A practical application of the use of American wire gauge (AWG) may be observed in the ordinary extension cord that is in use in most homes. They appear to be so ordinary and commonplace that one may pay hardly any attention to them. If one needs to bring a source of power to an object that is not close to an electrical outlet, then he is likely to grab any extension cord and employ it for the
. purpose. However, there is more to these handy items than may meet the eye, and they deserve some consideration. Safety concerns offer the primary reasons for choosing the proper type of extension cord. One that is sized correctly for the load that it is required to carry can reduce the chance that it can harm anyone. Further, even if one is not harmed by it, the likelihood of damaging the equipment that it serves is increased when the cord is not the proper size. Of special importance in this matter is the fact that voltage diminishes somewhat for every foot that electricity travels through an extension cord. This realization may encourage one to read the fine print in the owners manual that comes with any piece of electrical equipment. A standardized measure of the dimensions of round, solid and nonferrous wire is provided by the American wire gauge (AWG) system. It is designed to help one understand that the smaller gauge wire is reflected by the smaller physical size. Interesting, the smallest AWG uses the largest number to describe it, so that 40 is the smallest and 0000 is the largest. A chart of Wire Gauge and Current Limits is shown on the Power Stream site at http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm. The site includes some explanatory text regarding AWG wire sizes, metric wire gauges and load carrying capacities as well as an elaborate chart of specifications for all AWG gauge sizes. Twenty-First Century Books at http://www.tfcbooks.com/referenc/wiresize.htm displays an American Wire Gauge chart that shows AWG size, OHMS per 1000 feet and wire diameter in a simple format. http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm or http://www.tfcbooks.com/referenc/wiresize.htm
