What Is AWG Cable?

Whenever people talk of AWG cables, it is easy to assume that they refer to a specific type of electrical cable. As I mentioned earlier, AWG is an acronym that stands for American Wire Gauge. Essentially, it is a measurement standard that denotes the size of every electrical wire.

So, an AWG cableis any electrical cable whose measurement is denoted using the American Wire Gauge measurement standard. Perhaps it is easier to comprehend if I flip the wording and say, cable AWG. When I put it that way, it becomes less complex, doesn’t it?

Generally speaking, American Wire Gauge sizes range from 0000 to 40 AWG. Most people often find AWG measurements to be pretty confusing. Typically, the size of any object tends to increase as the number representing its dimensions increases. However, this is not the case with any AWG power cable. As the American wire gauge number decreases, the size of the actual cable increases. For instance, a 24 AWG cable is smaller and thinner than a 6 AWG cable. Do you get the idea?

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot just walk into any electrical shop and ask for an AWG cable. As I have already indicated, AWG denotes a cable size. There are several sizes. Failure to choose the right AWG cable size for your intended application has some negative repercussions. Thus, it would be best to consult a trained and certified electrician before picking out an appropriate cable size.

An AWG electrical wire refers to a wire whose size is represented using an American wire Gauge standard of measurement. Some people might be wondering what AWG means in a broader context. What implications does it have for your choice of cable, and why is it important? An AWG is a universal index that expresses the cross-section area of a corpulent wire in reverse and logarithmically. Frankly, the whole affair is, to a certain extent, bewildering and not just because AWG cable measurements is counterintuitive.

A solid and stranded wiremight share the exact AWG measurement, but the stranded wire occupies more space than the solid wire. This confuses most people. However, it isn’t as complex as it seems. A stranded AWG power cableoccupies more space than a solid wire because its wire gauge is measured by adding up the cross-sectional area of each strand. There are air pockets between each strand in a stranded wire. Thus, each cross-section of wire will occupy a larger space in a stranded wire configuration.

A wire AWG refers to the size of the wire itself and not the wire and its insulation. Someone may complain that a 12 AWG speaker cable is not 12 AWG because it looks thinner than another 12 AWG cable that he owns. The truth is that some cables look more prominent because they have thicker insulation than regular cables. For example, a 4 AWG battery cablewill certainly look thicker than a standard 4 AWG cable.