how much current can AWG wire handle

[panfilero]

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can find out how much current specific gauges
of wire can handle? I've looked up web pages on it, but can't figure
out what they mean... for example at

http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

There's a column that says: Current Carrying, and another that says
Fusing Current

I'm interested in figuring out if 20 AWG wire can handle steady DC of
7.25 Amps, for 20 AWG is says
Current Carrying: 1.46
Fusing Current: 58.4

? I don't get what they're saying.... other websites have been
similarly confusing..

Much Thanks

 

[Eeyore]

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can find out how much current specific gauges
of wire can handle? I've looked up web pages on it, but can't figure
out what they mean... for example at

http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

There's a column that says: Current Carrying, and another that says
Fusing Current

I'm interested in figuring out if 20 AWG wire can handle steady DC of
7.25 Amps, for 20 AWG is says
Current Carrying: 1.46
Fusing Current: 58.4

? I don't get what they're saying.... other websites have been
similarly confusing..

Fusing current is pretty obvious isn't it ?

Also beware of operation at elevated temperatures and derate when bundled
or run in trunking.

Graham

 

[Bob Eld]

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can find out how much current specific gauges
of wire can handle? I've looked up web pages on it, but can't figure
out what they mean... for example at

http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

There's a column that says: Current Carrying, and another that says
Fusing Current

I'm interested in figuring out if 20 AWG wire can handle steady DC of
7.25 Amps, for 20 AWG is says
Current Carrying: 1.46
Fusing Current: 58.4

? I don't get what they're saying.... other websites have been
similarly confusing..

Much Thanks

The current carrying capacity in the listed table is based on 700 circular
mills per amp, a very conservative number for wire wound inside a
transformer where heating is an issue.

The National electric code specifies current carrying capacity for open
wires or house wiring for example about twice that or 300 to 350 circular
mills per amp. This gives 20 AWG wire about a 3 Amp rating.

What is your application? What is the duty cycle? What is the thermal
environment, how hot can it get? Is it in a transformer or in open air and
how insulated? How much voltage drop can you tolerate?

 

[BobG]

But before the wire gets too hot, there will probably be so much
voltage drop that the voltage at the load is too low, so that might be
the more important criterion.

 

[Rich Grise]

Does anyone know where I can find out how much current specific gauges of
wire can handle? I've looked up web pages on it, but can't figure out
what they mean... for example at

http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html

There's a column that says: Current Carrying, and another that says Fusing
Current

I'm interested in figuring out if 20 AWG wire can handle steady DC of 7.25
Amps, for 20 AWG is says
Current Carrying: 1.46
Fusing Current: 58.4

? I don't get what they're saying.... other websites have been similarly
confusing..

Much Thanks

You didn't read the rest of the page:
"Current Notes:
The current shown per wire size listed above is based on 1 amp/ 700
Circular mils, other tables provide different current per wire size, and
different current for open air ~ check your local electrical code for the
correct current capacity [Ampacity]. The 1 amp/ 700 Circular mils seems
to be the most conservative, other sites provide/allow for 1 amp per 200
or 300 Circular mil. For shot wire lengths use 1A/200 Circular mil, for
longer wire runs use 300 Circular mil, and for very long wire runs use
the table above, 1 amp / 700 Circular mil.

The current rating is listed based on permissible voltage drop and not
conductor heating.

The ability of a wire to carry a given amount of current is affected by a
number of additional factors, which are not accounted for in the AWG
table above. The ambient temperature of the surrounding air, wire
insulation, and number of other wires bundled together [provided below].

Ampacity relates to the ability of the conductor to carry current [amps]
before the cable over heats. I understand there are hundreds of Ampacity
tables for many different conditions. The numbers above are but one
example. Ampacity Tables for many conditions:"

Hope This Helps!
Rich

 

[Phil Allison]

"panfilero"

I'm interested in figuring out if 20 AWG wire can handle steady DC of
7.25 Amps, for 20 AWG

** This page say 20AWG is good for 11 amps when used for "chassis wiring" or
wires mounted in mid air.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Tallies with my experience.

1 metre of 20AWG will dissipate about 6 watts at 11 amps when used this way.



...... Phil

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

"panfilero"



** This page say 20AWG is good for 11 amps when used for "chassis wiring" or
wires mounted in mid air.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Tallies with my experience.

1 metre of 20AWG will dissipate about 6 watts at 11 amps when used this way.



..... Phil

AC 43.13-1B shows AWG 20 okay for about 16.5A if you don't mind 80°C
rise (eg. very high temperature rated insulation in moderate ambient).

That's for *one wire in free air*, deratings for bundles (two wires
are a bundle), and altitude, of course, and the detailed calculations
are shown for various situations. May be available on the FAA dot GOV
website.

Mostly you'll not want to get anywhere near those current levels or
voltage drop will kill you.

 

[Pete Wilcox]

Could someone buy Michael a sense of humour?

As soon as somebody buys you a clue. Your Siglines speak volumes -
someone not sure enough about the relevance of his posts that he has to
post a joke-de-jour as a sigline by way of an apology for his lack of
wit... If you have a relevant response to make, then make it - otherwise
leave this newsgroup to those who seriously want to discuss electronics!

Regards,
Pete.

 

[neon]

I don't know. First thing first what wire? SOLID, ANNEALED COPPER, HARD DRAWN COPPER. then i can help you with some #.
#20 solid 25.89ohms/1000' @68 degrees F conduction 40% now this is DC it changes for AC AND PHASES.
#20 SINGLE PHASE 100' IS 6 AMPS 3 PHASE IS 8 AMPS.
The current I amperes at which a wire will melt can be calculated from I=Kd raised 3/2
d=diameter
k=0.244 for copper [tin=1642]
gooling will only get you somebody else miss information. take care

 

[Tzortzakakis Dimitrios]

Mil is confusing. A lot of folk in metric countries say "mil" short for
millimetre. A metre is considerably different to an inch.

No, we don't. We usually say mm.
Rough comparison:
#10->10 mm^2 , 35 A fuse for main residence
#12->6 mm^2, 25 A for stove
#14->4 mm^2, 20 A water heater
#16->2.5 mm^2, 16 Awashing machine, dishwasher
#18->1.5 mm^2, 10 A lighting
These figures are for one live conductor in a conduit inside the wall.

P.S., what's a click?

--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com
http://www.petersphotos.com

An infantry brigade was training in the summer heat, learning
methods to counter Soviet offensive tactics. That summer, the
area had experienced an infestation of rattlesnakes. Officers
and NCOs were given one magazine of live ammunition to counter
this danger, as several men had already been bitten.

So much ammunition was expended shooting, supposedly, at
snakes that the post commander demanded that every officer
and NCO who had shot at a snake present the dead snake as
proof that the expenditure of rounds was justifiable.

The next day, the post commander entered his office and spotted
a shoe box on his desk. He opened it, revealing a sleepy and
sluggish, but very live, rattlesnake. Inside the box were twenty
expended cartridges, and a short note. The note said, "I missed!"

When I was in Rhodes (east Greece), we were camping with my 542nd mechanized
infantry battalion, and there were lots of scorpions. We had brought a
wooden bank with us, and at bed time I saw a sergeant laying to sleep on the
bench. I asked, 'Is sir something wrong, I could help' he said just leave me
alone. I learnt from his colleagues that he found a scorpion under his
pillow (in his tent) and the "brave" sergeant decided to sleep on the bench.
Soldiers wished to be bitten, so that they could get sick leave.

 

[Rich Grise]

Mil is confusing. A lot of folk in metric countries say "mil" short for
millimetre.

Wrong. A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Sjouke Burry]

Wrong. A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

Thanks,
Rich

Wrong. Being in a metric country mil means millimeter.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

Some day the US will catch up with the rest of us?

Only when Easter and Christmas fall on the same day........

 

[krw]

Peter Hucker wrote:


Rich Grise wrote:
On Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:54 +0000, Peter Hucker wrote:
Mil is confusing. A lot of folk in metric countries say "mil" short for
millimetre.

Wrong. A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

Thanks,
Rich

Wrong. Being in a metric country mil means millimeter.

Some day the US will catch up with the rest of us?


That would be like getting an STD, just to prove you can.

You object to the metric system? [scoffs]

Small minds always scoff.

I take it back, you are even more childish than Ian Field. You can sit next to him in my killfile. Go snuggle up, you'll get on well together.

Says the idiot limey who doesn't even know how to set up his
newsreader.

 

[krw]

Peter Hucker wrote:



Peter Hucker wrote:


Rich Grise wrote:
On Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:54 +0000, Peter Hucker wrote:
Mil is confusing. A lot of folk in metric countries say "mil" short for
millimetre.

Wrong. A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

Thanks,
Rich

Wrong. Being in a metric country mil means millimeter.

Some day the US will catch up with the rest of us?


That would be like getting an STD, just to prove you can.

You object to the metric system? [scoffs]


Small minds always scoff.

I take it back, you are even more childish than Ian Field. You can sit next to him in my killfile. Go snuggle up, you'll get on well together.

Says the idiot limey who doesn't even know how to set up his
newsreader.

My newsreader works just fine. Any problems you are experiencing are up your end.

No, dumbass, you are simply too stupid to realize you're phucked up.

 

[Eeyore]

Wrong.

Yes they do, almost universally in the British speaking ones.

A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

No, that's a THOU, for a thousandth of an inch.

Graham

 

[Rich Grise]

Wrong. Being in a metric country mil means millimeter.

Some day the US will catch up with the rest of us?[/QUOTE]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Archimedes' Lever]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

Hucker is wrong again. 'mil' is not used in the metric system
specifically because it was put in use in the US system. So mil is mil
all over the world, and that measure is 0.001 inch.

 

[krw]

Peter Hucker wrote:



Peter Hucker wrote:


Rich Grise wrote:
On Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:54 +0000, Peter Hucker wrote:
Mil is confusing. A lot of folk in metric countries say "mil" short for
millimetre.

Wrong. A mil is 0.001 inch (short for milli-inch); metric countries would
have no reason to use it.

Thanks,
Rich

Wrong. Being in a metric country mil means millimeter.

Some day the US will catch up with the rest of us?


That would be like getting an STD, just to prove you can.

You object to the metric system? [scoffs]


Small minds always scoff.

I take it back, you are even more childish than Ian Field. You can sit next to him in my killfile. Go snuggle up, you'll get on well together.

Says the idiot limey who doesn't even know how to set up his
newsreader.

My newsreader works just fine. Any problems you are experiencing are up your end.

No, dumbass, you are simply too stupid to realize you're phucked up.

You haven't even stated the problem you're having. That's like putting your car into a garage and saying it's broken.

I certainly have, though you're obviously too stupid to remember.

 

[Archimedes' Lever]

no-one can be bothered to
say millimetres every time you want to pass someone a dimension.

Lazy fucking retards.

You do not say 'cent' for centimeter, or 'dec' for decimeter, and I use
both terms in my use of the metric system.

You guys are goddamned idiots considering that the rest of the world
makes considerations for your weights and measures systems, yet you
refuse to make any accommodations for those of others.

I am quite sure that there are far more intelligent folk over there than
the likes of you, asswipe.