Electrical Wire Size

Electrical current is measured in amps.

Electrical wire size.

The wire size calculator will give you a very simple and quick solution to the problem of calculating the size of wires and cables for pump applications in golf courses landscape projects and agriculture. The n gauge wire diameter d n in inches in is equal to 0 005in times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n divided by 39. Common sizes include 14 12 10 8 6 and 2 gauge wire. Above is a close up photo of a 14 copper wire against a millimeter scale.

The divisions on the scale of my metal ruler each represent 1 mm. The number of devices connected to the circuit usually determines how much current will flow through the wire. This website provides a wire size calculator voltage drop calculator wire ampacity charts and more. Wire sizing indicates the diameter of the metal conductor of the wire and is based on the american wire gauge awg system.

The size of the wire dictates how much current can safely pass through the wire. Determining the proper size wire to use can be easy if you know what amperage and wattage a wire can carry per wire gauge. This wire size calculator will calculate the appropriate wire gauge for a circuit based on amps voltage distance and load. Branch circuit electrical wire sizes such as the 14 copper electrical wire shown just below are also included in the tables in this article.

Here are some great tips for determining the proper wire gauge ampacity and the maximum wattage allowed. The gauge of a wire relates to the wire s current carrying capacity or how much amperage the wire can safely handle. 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. Wire gauge calculations wire diameter calculations.

You ll see that this wire looks as if it s about 1 5 mm in. The proper wire size is critical to any electrical wire installation. Gauges you use 1 2 3 which makes more sense mathematically than double nought. Each wire size or wire gauge awg has a maximum current limit that a wire can handle before damage occurs.

Electrical current is measured in ampacity and each wire gauge has a maximum safe carrying capacity. The requirements of the national electrical code nec and local codes must always be followed. It is important to pick the correct size of wire so that the wire doesn t overheat. Nfpa 70 national electrical code table 310 15 b 16 17.

If the wire size is greater than all gauges i e 0000 is largest one size of wire in then electrical engineer measure it in cm kcm or mcm instead of inches because inch is a small unit of these kinds of wires. The n gauge wire diameter d n in millimeters mm is equal to 0 127mm times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge. Electrical wire gauge ampacity and wattage load. Awg wire sizes see chart below awg.