12/2 Romex for 12V shed???

[tleotta]

Looking to wire my first solar system in my 200 sf shed- All 12v, just some LED lights and USB outlets. I have 250 feet of 12/2 romex leftover and I was thinking of using it for my main runs around the cabin. The lights (6-7w) would be run in series along the 12gauge wire. The same withe the USB outlets.

1. Is it OK to use the 12/2 romex for the main runs in the shed

2. The USB outlets and 12v light fixtures have 2-3 inches of 18 gauge wire coming from them. Do I use butt connectors to connect them to the 12/2 romex? IS there a better way to connect them?

 

[timselectric]

Yes, that's fine. Many options for connections.
Wire nuts
Wago
Solder
But no crimping for solid wire.

 

[tleotta]

Ah! Thanks I was wondering about crimping solid wire.

 

[DIYrich]

Ground? Probably not for 12v

 

[timselectric]

No ground necessary.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

Looking to wire my first solar system in my 200 sf shed- All 12v, just some LED lights and USB outlets. I have 250 feet of 12/2 romex leftover and I was thinking of using it for my main runs around the cabin. The lights (6-7w) would be run in series along the 12gauge wire. The same withe the USB outlets.

1. Is it OK to use the 12/2 romex for the main runs in the shed

2. The USB outlets and 12v light fixtures have 2-3 inches of 18 gauge wire coming from them. Do I use butt connectors to connect them to the 12/2 romex? IS there a better way to connect them?

Man you might want to take that back to lowes and get a refund and buy some smaller wire.

That bundle is probably $300.

I had to buy 250Ft of 10/3 for a job and it was over $400.00

 

[chrisski]

I really do like Wagos for connecting wires, but the only downside is I have not fount locally on the shelf in small quantities. If I order online, looks like they are available in packs of 25.

 

[tleotta]

I was looking at Wagos, I have never used them before, just wirenuts. Do you guys like them better?

 

[timselectric]

I was looking at Wagos, I have never used them before, just wirenuts. Do you guys like them better?

I won't use them for anything with much current.
Their fine for small loads.
I have replaced too many that have melted down.
But they are beneficial to my income. lol

 

[Nobodybusiness]

I won't use them for anything with much current.
Their fine for small loads.
I have replaced too many that have melted down.
But they are beneficial to my income. lol

You manufacture WAGOs?

 

[timselectric]

You manufacture WAGOs?

No
I get paid well to find the bad ones and replace them. lol

 

[SparkyJJO]

Man you might want to take that back to lowes and get a refund and buy some smaller wire.

That bundle is probably $300.

I had to buy 250Ft of 10/2 with ground for a job and it was over $400.00

$128 at my local HD for 250ft of 12/2.

 

[timselectric]

On the flip side. I have installed half a million wire nuts. And never had any issues in 40 years.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

$128 at my local HD for 250ft of 12/2.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

No
I get paid well to find the bad ones and replace them. lol

Didn’t realize anyone used them prior to couple of years ago..

 

[Ampster]

The wire pictured is 12/2/2 which is two whites, one each of red and black and a ground. Not the same as 12/2 which is typically one white, one black and a ground. That is why the prices are different.

 

[timselectric]

Didn’t realize anyone used them prior to couple of years ago..

And they're already burning up.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

The wire pictured is 12/2/2 which is two whites, one each of red and black and a ground. Not the same as 12/2 which is typically one white, one black and a ground. That is why the prices are different.

Ok got the wrong picture. The 10/3 is still $466. Ridiculous

 

[Tomthumb62]

On the flip side. I have installed half a million wire nuts. And never had any issues in 40 years.

Glad I passed on the wagos. They look cool and convenient, but yeah I now realize that wirenuts are a real oldy-but-goody.

Anyone reading this, the difference is wirenuts are not a conductor...they simply hold wires together that are physically touching, can't get any better conduction than wire-on-wire that's secure. Wagos on the other hand, the wires do not conduct directly with each other, but rather through what appears to be too-thin conducting material.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Glad I passed on the wagos. They look cool and convenient, but yeah I now realize that wirenuts are a real oldy-but-goody.

Anyone reading this, the difference is wirenuts are not a conductor...they simply hold wires together that are physically touching, can't get any better conduction than wire-on-wire that's secure. Wagos on the other hand, the wires do not conduct directly with each other, but rather through what appears to be too-thin conducting material.

Exactly.