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AWG sizes

AWG sizes

AWG sizes

(OP)
This pertains to a question I originally asked in thread248-194860: splitting the mains.

I recently learned that the AWG wire sizes have a geometric area progression, so to double the wire size, decrease your AWG value by 3. Similar to twice the power is +3dB. For example, two 18 AWG wires (area =1624 circular mils) have the the area as a '15' AWG wire (2x area is -3AWG). To keep it in real AWG sizes, four 30 AWG wires (100.5 circular mils) have the same areas as a 24 AWG wire (404.0 circular mils); (4x area = -6AWG).

So why is this useful? If you want to crimp two 18 AWG wires into a crimp terminal, you'll need a crimp terminal that can support at least 14-16 AWG wire. I prefer to only use this for circular crimps, like a quick-disconnect. I'll twist the wires on the rare occasion that i try this with a c-crimp.

One more tidbit. Wire diameter in mils (0.001 in) is equal to the square root of the wires circular mils measurement. Another handy conversion.

That's pretty impressive for a system that's been in use since 1857 (thanks Wikipedia). You can find the math behind all this on Wikipedia too (American wire gauge).

Z

RE: AWG sizes

The actual ratio of area between gauge sizes is not exactly the 3rd root of 2. It is the 39th root of 8464. One good trivia deserves another.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

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