wiring wire size chart

        wiring wire size chart.

                                                               

                                                   Proper wire size is critical to any electrical wire installation. Wire sizing indicates the diameter of the metal conductor of the wire and is based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system. The gauge of a wire relates to the wire's current-carrying capacity, or how much amperage the wire can safely handle. 

When choosing the right size of wire, you must consider the gauge of the wire, the wire capacity, and what the wire will be used for. Wires that are not properly matched to the amperage of the circuits they serve can create a notable risk of short circuit and fire.

Color-coding is used both on the outer sheathing of bundled electrical cables, and also on the individual conduction wires within cables or inside conduit. Understanding this color coding can help you identify what the wiring is used for and helps maintain consistency within an electrical system.

                     When running individual electrical wires inside conduit, there is a limit to how many wires are allowed. The maximum allowable number is known as the " fill capacity," and this depends on several factors, including the size of the conduit, the gauge of the wires, and the conduit material. Metal (EMT), plastic (PVC), and flexible conduit all have different fill capacities, even when they're nominally the same size.