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 outdoors, some are underground, and some have a high amount of daily impact that the copper will need protection from.
Romex® 12/2 cable is designed with a solid 12 AWG copper strand, while SOOW 12/2 has 65 copper strands on each conductor specifically designed for flexibility. Since Romex® is most commonly passed through walls and conduit, it is much easier for installers to have a rigid cable that will hold its shape while being pushed up into a wall. On the other hand, SOOW is a type of portable cable which is the same cable used to build extension cords. Having a flexible extension cord is always a plus because it helps the winding and unwinding process as well as getting it from one place to another.
The next big difference is the jacket of each cable. Romex® NMB cable has a thin PVC jacket made to simply run multiple cables from point A to point B at once. It has no added protection against moisture or chemicals that the outdoors might bring. SOOW cable has a thick rubber jacket built for flexibility, material and tare due to constant handling and resistance to water, oils and gases due to 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 a bare copper ground wire. The SOOW 12 2 cable comes with a total of 2 insulated wires and you’re done.
Two similarities between the cables are their 600 volt voltage rating and their amperage rating. Since 12 AWG wire is 12 AWG wire, whether it has 1 copper wire or 65 wires, it will carry the same amount of AMPS.
As you can see in this article, it’s easier to discuss the differences between the two cables than it is to discuss the similarities. If you are confused about the type of protection your power cable needs, you should talk to your provider or the cable. They are great at understanding the different approvals for each cable and whether or not it can be used in certain locations. Your electrician can help you determine the wire size you need to meet NEC code when inspecting your installation.