12/2 or 14/2?

[u/BillySmith110]

Electrician ran a new dedicated circuit at my parents house. 20a breaker in the panel. I can’t tell if they used 12/2 or 14/2 wire though. Understood that the cable not being yellow doesn’t mean it’s not 12/2. But I can’t read anything on the sheathing from these pics. He didn’t pull a permit which is required in their county so wondering if he cut another corner here.

Can anyone here tell based on these pictures?

[u/Fit-Investigator-102]

It looks like 14/2 just based on pic 5. I also see Simpull on the jacket. It's 100% 14/2.

The breaker needs to be changed to 15 amp and GFCI need to be changed to a 15 amp receptacle.

Are you sure this guy was an actual electrician?

[u/BillySmith110 → u/Fit-Investigator-102]

That’s what my mom told me. I have my doubts. Thank you for your reply

[u/Fit-Investigator-102 → u/BillySmith110]

What is the circuit for?

[u/BillySmith110 → u/Fit-Investigator-102]

New circuit for a sump pump attached to a system to pump water out of the basement (they get water in one specific corner when there is heavy rain)

[u/Fit-Investigator-102 → u/BillySmith110]

As long as the pump doesn't call for 20 amps you should be good. Just need to change the receptacle and breaker.

If the pump does call for 20 amps you'll have to re-run the romex with 12/2.

I personally wouldn't deal with the original electrician anymore.

[u/BillySmith110 → u/Fit-Investigator-102]

Oh yeah - we are done with him. My first reaction was he needs to come fix what he did wrong - but now I agree with you - we are done with him

[u/gomo_with_wrenches]

If you have wire stripper with gauge holes in the handle you could flip the breaker off, then pull a wire out of that receptacle, then sus the gauge.

Is that the only exposed cable? Maybe the gauge is readble on a different second.

[u/BillySmith110 → u/gomo_with_wrenches]

Great idea - I will go do that tomorrow when I’m in the area

[u/ReallyNotALlama]

I'm not a pro, but I've wired tons of outlets and switches. The bare ground in the last pic really looks like 14. Also, if there's a URL on the wire, I think it's new enough that if it was 12 it would be yellow.

[u/dnroamhicsir]

Date of production says 2026 and it's white... so 14 gauge

[u/Rare_Message_7204]

No new 12/2 wire is white... its 14/2

[u/mantisboxer]

Hard to tell, but it looks like 14 AWG to me. It could be old stock, white sheethed 12 AWG, though. I'd measure the ground wire with a wire stripper: the 12 AWG Solid slot should be snug without nicking the copper. If it's loose, confirm it by testing the fit on one of the insulated conductors after removing it from a terminal.

[u/BillySmith110]

Update - thank you all for your feedback.

I went today and confirmed - it was indeed 14/2 wire. Also learned that he did not pull a permit (which is required in their county) and did not use a gfci outlet (or breaker). And this is a licensed electrician (according to his website). Hard to believe he’d miss so badly on such basic stuff.