It’s used in residential wiring and typically runs on a 30-amp circuit. is not responsible for its accuracy or reliability.10/3 wire is designed to power 220-volt outlets for things like ranges, electric dryers and air conditioners. Multiple Conductor Correction Factorsĭisclaimer: The information shown here has been assembled from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed by Cooner Wire Co. Multiply the ampacity rating from above by the correction factor listed below to determine the ampacity rating of a conductor in a multi-conductor cable. Lead Wire Current Carrying Capacity (Ampacity) AWG SIZE
