It is important to use electrical cables that can sustain the electrical power passing through it for every electrical need. Wire gauges come in different standard sizes, each designed to withstand a specific amount of electrical current. Sensibly, some wire gauges are commonly used compared to others. A 12 AWG wire is one of the most frequently used electrical wires. The most common method of referring to conductor sizes uses the cross-sectional area, expressed in mm². The following AWG metric conversion table converts AWG to mm and inches, and also lists the cross sectional area (mm2). AWG Metric Conversion Chart (AWG to mm) Increasing gauge numbers denote logarithmically decreasing wire diameters, which is similar to many other non-metric gauging systems such as British Standard Wire Gauge (SWG). However, AWG is dissimilar to IEC 60228, the metric wire-size standard used in most parts of the world, based directly on the wire cross-section area (in square millimetres, mm²). The AWG originated in the number of drawing operations used to produce a given gauge of wire. Very fine wire (for example, 30gauge) required more passes through the drawing dies than 0gauge wire did. Manufacturers of wire formerly had proprietary wire gauge systems; the development of standardized wire gauges rationalized selection of wire for a particular purpose. AWG is also commonly used to specify body piercing jewelry sizes (especially smaller sizes), even when the material is not metallic. [2] Formulae [ edit ]

While the AWG is essentially identical to the Brown & Sharpe (B&S) sheet metal gauge, the B&S gauge was designed for use with sheet metals as its name suggests. These are functionally interchangeable but the use of B&S in relation to wire gauges, rather than sheet metal gauges, is technically improper. American Wire Gauge ( AWG) is a logarithmic stepped standardized wire gauge system used since 1857, predominantly in North America, for the diameters of round, solid, nonferrous, electrically conducting wire. Dimensions of the wires are given in ASTM standard B 258. [1] The cross-sectional area of each gauge is an important factor for determining its current-carrying capacity. Logically, every electrical wire and cable has a specific dimension. This dimension is generally denoted in the American Wire Gauge measurement standard. So, is it not accurate to say that each electrical cable in existence is an AWG electrical wire? Some people might find this to be overwhelmingly confusing. I understand why most people face difficulty comprehending the notion that each electrical cable is an AWG cable.

Wire & Cable Rolls

If this AWG metric calculator doesn't provide you with the information you need, please get in touch with the technical experts of The Cable Lab who will be pleased to answer your questions or calculate the appropriate AWG/metric size for your installation. Again, an AWG electrical wire refers to a wire whose size is represented using an American wire Gauge standard of measurement. Some people might be wondering what AWG means in a broader context. What implications does it have for your choice of cable, and why is it important? An AWG is a universal index that expresses the cross-section area of a corpulent wire in reverse and logarithmically. Frankly, the whole affair is, to a certain extent, bewildering and not just because AWG cable measurements is counterintuitive. By definition, No. 36 AWG is 0.005 inches in diameter, and No.0000 is 0.46inches in diameter. The ratio of these diameters is 1:92, and there are 40 gauge sizes from No.36 to No.0000, or 39 steps. Because each successive gauge number increases cross sectional area by a constant multiple, diameters vary geometrically. Any two successive gauges (e.g., A and B ) have diameters whose ratio (dia. B ÷ dia. A) is 92 39 {\displaystyle {\sqrt[{39}]{92}}} (approximately 1.12293), while for gauges two steps apart (e.g., A, B, and C), the ratio of the C to A is about 1.12293 2 ≈ 1.26098. Electric resistance in wire made of Copper, Aluminum, Brass, Constantan, Nichrome, Platinum, Silver or Tungsten. As I have indicated severally, AWG is an acronym that stands for American Wire Gauge. Essentially, it is a universal measurement standard that denotes the sizes of different electrical cables. I am certain most of us have come across the phrase ‘AWG cable size’ at one point or another. Do you understand what it means?

d n = 0.005 i n c h × 92 ( 36 − n ) / 39 = 0.127 m m × 92 ( 36 − n ) / 39 {\displaystyle d_{n}=0.005~\mathrm {inch} \times 92 Generally speaking, American Wire Gauge sizes range from 0000 to 40 AWG. Most people often find AWG measurements to be pretty confusing. Typically, the size of any object tends to increase as the number representing its dimensions increases. However, this is not the case with any AWG power cable. As the American wire gauge number decreases, the size of the actual cable increases. For instance, a 24 AWG cable is smaller and thinner than a 6 AWG cable. Do you get the idea? In certain instances, the AWG value obtained through manual measurement isn’t accurate due to several factors. Considering that AWG cable measurements play a critical role in your cable choice, it would be best to inquire about the AWG measurements from the manufacturer. in millimeters (mm) is equal to 0.127mm times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n, divided by 39: A vast proportion of cable manufacturers label their gauge measurements in American Wire Gauge (AWG). Considering that a cable’s gauge has significant implications on whether it is safe to use in a particular application, you ought to know the gauge measurements of any wire you intend to use. In most instances, you don’t have to measure a cable’s AWG. Most reliable cable manufacturers take it upon themselves to indicate AWG cable measurements on the cable’s outer insulation. All you need to do is look for the measurements on the cable’s insulation, and you will be good to go. But what do you do when the manufacturer does not indicate the AWG cable measurements?

A wire is a single conductor, whereas a cable is a cluster of conductors that run in parallel and are warped or merged to form a solitary casing under an insulation material. It is easy to assume that a cable AWG refers to the size of a cable. That is a wrong assumption because the AWG in cable indicates the size of the conductor material, excluding the cable’s insulation. Most people assume that AWG in cable size refers to the size of the cable, but that is not entirely true. A considerable proportion of people believe that a wire and a cable are the same things. In reality, they are two different things. In most instances, people confuse a 12 AWG wire and a 14 AWG wire even though they are not similar. As I mentioned earlier, as the American wire gauge number decreases, the size of the actual cable increases. So, a 12 gauge wire is bigger than a 14 gauge wire. It is also important to note that the AWG cable current rating of a 12 gauge wire is higher than that of a 14 gauge wire. 4. What is AWG in cable size?