AWG chart
| AWG # | Diameter (inch) | Diameter (mm) | Area (kcmil) | Area (mm 2) |
| 0000 (4/0) | 0.4600 | 11.6840 | 211.6000 | 107.2193 |
| 000 (3/0) | 0.4096 | 10.4049 | 167.8064 | 85.0288 |
| 00 (2/0) | 0.3648 | 9.2658 | 133.0765 | 67.4309 |
| 0 (1/0) | 0.3249 | 8.2515 | 105.5345 | 53.4751 |
Full Answer
Where can you find a wire gauge chart?
Wire Gauge and Current Limits Including Skin Depth and Strength
- AWG Wire Sizes (see chart below)
- Metric Wire Gauges (see table below)
- Load Carrying Capacities (see table below)
- Maximum Frequency for 100% Skin Depth Chart
- Breaking Force for Copper Wire
How do you determine the gauge of a wire?
Wire Size Calculator – How to calculate wire gauge
- General information about the cable wire size. Electrical voltage is the separation of electric charges and the current flow due to the directed movement of electrons between two points.
- Function of the cross section. Each line has a resistance, even if it is very small. ...
- Wire size calculation formulas. ...
How to tell what gauge wire you have?
They are:
- Read The Box or Packaging Label
- Examine the extension cord itself
- Look at the thickness of the extension cord
- Cut open the extension cord
What are the different gauges of wire?
- Type: Will list the type of cable, such as NM-B or UF.
- Gauge: The gauge of the individual wires inside the cable, such as 14, 12, 10, etc.
- Number of wires: This number follows gauge. ...
- Grounding: The word “GROUND” or the letter “G” indicates the presence of a ground wire.
What is bigger 14 or 16 gauge wire?
The thicker the wire, the lower the gauge number.
Which is thicker 8 gauge or 10 gauge wire?
The general rule of thumb is that the smaller the gauge number, the thicker the cable. The standardized method of measuring the thickness of a cable was established in 1857 in the United States.
Which is bigger 12 or 18 gauge wire?
The thicker the wire the lower the gauge number & the thinner the wire the higher the gauge number or AWG. For example, a 12 AWG is thicker than an 18 AWG wire.
How do I choose gauge wire?
To determine what gauge wire you need, consider the carrying capacity and the amount of current the wire needs to conduct (measured in amperage or amps). Wire gauge is directly related to how many amps you need to run through it. The distance you need the wire to go can also impact the gauge of wire you need.
Which is stronger 9 gauge or 11 gauge?
The mesh is between 2 and 2-1/2 inches on the 11 gauge fabric but about an inch smaller on the 9 gauge fabric. This just indicates the size of the diamonds in the fabric. The smaller and more numerous the diamonds, the stronger the fabric, as in the case of the 9 gauge variety.
What is 9 gauge wire used for?
It can be used as a clothesline, in home improvements and DIY projects. The steel wire is galvanized to help resist weathering and rust.
Should I use 12 or 14 gauge wire?
12-gauge wire is the minimum requirement for outlets on a 20-amp circuit. 12-gauge wire can be used for outlets on both 15 and 20-amp circuits. 14-gauge wire is unsafe to use for outlets on a 20-amp circuit. 14-gauge wire can only be used for outlets on a 15-amp circuit.
Is 12 or 14 gauge bigger?
A 12 gauge low voltage wire has a diameter of roughly 0.0808 inches (2.053 mm), whereas 14 AWG wire has a diameter of around 0.0641 inches (1.628 mm). It is thus 26 percent thicker and 59 percent larger in a cross-sectional area compared to 14 gauge wire.
What are the 3 types of wires?
Three types of wire used are :live wire ( Red colour)neutral wire(Black colour)earth wire (Green colour)
How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit?
You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit.
What wire is needed for 220v 30 amp?
In most cases, you will need an #8 AWG wire for a 30 amp 240V circuit. The key for 30 amp wire sizing is to account for 2 NEC codes, namely: NEC 220-2 Code. This requires that a conduit wire's maximum load (30 amps) represents 80% of ampacity of that wire.
Which electric wire is best for home?
If what you need the wire for is the wiring of your home, copper wires will be most appropriate for you. Copper is more conductive than aluminum but is also heavier and more expensive. If your project requires long-distance application, then you should probably opt for the cheaper, more lightweight aluminum wire.
What is gauge wire?
What Are Wire Gauges? The gauge of a wire refers to its thickness. Each gauge is represented by a number, with smaller numbers representing thicker wire gauges and higher numbers signifying thinner wires.
What is AWG wire gauge?
American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standard method of measuring and identifying cable thickness developed in the United States for electrically conductive wire. It is suitable for specifying gauges for round and solid conductive wires made from non-ferrous material.
What is the difference between AWG 40 and AWG 4 wire?
(e.g., At 25° C, AWG 4 wire has a resistance of .2485Ω for 1000 feet, while AWG 40 wire has a resistance of 1079Ω for 1000 feet.) Current capacity (amps).
How many feet per pound of wire?
Feet per pound refers to the number of feet of wire needed to reach one pound in weight. (e.g., AWG 4 wire requires 7.918 feet, while AWG 40 requires 34.364 feet.) Resistance (ohms per 1000 feet). A wire’s electrical resistance depends on its length and thickness. Longer wires provide greater resistance than shorter wires.
Why do electrical wires need to be thicker?
For example, electrical circuits with higher amperage ratings require thicker wires to accommodate the load without experiencing excessive heat buildup. Using wires that are too thin for the specified circuit amperage can result in wire failure or ignition.
AWG Wire Sizes (see chart below)
AWG: In the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system, wire size diameters can be calculated by applying the formula D (AWG)=.005·92 ( (36-AWG)/39) inch. For the 00, 000, 0000 etc.
Metric Wire Gauges (see table below)
Metric Gauge : In the Metric Gauge scale, the gauge is 10 times the diameter in millimeters, so a 50 gauge metric wire would be 5 mm in diameter. Note that in AWG the diameter goes up as the gauge goes down, but for metric gauges it is the opposite.
Load Carrying Capacities (see table below)
Definition: ampacity is the current carrying capability of a wire. In other words, how many amps can it transmit? The following chart is a guideline of ampacity or copper wire current carrying capacity following the Handbook of Electronic Tables and Formulas for American Wire Gauge.
Breaking Force for Copper Wire
This estimate is based on nick-free soft annealed Cu wire having a tensile strength of 37000 pounds per square inch.
10 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 110V-120V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 10 amp circuit (this can be for a 10 amp 120-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 10 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
15 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 110V-120V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 10 amp circuit (this can be for a 15 amp 120-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 15 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
20 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 220V-240V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 20 amp circuit (this can be for a 20 amp 220-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 20 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
25 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 220V-240V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 25 amp circuit (this can be for a 25 amp 220-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 25 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
30 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 220V-240V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 30 amp circuit (this can be for a 30 amp 220-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 30 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
40 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 220V-240V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 40 amp circuit (this can be for a 40 amp 220-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 40 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
50 Amps Wire Size: AWG Gauge, Breaker, Suggestion For 220V-240V Circuit
If you’re looking for wire size for a 50 amp circuit (this can be for a 50 amp 220-volt circuit, breaker, battery output), you will need an AWG with at least 50 amp rated ampacity at 75°C.
What is wire gauge?
Wire gauge refers the physical size of the wire, rated with a numerical designation that runs opposite to the diameter ...
What gauge wire is used for a switch?
But solid wire is usually easier to secure under screw terminals, such as those found on standard switches and receptacles. In standard usage, though, the wire conductors in conduit or NM cable for household wiring will be 14-, 12- or 10-gauge wire that is a solid copper conductor.
Why is it important to make wires larger?
The higher the amperage rating of the circuit, the larger the wires need to be in order to avoid excess heat that can melt wires ...
Why is aluminum wire used in homes?
Aluminum wiring was once widely used, but because it was found that aluminum had a greater expansion profile under load, it often loosened wire connections and sometimes caused electrical fires.
Why is wire gauge important?
Why Wire Gauge Is Important. While circuit breakers or fuses offers good protection against overloading wires and overheating them, they are not absolute protection. Both these devices are designed to sense current overloads and to trip or "blow" before the wires can overheat to the danger point.
How to determine the proper size of a circuit?
The proper circuit size, as indicated by amperage, is determined by several factors, including the planned load on the circuit, the number of outlets or light fixtures, and the length of the circuit. Once the proper amperage is determined, though, it is critical, that the wire gauge used in the circuit is appropriate for the amperage ...
Can you use 16 gauge extension cords with portable heaters?
Many a household fire has occurred when a light extension cord with 16-gauge wire is used to power a heater or heating appliance of some sort. Most manufacturers will discourage the use of any extension cords with portable heaters , but if one must be used, ...
What Are Wire Gauges?
AWG Formulas
- According to the AmericanWire Gauge (AWG) method, the highest Gauge of a wire is Nr. 36 AWG, and the smallest Gauge is Nr. 0000. The diameters of these two are 0.005 inches and 0.46 inches, respectively. There are 40 gauges between these largest and smallest sizes, or you can say 39 steps. The ratio of these two diameters is 1.92. Now, as the gauge number decreases, the cross …
Relationships Between Wire Gauge and Other Technical Specifications
- The wire’s thickness affects its electrical properties. Thus, with the help of a wire’s Gauge, industries identify whether a wire is suitable for their application or not. Diameter: Wire gauges may vary from lower to higher numbers. A small number means a large diameter, while a large number refers to a small diameter. For example, the diameter of AWG 4 is larger than the diamet…
Wire Gauge Size Chart
- The American Society for testing and materials (ASTM) maintains the standardization of wire diameters and cross-sectional areas. To see the latest wire gauge chart, you can see ASTM B258-18.
Stranded Wire AWG Sizes
- You can also use AWG gauges to describe stranded wire. For a stranded wire, the AWG gauge is the sum of the cross-sectional areas of each strand. Here, you do not count the gap between each strand. If the stranded wire is made of circular strands, holes consist of 25% of the wire area. Thus, the diameter of the overall bundle is 13% more than an equal gauge solid wire. To specify …
Typical Applications of Standard Wire Gauges
- The wire with different gauges has different electrical properties, and as a result, they are suitable for their unique applications. Higher gauge wires are fit for lighter-duty electric works. On the other hand, lower gauge wires are suitable for heavy-duty projects. For construction and building projects, the standard wire gauges used are 10, 12, and 14. Some other applications of the wire…
Choosing The Perfect Wire Gauge
- To choose the perfect gauge wire for your application, you must consider the carrying capacity and the current in amps that the wire needs to conduct. The current you need to run through a wire is directly related to the wire gauge. Further, the distance of the wire that you need also affects the wire gauge. As there is no perfect conductor, you lose voltage with distance due to h…
Conclusion
- For an electrical system to run in the desired manner, it is essential to pick the correct wire. As a rule of thumb, the Gauge is a crucial factor. However, determining the right wire size is a bit complicated. You may take the help of professionals. You can contact Cloom for any assistance with wiring harnesses and cable assemblies. Feel free to call us anytime!