VN Infinite quality 14/3 NM-B Wire with Ground NMB Cable 14 Gauge, 3 Conductor Electrical Wire Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable Residential Indoor Insulated Jacket

What I used it for

I ran a fresh 14/3 line through an older hallway to convert a single-pole light to a pair of three-way switches and to feed a new ceiling fan/light combo with independent control. For both tasks, this 14/3 NM-B cable proved exactly the right tool: it carries two hots (black and red), a neutral (white), and a bare ground—ideal for multi-switching setups, fan/light splits, and interconnect runs for hardwired smoke alarms. The coil I used was 100 feet, which was enough to handle a couple of home runs with a few spare offcuts for pigtails.

Build quality and handling

The jacket feels smooth and consistent, with no chalky residue and no odd “flat spots” that sometimes show up on cheaper cable. The manufacturer claims an easier-pulling jacket, and in practice that rings true. The cable slid well through bored stud bays and through old notches where space was snug. I wouldn’t call it slippery in the way some premium jackets are, but it’s low-friction enough to notice, especially when you’re pulling more than one run at a time.

Stripping was clean and predictable. I scored the jacket with a dedicated NM stripper and peeled it back without nicking the conductor insulation. The inner insulation on the conductors held up nicely—no tearing or smearing when I bent and twisted leads into devices and wirenuts. The color-coding is what you expect: black, red, white, and a bare ground. The copper itself looked uniform and bright, with no waviness or kink memory that makes terminations annoying. The cable’s overall stiffness is appropriate for 14/3: flexible enough to route through boxes and around corners, but not so floppy that it fights you under staples.

A small but practical detail: the print on the jacket was legible and durable, which helps with identification and orientation in cramped spaces. Footage markings are helpful for planning pulls; if you rely on exact footage frequently, verify markings on your coil before making cuts.

Installation experience

Routing through studs and joists was straightforward. The cable handled standard bend radii without deforming or showing stress marks. It tolerates a bit of twisting during pulls without developing a stubborn corkscrew memory. Under staples, the jacket resisted crushing when I took care not to overdrive fasteners. It played well with both plastic and metal box clamps—no fraying or scuffing beyond normal compression marks.

At terminations, conductor insulation stripped cleanly with standard 14 AWG settings. The copper took shape easily for hook terminals and compact pigtails. I didn’t see flaking or splitting on the red conductor insulation, which can be a weak point on some cables when you’re repeatedly bending and reworking connections in multi-device boxes.

One thing to note: with 14/3, your box fill adds up quickly—two hots and a neutral plus grounds, device yokes, and any internal clamps. Plan your boxes accordingly and don’t underestimate the space you’ll need, especially if you’re adding smart controls or combination devices. I sized up to deeper old-work boxes for the fan/light controls and appreciated the extra volume.

Code-minded notes

• Use cases: 14 AWG NM-B is for 15-amp circuits. Don’t put it on a 20-amp breaker.
• Locations: NM-B is for dry, indoor spaces (dwelling walls, ceilings, basements where not damp). Not for wet or damp locations, not for direct burial, and not for exposed runs where physical damage is likely.
• Three-way and fan/light: The black and red conductors make it simple to run travelers or split loads; keep your white neutral continuous and properly identified.
• Multi-wire branch circuits: If you use this cable as an MWBC (two hots on opposite legs sharing the neutral), use a 2-pole breaker or handle-tied breakers, keep the neutral continuous (pigtail at devices), and follow local code requirements. This helps ensure simultaneous disconnect and reduces the chance of overloading the shared neutral.
• Support and protection: Support the cable at required intervals and near boxes, protect where it passes within 1-1/4 inches of the stud face, and avoid overly tight bends. Always check your local amendments to the NEC for specifics.

Also remember that while the individual conductors inside NM-B are 90°C rated, the ampacity for NM-B in building wiring is typically limited to the 60°C column per code. Don’t rely on the higher temperature rating to push loads or bundling beyond what’s allowed.

Where 14/3 shines

There are a few scenarios where having red, black, white, and ground in a single jacket is the cleanest solution:

• Three-way or four-way lighting circuits where you want a neutral present in each box.
• Ceiling fan/light combos with separate switches for each function.
• Interconnected, hardwired smoke/CO alarms that require an interconnect conductor.
• Split or half-switched receptacles, where code and local practice allow, or where you need a constant hot and a switched leg together.
• Future-proofing: running 14/3 during a remodel so neutrals and extra conductors are available for smart controls later.

In each of those cases, the cable kept my runs tidy and cut down on multiple jackets or conduit fills.

Performance and durability

I pulled this cable through a mix of new bored holes and old notches in original framing. The jacket resisted scuffing against wood edges and metal box knockouts, and it never bonded to spray foam or paint overspray in a way that made later adjustments difficult. Under fish tape guidance through a short protective raceway, friction stayed manageable. I didn’t notice any cold-weather brittleness during a chilly morning install; it remained pliable enough to work safely without cracking the sheath.

Over time, what matters is whether terminations stay tight and the insulation holds up. I made returns to both installations to swap in smart dimmers. The insulation didn’t stick to wirenut springs, the copper ends hadn’t oxidized beyond normal, and I didn’t see any jacket creep under staples. This is the kind of uneventful durability you want from residential cable.

Limitations and trade-offs

• It’s 14 AWG. If you need a 20-amp circuit, you need 12/3 instead.
• NM-B has a narrow use case: dry, protected, indoor spaces. If your run crosses a damp area, outdoors, or needs frequent conduit segments, THHN/THWN in conduit might be a better choice.
• Box fill gets tight fast with 14/3, especially in multi-gang boxes and with devices that require pigtailing. Plan depth and volume accordingly.
• If you regularly pull long runs through crowded holes or conduit, a premium ultra-low-friction jacket can shave a bit more effort; this jacket is good, but not magic.

None of these are flaws in the cable itself—they’re inherent to 14/3 NM-B and residential wiring practice.

Value and alternatives

The handling characteristics feel on par with well-known NM-B offerings. The jacket’s balance of flexibility and abrasion resistance is right where it should be, and the stripping behavior is pleasantly consistent. If you’re used to “SIM”-style jackets, you’ll find this comparable for typical stud-bay pulls and box terminations. For pure conduit-heavy environments or long difficult pulls, I’d switch to individual conductors in raceway, but for standard in-wall residential work, this cable is exactly the tool you want.

Recommendation

I recommend this 14/3 NM-B for anyone wiring 15-amp indoor branch circuits that need an extra conductor—three- and four-way lighting, fan/light splits, and interconnected alarms chief among them. It pulls smoothly, strips cleanly, and terminates without fuss. The jacket feels thoughtfully designed for real-world handling rather than spec-sheet bragging, and the conductors and insulation show the kind of consistency that makes repeatable, code-compliant work easier. If your project and local code call for 14/3 NM-B, this cable is a reliable choice that won’t slow you down.