Buy the latest types of stranded wire cable
As you may know, the size and diameter of wire is a decisive factor that can affect the electrical properties of a conductor like the AMP rating which shall be considered in your decision and choice.
stranded wire cable
When extending or rewiring a circuit or installing a new circuit, it is important to know the correct amperage and wire gauge.
New wiring must use conductors sized for the amperage of the circuit. The higher the circuit, the larger the wires must be to avoid overheating that could melt the wires and cause a fire.
The correct circuit size (as indicated by the amperage) is determined by several factors, including the planned load on the circuit, the number of outlets or light fixtures, and the length of the circuit.
However, once the correct amperage is determined, the wire gauge used in the circuit must be suitable for the amperage of the circuit breaker.
wire size specification
If you've ever bought cord, you've probably noticed that there are many types and sizes of cord to choose from.
Different types of wire serve different purposes, but for any of these wire types, knowing the correct wire size or gauge to determine amperage is key to making the right choice.
Wire size is determined by the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system. Wire gauge refers to the physical size of the wire and is rated by the number opposite the conductor diameter - in other words, the lower the wire gauge number, the larger the wire diameter.
Common sizes include 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6 and 2 gauge wire. The size of the wire determines how much current can safely pass through the wire.
Current is measured in ampacity and each wire gauge has a maximum safe carrying capacity. For standard non-metallic (NM) cables, these amperage and wire measurement capabilities can help you calculate the required wire size.
These ratings apply to standard copper NM jacket cables, but in some cases these current ratings will vary. For example, some homes have aluminum wiring that has its own ampacities.
Aluminum wire was once widely used, but when aluminum was found to have a greater expansion profile under load, it often loosened wire connections, sometimes causing electrical fires.
Just because you have aluminum wiring doesn't mean you're necessarily at risk, because these connections can work forever if they're not overloaded. But it may be a good idea to evaluate and replace with copper wire.
standard wire types
Another thing to keep in mind is choosing the thread style that best suits your needs. Some wires are twisted, while others consist of solid copper conductors.
In installations with metal pipes, the solid wire is not always easy to pull if the wire has many bends. But solid wire is usually easier to hold under screw terminals, such as those found on standard switches and outlets.
In standard use, however, the conductors in lead or NM cables for wiring in the home will be 14, 12 or 10 gauge wires, i.e. solid copper conductors.
Why Wire Gauge Matters
While circuit breakers or fuses are good for keeping wires from overloading and overheating, they are not absolute protection. Both devices are designed to detect current overloads and trip or "melt" the wires before they overheat to a dangerous point.
But they are not foolproof and it is still important to prevent exceeding the current rating of a given circuit by connecting too many appliances to them.
Any time a device or appliance tries to draw more current on a circuit than the line meter, it is potentially dangerous. For example, plugging a heater rated at 20 amps into a 15 amp circuit connected by 14 gauge wire is a clear hazard.
If the circuit breaker is not working properly, the heater will draw more current than the wire can safely handle and can heat the wire to the point where the insulation around the wire melts and ignites surrounding materials.
On the other hand, there is no danger in connecting an appliance with a light electrical load to a circuit with a heavier wire gauge and higher amperage.
The circuit will draw the current required by whatever is connected to them and that's it. So, for example, running a laptop with very low amperage requirements on a 20 amp circuit connected to 12 gauge wire is great.
The potential danger is most apparent when using a lightweight household extension cord. Many home fires occur when a lightweight 16-gauge extension cord is used to power a heater or some type of heating device.
Most manufacturers discourage the use of extension cords with portable heaters, but if an extension cord is to be used, it must be a heavy-duty power cord with a high amperage that matches the amperage of the unit and the circuit it is connected to.
Current carrying capacity is defined as the number of currents a conductor can carry before melting the conductor or insulation. The heat caused by the current flowing through the conductor will determine the amount of current the wire will handle.
In theory, it is possible to increase the amount of current that can be carried through a single bare copper wire until the heat generated reaches the melting temperature of copper. There are many factors that limit the amount of current that can pass through a wire.
what determines the wire price
The price of wire and cable can vary depending on its type, size and current capacity. For example, copper wire has a different price than aluminum wire due to its high current capacity and heavy weight.
Conductor size:
The greater the circular mil area, the greater the current capacity.
The heat generated should not exceed the maximum temperature value of the insulation.
Ambient temperature:
The higher the ambient temperature, the less heat is needed to reach the insulation's maximum rated temperature.
Conductor number:
Heat dissipation decreases as the number of individual insulated conductors bundled together increases.
Installation conditions:
Limiting the heat release by installing conductors in lines, pipes, trays or ducts reduces the current carrying capacity. This limitation can also be remedied to some extent by using suitable ventilation methods, forced air cooling, etc.
Given all the variables involved, it is impossible to develop a simple current rating chart and use it as the final decision when designing a system where current ratings may become critical.
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