Skip to main content

Rated: 4.9 / 5 based on 2100+ reviews. Read our reviews

Biggins' BIG Daily Deal! $79 Water Heater Flush Get a free quote | February Promo Offers

What Type of Electrical Wire Is Used in Homes? Mounds, OK, Experts Answer

Cassie Pound, owner of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
Published by
Cassie Pound
January 20, 2025
What Type of Electrical Wire Is Used in Homes? Mounds, OK, Experts Answer

The residents of Mounds, Oklahoma, know this suburban area as quaint and peaceful, with not much going on. For a long time, it’s been “Green Country,” with one school, gas station, and church, as well as Cafe 75, the only place remotely resembling a restaurant. According to Niche, a few parks here might have burned-out bulbs and faulty wiring, but what type of electrical wire is used in homes in Mounds?

Hopefully, your household bulbs aren’t looking anything like the ones in the parks. As a top electrician in Mounds, OK, Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric can help keep life bright. Below, we explain the different types of wiring and their right usage.

The Basics of Wires and Cables

Before delving into the main types of wires found in Mounds homes, you might wonder about the difference between cables and wires. 

Like your laptop or phone charger wire, an electrical wire comprises a single solid or stranded wire, usually with a protective plastic coating over it. Cables, on the other hand, are made up of at least two uncoated wires placed into one protective plastic sheathing. 

Wires are most common in cases where you need a minor signal to travel a short distance. Cables have numerous conductors, as they send multiple, stronger signals over longer distances. Below, we’ll relay some types around Mounds homes.

Common Types of Electrical Wiring in Mounds Homes 

What type of electrical wire is used in homes? Our first stop is THHN wire. 

THHN Wires

The acronym found in its name explains what it comprises. The T means it has thermoplastic insulation, the double H indicates it’s highly heat resistant, and the N means a Nylon coat, which is there for additional protection. Like other wires, THHN is a single conductor with a tubular metal conduit or plastic coat protector. 

These plastic coatings also come in different colors to help Mounds experts understand where each wire goes. While the orange, black, or red wires are active and more dangerous, the white and brown ones are neutral. The green or yellowish ones are grounding wires that safely redirect excess electricity to the earth rather than any items or people in your home. 

THWN Wires

Your standard THWN wires are color-coated the same way as THHN wires and have similar features. Like THHN wires, most THWNs have a copper wire makeup that is popular in modern Mounds homes. Ones with an aluminum wire composition are less common due to their tendency to overheat and cause potential fire hazards. 

The only difference is the W – it’s safe for use in wet locations.

Other Kinds of Wires

What type of electrical wire is used in homes other than THHN and THWN? 

  • Low-voltage wires in thermostats, doorbells, and sprinkler systems 
  • Phone and data wires

Popular Kinds of Electrical Cables Found in Mounds Homes 

Moving on to cables, a nonmetallic cable (also known as a Romex cable) is most popular in Mounds homes. 

Romex Cables 

Each cable consists of at least three conductors – current-carrying, neutral, and ground. While single-conductor wires have individual sheaths colored specifically to explain which of these three categories they fall under, cables have the active, ground and neutral wires bundled together into one color-coded sheath. Therefore, a cable’s color explains its gauge, not its wire type. 

For example:

  • Six to eight-gauge cables with 55-amp and 40-amp circuits, respectively, have black coatings.
  • 10-gauge cables with 30-amp circuits have orange sheathing.
  • 12-gauge cables with 20-amp circuits are known for yellow protective plastic.
  • 14-gauge cables with 15-amp circuits comprise white sheathing.

Underground Feeder Cables 

Are you wondering what type of electrical wire is used in homes in cable form other than Romex cables? Underground feeders are also nonmetallic, but while Romex cables are only meant for dry areas in Mounds, these feeders are perfect for anywhere outdoors, underground, and even in wet locations. 

Each wire inside the protective gray sheathing has its own coating for additional insulation. The cables are perfect for outdoor projects and fixtures. These wires inside are the same types as above – a neutral wire, a hot wire, and a ground wire.

Quality Matters When It Comes to Your Mounds Electrical System

Rather than winging a repair or installation or trying out a random video tutorial, get Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric on the job. We’re the #1 team in Mounds, Oklahoma, with 4.9 stars and over 2,100 Google reviews.

We can tell you everything from what type of electrical wire is used in homes to the electrical requirements for HVAC functioning – call today for your free quote!

Cassie Pound, owner of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric
Published by
Cassie Pound

Cassie Pound is the Vice President of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric with locations in Tulsa, Glenpool, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma.