A 12 AWG copper conductor requires how much free space within a device box?

In the context of electrical installations, the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies minimum space requirements for conductors within a device box to ensure safety, prevent overheating, and allow for proper wiring practices. For a 12 AWG (American Wire Gauge) copper conductor, each conductor needs to be accounted for in terms of volume within the box.

Typically, the NEC mandates that each conductor take up a certain amount of cubic inches of space within the box. For 12 AWG copper conductors, the standard calculation often used is 2.25 cubic inches per conductor. This volume allows for proper placement of the wires without crowding, which could lead to overheating or damage over time.

In this case, since a single 12 AWG copper conductor occupies 2.25 cubic inches of space, this volume effectively supports best practices for electrical installations and meets the code's safety requirements. This is why the correct answer regarding the required free space within a device box for a 12 AWG copper conductor is 2.25 cubic inches.