What Does “14/2 With Ground” Mean?

What Does “14/2 With Ground” Mean?

The designation “14/2 with ground” refers to a non-metallic sheathed cable (NMD-90 in Canada) with specific conductor characteristics. The first number is the wire gauge in AWG (American Wire Gauge) — 14 AWG in this case. The second number is the count of insulated conductors inside the sheath — 2 means a black (hot) and a white (neutral). “With ground” means there is also a bare copper grounding conductor inside the sheath. This cable is rated for 15A circuits and is the standard cable for lighting and outlet circuits in Ontario residential construction.

Common Cable Designations in Ontario Residential Wiring

• 14/2 with ground: 14 AWG, black + white + bare ground — used for 15A lighting and outlet circuits
• 14/3 with ground: 14 AWG, black + red + white + bare ground — used for three-way switch circuits and split-receptacle circuits
• 12/2 with ground: 12 AWG, black + white + bare ground — used for 20A circuits (kitchen counters, bathrooms, laundry)
• 12/3 with ground: 12 AWG, black + red + white + bare ground — used for 240V circuits like dryers and ranges when run as NMD
• 10/2 and 10/3: 10 AWG conductors — used for higher-amperage 240V circuits such as hot tubs and EV chargers

What NMD-90 Means

In Canada, this type of cable is sold as NMD-90 (Non-Metallic Dry location, rated to 90°C). It is the Canadian equivalent of Romex in the US. The 90°C rating refers to the insulation’s heat tolerance, not the circuit operating temperature. NMD-90 is only approved for dry interior locations — for wet, damp, or underground applications, the correct cable type is different. EZSMART electricians select the appropriate cable type for every installation across Ontario. Contact us for any wiring project.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp