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	Subject - 12-2, 12-3? Helpless_N_ny Sorry for my ignorance, but what is the difference between 12-2 and 12-3 romex? in2serenity 12/2 has 2 current carrying conductors, 12/3 has 3 The equipment grounding wire is not considered a conductor it only carries current in the event of a fault. lctrc789 12-2 romex 1 black 1 white 1 bare or green for ground 12-3 1 black 1 red 1 1 white 1 bare or green for ground. 12-2 can be used as a single 20 amp circuit, or can be used to say get 220 volts for an air conditioner 2 hots one ground no neutral. 12-3 could be used to get 2 120 volt circuits and 1 neutral and 1 ground, or say to wire something that requires 220 volts and a neutral and a ground. Helpless_N_ny Thank you Ictrc789 and in2serenity for your replies. CooCooMike hey guys how come on rx you don't count the ground when ordering it but you do when you order so cord or sj cord luckyshadow CooCooMike - Romex is listed as 12-2 with ground so is listed by the number of conductors Looking at this way the grounds are counted on both , but in different ways. kbsparky When dealing with type "SJ" cord, the "ground" wire is insulated the same as the other wires. Same as normal current-carrying conductors. In "romex" only the insulated current-carrying conductors are counted in the designation. The ground wire is sometimes identified by 12-2G or 12-2wg on supplier invoices. stedder 'cause in rubber cord the grd is insulated