Wire Calculator 3.1.5

Wire Calculators

In the field of commerce, wire sizes are determined using gauges, which are devices consisting of circular or oblong plates with notches of varying widths around their edges to accommodate wires and sheet metals of different thicknesses. Each notch is assigned a number, and the wire or sheet that fits a particular notch is identified by a corresponding gauge number, such as No. 10, 11, 12, and so on.

Among the wire gauge measurement devices, those with circular forms are the most widely used. They typically have a diameter of 3¾ inches (95 mm) and feature thirty-six notches. Many of these gauges have the decimal equivalents of sizes imprinted on their backs. Similarly, oblong plates are also notched accordingly. Rolling mill gauges share an oblong shape. Some gauges come with a wedge-like slot for inserting the wire, with one edge being marked; the point where the movement of the wire stops determines its size. The graduations are usually based on standard wire measurements or expressed in thousandths of an inch. In certain instances, both edges may be graduated differently to facilitate comparison between two measurement systems. A few gauges are designed with holes through which the wire must be passed. All gauges are made to be hardened and ground to specific dimensions.

In certain scenarios, wire sizes are specified in terms of the wire's cross-sectional area, typically in mm². The benefits of this approach include the ease of calculating physical dimensions or weight of wire, consideration for non-circular wires, and streamlined determination of electrical properties.

• Wire Gauge Calculator
• AWG To mm Calculator
• SWG To mm Calculator
• Voltage Drop Calculator

Simply input the source Voltage, Power/Current, and Distance into the Wire Gauge Calculator to determine the required wire size in AWG and Circular Mils. Results are provided for both Copper and Aluminum Wire.