How is Gauge Figured?

[briansmith]

If Zip cord is "12 AWG" does that mean that the the positive run is 15 AWG and the negative is 15 AWG for a combined AWG of 12? Or does it mean that the positive run is 12 AWG and the negative run is 12 AWG?

Thanks for the help!

-Brian

 

[jneutron]

If Zip cord is "12 AWG" does that mean that the the positive run is 15 AWG and the negative is 15 AWG for a combined AWG of 12? Or does it mean that the positive run is 12 AWG and the negative run is 12 AWG?

Thanks for the help!

-Brian

It means both conductors are #12 guage.

Cheers, John

PS...the gratuitous pics...can't forget the pics...(hey, you asked how the guage is figured, didn't ya???)

 

[Mudcat]

American Wire Gauge (AWG) was devised in 1857. The basis of the AWG is formed by the specification of three diameters and that a given number of intermediate diameters are formed by geometrical progression. AWG 0000 is defined as 0.46 inches and AWG 36 is 0.005 inches in diameter. The third defined diameter is 10 AWG, and AWG 10 is 0.1 inch in diameter and has an area of 10,000 circular mils and has a resistance for standard annealed copper of at 20 degrees C of 1 ohm/1000 ft.

The ratio of one diameter wire to the next larger diameter wire is defined as:

39^th root of ^0.46/_0.005 or 92, or 1.1229322

The square of this ratio is 1.261
The sixth power of the ratio is 2.005. The fact that this is so nearly 2 is the basis of a lot short cuts. Among other approximations are:

1) An increase of three gauges doubles the area and weight and halves the resistance.
2) An increase of six gauge numbers doubles the diameter.
3) An increase of 10 gauge numbers multiples the area and weight by 10, and divides the resistance by 10.


Any other questions?

 

[Az B]

The ratio of one diameter wire to the next larger diameter wire is defined as:

39^th root of ^0.46/_0.005 or 92, or 1.1229322

The square of this ratio is 1.261
The sixth power of the ratio is 2.005. The fact that this is so nearly 2 is the basis of a lot short cuts. Among other approximations are:

1) An increase of three gauges doubles the area and weight and halves the resistance.
2) An increase of six gauge numbers doubles the diameter.
3) An increase of 10 gauge numbers multiples the area and weight by 10, and divides the resistance by 10.


Any other questions?

I'll take the approximations for $200 Alex. All that other stuff make brain hurt.

Thanks for the info!

 

[mtrycrafts]

If Zip cord is "12 AWG" does that mean that the the positive run is 15 AWG and the negative is 15 AWG for a combined AWG of 12? Or does it mean that the positive run is 12 AWG and the negative run is 12 AWG?

Thanks for the help!

-Brian

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