Size Of Wire

darren

Does anyone know if there is a way to determine the size of a wire by the number of strands and there size. I am looking at a 50yr old service and trying to figure out if they would have ran #4 or #3.

There are 7 strands and they look like #10 or #12(i will have to take a better look at a later time).

mdshunk

There are plastic gauges you can buy to slip around the wire to gauge it. I have already loosened it from the other end and pulled it out of the conduit a bit to see what's written on it if I just plain can't tell. Even the really old wire had the gauge written on it. Counting strands or anything along those lines won't help. I can usually tell #3 from #4, but it's harder for me to tell #2 from #3.

Hawkeye_Pierce

Either that or google "AWG thickness chart", then go to sears or home depot and buy a cheap set of calipers. They are useful for other stuff - like finding out what that damn drill bit is after its fraction stamp got worn off.


Can't post links cause not enough posts

polar8989

Just remember, smaller guage = larger wire.

Hawkeye_Pierce

I sure hope / assume he knows that much

darren

Wow you honestly think I don't know that. Look at my info and see what I do on a daily basis.

Smaller Gauge, larger wire. This is true but not all the time. Is 350kcm bigger or smaller then 500kcm.

MALCO.New.York

Just the fact that you are defending yourself defines the level of experience you have.

No "real" offense intended, but.....you ask a simple question here you tend to get kicked in the knuts!

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