Overview of American Wire Gauge (AWG)
– AWG is a standardized wire gauge system used in North America since 1857.
– It is used to measure the diameters of round, solid, nonferrous, electrically conducting wire.
– AWG is logarithmic, with increasing gauge numbers indicating decreasing wire diameters.
– The AWG system is different from the metric wire-size standard used in most parts of the world.
– Standardized wire gauges were developed to rationalize wire selection for specific purposes.
Determining Wire Diameter and Current-Carrying Capacity
– The diameter of an AWG wire can be calculated using a formula based on the gauge number.
– Increasing gauge numbers result in smaller wire diameters.
– The cross-sectional area of a wire is important for determining its current-carrying capacity.
– AWG tables are based on single, solid, and round conductors.
– Stranded wires have slightly larger overall diameters due to small gaps between the strands.
Relationship to Brown & Sharpe (B&S) Gauge and Other Uses
– AWG is essentially identical to the B&S sheet metal gauge.
– B&S gauge was designed for sheet metals and is technically improper for wire gauges.
– AWG is also used to specify body piercing jewelry sizes.
– The AWG system is widely recognized and used in various industries.
– AWG provides a standardized and consistent measurement for wire diameters.
Rules of Thumb for AWG Wire Sizes
– Doubling the cross-sectional area of a wire decreases the AWG by 3.
– Doubling the diameter of a wire decreases the AWG by 6.
– Decreasing the gauge number by 10 multiplies the area and weight by approximately 10.
– Aluminum wire has approximately 61% conductivity compared to copper wire.
– A solid round 18 AWG wire has a diameter of about 1mm.
Tables and Data for AWG Wire Sizes
– Tables provide information on resistance and ampacity for different wire gauges.
– The diameter information in the table applies to solid wires.
– Stranded wires are calculated based on the equivalent cross-sectional copper area.
– Fusing current is estimated based on ambient temperature.
– Tables assume DC or AC frequencies equal to or less than 60Hz and do not consider skin effect. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Wire_Gauge
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. The cross-sectional area of each gauge is an important factor for determining its current-carrying capacity.
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, 30 gauge) required more passes through the drawing dies than 0 gauge 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.
The AWG tables are for a single, solid and round conductor. The AWG of a stranded wire is determined by the cross-sectional area of the equivalent solid conductor. Because there are also small gaps between the strands, a stranded wire will always have a slightly larger overall diameter than a solid wire with the same AWG.
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.
AWG is also commonly used to specify body piercing jewelry sizes (especially smaller sizes), even when the material is not metallic.
