What gauge of wire goes to an oil burner?

Prepare for the HVAC D-2 License Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your HVAC certification!

Multiple Choice

What gauge of wire goes to an oil burner?

Explanation:
The main idea is choosing a wire size that matches the circuit’s protective device for a line-voltage feed to the burner. Most residential oil burners run on a standard 120-volt branch circuit protected at 15 amps. To safely carry 15 amps, the smallest copper conductor allowed is 14 AWG, so 14 gauge is the typical choice for feeding an oil burner. Using a smaller size would overheat on a 15-amp circuit, while larger gauges are only necessary if the circuit is protected at a higher amperage (for example, a 20-amp circuit would use 12 AWG). Therefore 14 gauge is the standard answer.

The main idea is choosing a wire size that matches the circuit’s protective device for a line-voltage feed to the burner. Most residential oil burners run on a standard 120-volt branch circuit protected at 15 amps. To safely carry 15 amps, the smallest copper conductor allowed is 14 AWG, so 14 gauge is the typical choice for feeding an oil burner. Using a smaller size would overheat on a 15-amp circuit, while larger gauges are only necessary if the circuit is protected at a higher amperage (for example, a 20-amp circuit would use 12 AWG). Therefore 14 gauge is the standard answer.

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