Fillable Printable Sample Wire Gauge Chart
Fillable Printable Sample Wire Gauge Chart
Sample Wire Gauge Chart
Total
Voltage
(
AWG
)
American Wire Gauges
(minimum)
AmpsAC or DC101214161820
.250A
12V300020001200750450300
24V6000400024001500900600
.500A
12V15001000600375225150
24V300020001200750450300
.750A
12V1000600375250150100
24V20001200750500300200
1.00A
12V80050030020010075
24 V16001000600400200150
1.25A
12V6003802401509060
24V1200760480300180120
1.50A
12V5003002001258050
24V1000600400250160100
1.75A
12V4602751701007040
24V92055034020014080
2.00A
12V400240150906035
24V80048030018012070
2.25A
12V3502001308050
24V700400260160100
2.50A
12V30019012075
24V600380240150
2.75A
12V28017010070
24V560340200140
3.00A
12V26016010060
24V520320200120
Total distance in feet
(
maximum
)
Determining
Wire Gauge
Example:
Power supply voltage equals 12 volts.
Load equals 3 electromagnetic locks.
Each lock requires 0.280 amps of
current. Total current draw equals
(3 x 0.280 = 0.840 amps). Round
off current to 1 Amp. (Always round
off in an upward direction.) Distance
from farthest electromagnetic lock
equals 100 feet. Locate the 1.00
Amp 12V row from the left side of
the chart. Select the distance in this
row closest to the distance of the
farthest lock. The wire gauge required
can be found at the top of the
column (#18 AWG).
Types of Wire:
Hookup wire is available in both solid and stranded wire
types. Stranded wire is the accepted standard for system
hookup as it is more flexible and less likely to break. It’s made
of several small-diameter wires twisted together to form one
larger-diameter conductor. To prevent the strands from
separating, stranded wire is usually tinned (solder applied to
ends of wire). This makes connections easier and prevents
the wire from fraying.
Wire Composition:
Most electrical hookup wire is copper; some is copper-coated
aluminum. Aluminum wire is cheaper, but copper is the
preferred wire choice.
Wire Gauge:
Wire is given a gauge number to classify it by its size or
thickness. American wire gauge (AWG) is the most common
measurement for electrical wire size – the lower the wire
gauge number, the larger the wire diameter and the greater
the current carrying capability.
Wire Insulation:
The wire insulation should be UL or CSA approved for the
maximum voltage to which the wire will be subjected.
Normally, the wire rating is three to six times greater than
the maximum voltage to be applied to the wire.
Wire Gauge Chart
