Wire and Cable Metric Calculations

Dimensions Mass Force or Tension

Length pounds x 0.45359 = kg (kilograms) pounds (force) x 4.448 = N

mils x 0.0254 = mm (millimeters)
inches x 25.4 = mm
feet x 0.3048 = m (meters)
miles x 1.609344 = km (kilometers) Mass per unit length
Area
2
circular mils x 0.0005067 =mm
(square millimeters)
2
sq. in x 645.16 = mm
2
sq. ft. x 0.092903 = m
(square meters)
2 2
sq. yd. x 0.836127 = m
2 2
sq. mi. x 2.58999 = km
(square kilometers)
Volume
3
cu. in. x 16.387 = cm
(cubic centimeters)
3
cu. ft. x 0.028317 = m
(cubic meters)
gallons x 4.54609 = L (liters)
U.S. gal. x 3.7854 = L (liters)
tons (2000 lb) x 0.907185 = t (newtons)
(metric tones) mass (in kg) x 9.8066 = N
(weight at or near sea level)
Force per unit area
lb/1000 ft. x 1.48816 = kg/km
(kilograms per kilometer) (stress, pressure, tensile strength,
lb/mi x 0.28185 = kg/km etc.)
Solid wire weight 2
lbf/in = (psi) x 6.895 = kPa
(kilopascals)
mm x 8.89 = kg/km (for copper) 2
lbf/in x 0.006895 = MPa
mm x 2.70 = kg/km (for aluminum)
2
mm x 7.83 = kg/km (for steel) (megapascals)
2
N/mm = MPa
Temperature Conversion
Note
°F to °C: °C = (°F minus 32) x
5
/9 Kilopascals are used generally for
fluid pressures. Megapascals are
°C to °F: °F = (°C x
9
/5) plus 32 used generally for stresses in
materials, i.e. for tensile stress,
modulus of elasticity, etc.

SI Prefixes

Multiplying factor Prefix Symbol

12
1 000 000 000 000 = 10 tera T
9
1 000 000 000 = 10 giga G
6
1 000 000 = 10 mega M
3
1 000 = 10 kilo k
2
100 = 10 hecto h
1
10 = 0 deca da
-1
0.1 = 10 deci d
-2
0.01 = 10 centi c
-3
0.001 = 10 milli m
-6
0.000 001 = 10 micro µ
-9
0.000 000 001 = 10 nano n
-12
0.000 000 000 001 = 10 pico p
-15
0.000 000 000 000 001 = 10 femto f
-18
0.000 000 000 000 000 001 = 10 atto a