What Is Romex?
Romex is a trade name commonly used for nonmetallic-sheathed electrical cable used in residential wiring. The cable contains insulated conductors and a grounding conductor inside a protective outer jacket. Electricians route Romex through finished and unfinished building spaces to supply outlets, switches, lights, and other fixed electrical loads.
Quick Facts About Romex
Category
Nonmetallic-sheathed electrical cable
Used for
Residential branch-circuit wiring
Common confusion
Romex is a brand name, not a generic wire type
Also called
NM cable, Nonmetallic cable
Often discussed with
Electrical Wiring Repair
Key Takeaways About Romex
- Romex has multiple conductors inside one nonmetallic jacket.
- The cable suits many indoor residential wiring applications.
- Romex is not the same as wire run through metal conduit.
How Romex Works
Romex carries electrical current through insulated conductors enclosed in a nonmetallic outer jacket. A separate grounding conductor supports the grounding path for the circuit. The jacket keeps the conductors together and provides basic protection as the cable passes through suitable building spaces.
Related glossary terms: Wire gauge, Electrical box, Neutral wire.
During wiring work, an electrician routes the cable between an electrical box and the circuit panel. The cable ends at devices such as receptacles, switches, or light fixtures. The conductor size and circuit arrangement must match the electrical load and the wiring method. Conduit uses a separate raceway system, so it follows different installation practices from Romex.
From the Earth Electric team
When we inspect Romex, we check the outer jacket, conductor connections, routing, and condition around electrical boxes. Our team also looks for damage, loose terminations, and wiring that does not suit the space or the circuit load. We document the repair needs before changing the wiring.
Romex in Practice: A Real-World Example
A damaged cable near a wall receptacle may need repair during an Electrical Wiring Repair visit. We trace the cable to the electrical box and panel, then correct the damaged section and verify the connections.
Related Services
Related Terms
Wire gauge
Wire gauge is a standardized way to describe a conductor’s thickness and current-carrying capacity. The gauge…
Electrical box
An electrical box is an enclosure that holds wire connections, switches, receptacles, or light fixture connections…
Neutral wire
A neutral wire is a current-carrying conductor that returns electricity from a load to the electrical…
Pigtail
A pigtail is a short length of electrical wire that joins multiple conductors to a terminal…
Earth Electric
Have Questions About Romex?
Contact Earth Electric for practical guidance on Romex and related 24 hour electrician work in Miami.