Wire Size Specifications

Wire Size Specifications

Table: UL486E
Wire size AWG or kcmil 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 250 300 350 400 500 600 700 750 800 900 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 mm
2

Assigned maximum ampere rating A 0.5 0.8 1 2 3 5 7 10 15 20 30 50 65 85 100 115 130 150 175 200 230 255 285 310 335 380 420 460 475 490 520 545 590 625 650 665

Amperage versus Wire Size

Table: UL486E Assigned maximum ampere rating versus wire size for copper conductors. Values are for not more than three conductors in raceway or cable (reference: National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70-1999).

0.05 0.08 0.13 0.20 0.32 0.52 0.82 1.3 2.1 3.3 5.3 8.4 13.3 21.2 26.6 33.6 42.4 53.5 67.4 85.0 107 127 152 177 203 253 304 355 380 405 456 507 633 760 887 1010

Wire Size and Cross-sectional Area

Approximate relationship between conductors of cross-sectional areas in mm2 and AWG sizes as used in North America (reference: IEC 998-1).

Cross-sectional area mm3 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 6 10 16 25 35

Wire size AWG 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2

Wire Size Specifications

Definitions Unprepared Conductor:

A conductor which has been cut and the insulation of which has been removed for insertion into a terminal. The conductor end is bare.

Prepared Conductor:
A conductor, the strands of which are soldered or tinned, or the end of which is fitted with a cable lug, eyelet, quick-connect, ring terminal, spade terminal, or similar component, prior to insertion into the terminal.

Factory Wiring Terminal:

A terminal intended in the end application to be connected under controlled conditions, usually at a manufacturers location. Such terminations shall use prepared or unprepared conductors.

Field Wiring Terminal:

A terminal to which wiring connections are made in the field and that is subjected to the requirements of a terminal for field wiring as specified in the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70. Such terminations shall accept unprepared conductors.