Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
There are times that I have trouble determining what wire size is used in a breaker box. Is there a gauge out there that can be used. Of course I would like it not to be metal if possible.
Originally Posted By: dleavitt This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
You can also use just a pair of wire stripers you can get at any Building Supply. They do have a rubber handle and I belive up to a 6AGW size.
Or the simplest way would be to buy foot of each size and glue it to a board. Easy to compare and you will not have to try and remove any wires to see the ends. Naturally you would not want to do this any way for lots of reasons
Originally Posted By: Dennis Bozek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanx for clarifying that David.
Just a word of caution here. Sticking anything into a electrical panel that is non-insulated is better left to the pros.
Wire gauge is difficult to determine and even I have a difficult time with it for although I can make a educated guess without actually seeing a mark on the wire or having a specific tool to gauge it, it should not be guessed at. The code allows 4 gauge to be used for a 100 amp service in a house although I would always run 3. Nevertheless, the two are so close in size, it would be easy to mess it up. What you can usually do, and I would suggest a good pair of gloves prior to doing this or at least some hot gloves, is to actually turn the wire on the main breaker and see if you can see any writing on it. If you can look for that AWG marking. Right before that if will give you the wire size. If it is SE cable, the gray or black insulation on it will be marked but sometimes with this it is impressed into the insulation making it quite hard to read. You can also pull the LB cover off and look at the wire there. If you get lucky sometimes you can read the gauge on the wire at that point.
Purchase a inspection mirror, which is usually a small round mirror on a thin metal handle. Get some electrical tape and tape the metal parts of the inspection mirror a few times. This will aide in not shorting against anything as you insert it into the panel. You can use this mirror at times to read wire gauge if the wire cannot easily be turned to read it.
The only real problems I have with using a wire stripper is that usually anything above 6 gauge is not available on a stripper and that it is dangerous to do such if you are not familiar with all the dangers a electrical panel exposes to you.
-- This information has been edited and reviewed for errors by your favorite resident sparky.
Originally Posted By: dleavitt This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks Dennis, I would also suggest if do do have to put; say a little mirror, one should wrap it in electrical tape, (not that I am advocating putting any thing in a Main Panel. )
David,
Oh Dennis could you tell me of a good Electrical Code Bible, Say one you would use as an Reference.
Originally Posted By: Dennis Bozek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dave,
I have a couple of reference books for you. I will pass that info along to ya by tomorrow. Don't have them handy and it is too dang cold to go out to my truck and get them....  
-- This information has been edited and reviewed for errors by your favorite resident sparky.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for the replies. I always found it nice, when I can, to show proof to the client that an item is wrongly done. This helps me with less call backs with realitors and clients. Since I started my business 2 years ago, I have had less calls from clients and realtors. I use to work for a home inspector that was all old school. No new technology. I use a tablet PC, digital camera, and alway push for the client to be at the inspection. In the long run, I am happier and so is the client.
I was hoping that a wire gauge would help, I can take a picture and No dispute can be brought up.
Originally Posted By: Dennis Bozek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dave,
Ok here is a phone number.....1-888-532-2300
That is the number to Brown Technical Bookshop.
I use two reference books from them. One is called Ugly's which is more geared to the electrican and the other is a pocket guide to the NEC. The Ugly's electrical reference book gives amapcities, formuals, wire sizes, and mostly a lot of stuff you might never use so I recommend the pocket guide.
Hope this helps.
-- This information has been edited and reviewed for errors by your favorite resident sparky.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for the replies! This is making me want to make my own wiring gauge for the differant types of wire w/ the insulation on it. Plastic with the right measurements, can’t see why it can’t be done.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Usually you are better off getting one of the plastic gauges, like the one from PE that Tim was talking about. Just throw out the little NEC ampacity table (310.16) that comes with it … doesnt apply to small wire (must be larger) or residential feeders (can be smaller). See something like CodeCheck for that …
And NEVER EVER EVER put anything metallic or a piece of comparison wire near a live circuit or panel (shame on you David) ...
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: dleavitt This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Robert C, First I do not suggest in any way to put a comparison piece in the panel, I stated glue it to a board for reference. Second even a plastic wire gage would require one to remove a wire to check the size which is a big FUPA .
I truly would hope that one would have the common sense not to go removing any thing other than the cover on a Main panel.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I would like to make a wire guage that would determine the wire size with the insulation on. That’s all. No removing of wire. Around here, conduit still has to be used.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I remember my grandfather telling me that I don’t need that fancy volt meter. All I have to do is put one hand in the pocket and wet two fingers on the other hand and touched the wire. It will tell me if I have voltage and maybe how much voltage. lol I must say I still use the my volt meter. lol
Originally Posted By: Dennis Bozek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ahh the two finger hot chassis check…
Anyway....some of the older installations of wire can be very misleading as far as wire size virtually because some of them installs used reallllly thick insulation. Happened to me more than once....you look at that service wire coming in at the weatherhead and you think.....looks like 4...but then after you cut it and look at it...it's number 8 solid. Cannot determine wire size this way because of different types of insulation and different thicknesses. The best way is to try an find markings on the wire itself. If you cannot find anything like that or anything that is legible....best to recommend that a qualified sparky determine such.
-- This information has been edited and reviewed for errors by your favorite resident sparky.
Originally Posted By: kluce This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I have a strong feeling that your right, but I’m going to look into it anyways. What’s the worst thing that can happen, I call a wire wrong with the guage, the customer sues me, my insurance drops me, I file for bankruptcy and my wife leaves me with whatever money I have left. That’s all.
Originally Posted By: jfarsetta This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dennis,
So since you are our favorite "resident" sparky, why doesn't it say you're a NACHI member yet? Dont you like us? 
-- Joe Farsetta
Illigitimi Non Carborundum
"Dont let the bastards grind you down..."
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
As Dennis indicated, you need to really see the bare conductor to accurately get a wire gauge, since it is based on that. So you would have to get a bare end piece of comparison wire up pretty close to get a good read. Glad you were not talking about that (insert wiping sweat off brow emoticon here) …
Just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page not to stick anything metallic anywhere near a live wire ...
The wire gauges I have from PE come with an assortment of plastic pieces with open ends on a ring, and also a single plastic card punched out with the various gauge sizes (I threw out the ampacity table). If I put one of my 600V electrician gloves on I "feel" pretty safe using them ...
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
