What is the difference between Romex 12/2 and SOOW 12/2?
There are many differences between Romex® and SOOW cables because they were designed to suit different applications. Some applications are indoors, some are outdoors, some are underground, and some have a large amount of daily impact from which the copper will need protection.
Romex® 12/2 cable is designed with a 12 AWG solid copper strand, while SOOW 12/2 has 65 copper strands in each of the specifically designed conductors for flexibility. Since Romex® most commonly slides through walls and conduits, it is much easier for installers to have a rigid cable that will hold its shape while being pushed up a wall. On the other hand, SOOW is a kind of portable cable that is the same cable used to build extension cables. Having a flexible extension cord is always an advantage because it helps the winding and unwinding process along with transportation from one location to another.
The next big difference is the jacket on each wire. Romex® NMB cable has a thin PVC jacket manufactured simply to route multiple cables from point A to point B at once. It has no added protection against moisture or chemicals that the outdoors might bring. The SOOW cable has a thick rubber jacket built so that flexibility, dishes and tare are not constantly manipulated and resistance to water, oils and gases due to its outdoor use.
SOOW is one of the few cables that does NOT come with an additional ground wire on top of the designated number of conductors. The Romex® 12 AWG 2 conductor will come with a third wire as the bare copper ground wire. The SOOW 12 2 cable comes with a total of 2 wires that are insulated and that’s it.
Two similarities between the cables are their 600 volt voltage rating and their amperage rating. Since a 12 AWG wire is a 12 AWG wire, whether it has 1 strand of copper or 65 strands, it will carry the same amount of AMPS.
As you can see in this article, it is easier to discuss the differences between the two cables than it is to discuss the similarities. If you are confused about what kind of protection your power cord needs, you should speak to your provider or the cord. They are great for understanding the different approvals for each cable and whether it can be used in certain locations or not. Your electrician can help you determine the wire size you need to meet the NEC code when inspecting the installation.
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