Conductor Profile
Heavy Power & Battery Cables
Large diameter conductors used for main power distribution, battery banks, automotive starters, and heavy industrial machinery. These sizes are designed to carry hundreds of amperes with minimal voltage drop.
Design Characteristic
High current, low resistance
Dimensions & Electrical Properties
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Area (mm²) | Max Ampacity (A) | Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000 (4/0) | 11.68 | 107.2 | 380 | 0.161 |
| 000 (3/0) | 10.40 | 85.0 | 328 | 0.203 |
| 00 (2/0) | 9.27 | 67.4 | 283 | 0.256 |
| 0 (1/0) | 8.25 | 53.5 | 245 | 0.323 |
| 2 | 6.54 | 33.6 | 181 | 0.513 |
Conductor Profile
Standard Power & Equipment
Commonly used in residential wiring, chassis wiring, power supplies, and general electrical equipment. Usually consists of multiple stranded copper wires for flexibility.
Design Characteristic
Moderate current capacity
Dimensions & Electrical Properties
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Area (mm²) | Max Ampacity (A) | Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5.19 | 21.2 | 135 | 0.815 |
| 6 | 4.11 | 13.3 | 101 | 1.296 |
| 8 | 3.26 | 8.37 | 73 | 2.061 |
| 10 | 2.59 | 5.26 | 55 | 3.277 |
| 12 | 2.05 | 3.31 | 41 | 5.211 |
Conductor Profile
Electronic & Control Wiring
Used for low-current applications, signaling, control panels, automotive harnesses, and electronics. The resistance increases significantly at these smaller diameters.
Design Characteristic
Low current, high resistance
Dimensions & Electrical Properties
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Area (mm²) | Max Ampacity (A) | Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1.63 | 2.08 | 32 | 8.286 |
| 16 | 1.29 | 1.31 | 22 | 13.17 |
| 18 | 1.02 | 0.82 | 16 | 20.95 |
| 20 | 0.81 | 0.52 | 11 | 33.31 |
| 22 | 0.64 | 0.33 | 7 | 52.96 |
| 24 | 0.51 | 0.20 | 3.5 | 84.22 |
Logarithmic Scale
The AWG Scale Logic
AWG is based on a logarithmic scale. Counterintuitively, a smaller AWG number indicates a larger wire. The cross-sectional area doubles every 3 gauge steps, and the diameter doubles every 6 steps.
Design Characteristic
d_n = 0.127 × 92^((36-n)/39) mm
Dimensions & Electrical Properties
| Rule of Thumb | Physical Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + 3 AWG steps | Area halves, Resistance doubles | AWG 10 to AWG 13 |
| - 3 AWG steps | Area doubles, Resistance halves | AWG 10 to AWG 7 |
| - 6 AWG steps | Diameter doubles | AWG 10 to AWG 4 |
| + 10 AWG steps | Area & Weight decrease by 10x | AWG 2 to AWG 12 |