How to tell if a wire is 12 gauge or 14 gauge (photo guide)

Determining the gauge of the wire (thickness) is necessary when purchasing needlework or beading wire, as well as wire products such as jump rings, head pins, earring hooks and other accessories. When comparing gauges, the thinner the wire, the smaller the gauge number. With this in mind, choosing the right gauge cables is critical. When comparing 12 gauge wire to 14 gauge wire, 12 gauge wire is superior.

Wire is often labeled as 12 gauge or 14 gauge. This article will show you how to tell if a wire is 12 gauge or 14 gauge in more detail.

How to tell if a wire is 12 gauge or 14 gauge

Unless otherwise noted, gauge for our products is calculated using the Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) (also known as British or Imperial Wire Gauge).

Some manufacturers mark their products using the American Wire Gauge AWG (also known as Brown & Sharpe Wire Gauge), which will be listed on the product description or AWG wire size chart.

With thicker gauges, the difference between SWG and AWG is most noticeable (16 and thicker).

Due to the unexpected increase in copper prices, installers sometimes used aluminum branch wire instead of copper branch wire in home electrical systems: copper and aluminum branch wire, each metal a different color.

Wire thickness 12 gauge

In terms of size, 12 gauge wire is typically 0.0808 inches or 2.05 mm thick. Wire gauge refers to the thickness of the wire. The higher the resistance, the narrower the cross section of the wire. As the resistance increases, the current decreases and the output voltage across the wire increases.

In electrical conduction, metal ions collide with moving electrons. They are used in kitchens, washrooms, and street outlets, as well as 120-volt air conditioning systems that can draw up to 20 amps of electrical wire.

As a general rule, the thinner the wire, the more wires you can connect together. 12 gauge electrical wire is recommended for improved power transmission when a high power source is required.

Wire thickness 14 gauge

The diameter of 14 gauge wire is approximately equal to the thickness of the paperclip. The 14 gauge wire is 1.63mm in diameter and is ideal for a 15 amp circuit breaker.

For nearly a century, we have used the American Wire Gauge AWG method to measure wire thickness.

This approach classifies wires based on the diameter in the AWG wire size chart, not the thickness. These wires have the maximum current rating for electrical circuits that they can carry without overheating or melting.

Sockets that can be put on 12 gauge wire

There are practical limits on the number of outlets. However, the appropriate and allowed number of outlets that can be connected to a 12 gauge wire with a 20 gauge circuit breaker is 10.

Circuit breakers in your home's wiring panel function as safety devices. When the current in the circuit exceeds the rating, each device will turn off the power.

Sockets that can be put on 14 gauge wire

Only eight outlets per 14 gauge cable are allowed. Only connect 14 gauge wire to a 15 amp circuit breaker. A 15 gauge wire amplifier circuit can have an unlimited number of outlets.

You will overload the circuit breaker if you use appliances that draw more electricity than the circuit breaker can handle.

Using 12 gauge wire

You cannot use any special equipment with 12 gauge wire. On the other hand, 12-gauge wire is suitable for kitchen utensils, bathrooms, outdoor outlets, and 120-volt air conditioners that support 20 amps.

When connected to a certain height, you can run 12-gauge to 70-foot cable on a 15-amp circuit breaker. However, on a 20 amp circuit breaker, the peak is reduced to 50 feet. Since wire gauge is the thickness of the conductor through which the electrons flow, the conductor must be able to reduce resistance while maintaining improved transmission performance. (1)

Using 14 gauge wire

For fixtures, fixtures, and lighting circuits connected to a 15 amp circuit breaker, 14 gauge copper wire can be used. Remember, as stated earlier in the text, you also have to decide how many outlets to connect to. The flexibility of 14 gauge wire makes it difficult to hold large equipment for extended periods of time.

In addition, a typical 14 gauge copper wire is 1.63mm in diameter, which results in increased resistive heating and overheating when running at higher current. (2)

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How thick is the 18 gauge wire
• Where to find thick copper wire for scrap
• Is copper wire a pure substance

Recommendations

(1) electron flow - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/

electron flow

(2) resistive heat - https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/electric-resistance-heating