How thick is 12 gauge wire?
Wire gauge is a measurement of the diameter of electrical wires. 12 gauge wire is the medium choice wire for current transfer. 12 gauge wires can carry up to 20 amps. Exceeding the current supply to the wire will cause it to become unusable.
In this guide, we will go into more detail about the thickness of 12 gauge wire and its characteristics.
Where can I use 12 gauge wire? It is used in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor containers. A 120 volt air conditioner that supports 20 amps can also use 12 gauge wire.
12 gauge wire diameter is 2.05 mm or 0.1040 in. SWG metric. They have low resistance to current flow and can handle up to 20 amps.
What is 12 gauge wire?
As mentioned above, 12 gauge wire is 2.05 mm (0.1040 in.) in SWG metric. Their resistance is too low, which makes them convenient conductors for the transmission of electrical current.
They are used in kitchens, outdoor containers, toilets, and 120 volt (20 amp) air conditioners. As a rule, many more thin wires can be connected than thicker wires.
12 gauge wires are efficient power transmitters, especially where a large power supply is required. Therefore, I recommend using 12 gauge wire for better power transfer.
In essence, the quality of the wire is not significantly related to the size of the wire. However, with 12 gauge (small gauge) wire, more conductive electrical wires can be obtained. Their resistance is also low, usually less than 5% of the total resistance. You can only lose 1.588 ohms per 1000 feet of 12 gauge copper wire. You can also use 12 gauge flexible wire with a 4.000 ohm speaker. I also recommend using 12 gauge copper wire instead of 12 gauge aluminum. Aluminum wires are stiffer and have less conductivity.
Rated current for 12 gauge wires
The maximum number of amps that 12 gauge wire can handle is 20 amps. And 20 amps can be carried 400 feet on 12-gauge insulated copper wire. If the wire length exceeds 400 feet, voltage loss begins to occur. Increasing the voltage solves the problem. A larger wire can carry current over longer distances than a smaller wire.
In practice, 12 gauge wires, although rated for 20 amps, can handle up to 25 amps. However, note that higher ampere ratings can burn your wires and circuit breaker. It is worth noting that the higher the heating rate, the higher the ampere. In this sense, aluminum wires have lower conductivity than copper wires; hence they will carry lower amps compared to copper wires as the heat rating increases. (1)
Wire thickness 12 gauge
As mentioned earlier, 12 gauge wire is 2.05mm (diameter). Gauge and wire thickness are related. Thinner sensors have higher current resistance. Since voltage is indirectly dependent on current, a decrease in current in thinner wires causes a corresponding increase in the voltage potential across the wire. The exact explanation for this deviation is that thinner wires have a lower electron charge density. Electrons are carriers of electrical conductivity. Thicker wires have a higher electron charge density. (2)
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How thick is the 18 gauge wire
- Which wire is from the battery to the starter
- Is it possible to connect the red and black wires together
Recommendations
(1) aluminum wires have lower conductivity - https://study.com/
learn/lesson/is-aluminum-conductive.html
(2) electron – https://www.britannica.com/science/electron
