A handy piece of information for anyone who works with electrical wiring to understand is the inverse ratio that exists between the stated AWG wire size and the amps that is can carry. Once one realizes that the smaller the number the greater the amperage, he is on his way to understanding wire sizes. Using this formula, one may see that a 14 gauge wire carries 15 amps and a 12 gauge carries 20
. amps. The formula works all the way to 0000 gauge that can carry 253 amps with copper.The Wire it Yourself site at http://www.wireityourself.com/wire_sizes.html presents a chart that shows all wire sizes and the amperages for aluminum and copper. On the side menu, the site includes many wiring categories that one may find helpful in learning about how to install electrical wiring. The site also lists at the bottom of the page a list of resources that one may need to investigate regarding codes. The link that takes one to Wiring Simplified reveals a description of a book that one may use as a guide to home projects. The site recommends it as a good guide to installing safe and economical wiring oneself.The Electrical Designer Guide at http://www.electrical-designer-guide.com/electrical-wire-size.html offers several charts that provide detailed information for the advanced user or skilled electrician. The charts require a reader to make some calculations before applying the information contained in the charts. Three columns in the chart advise the use of aluminum and another three are addressed to the use of copper wiring. Below the charts on the page is a wire size calculator that one may use for various purposes. It requires one to enter the voltage amount from five possibilities. It also needs the information regarding the wire type and the phase. Some other numbers are also needed before one may request a calculation and a minimum size recommendation.More reference links: http://www.wireityourself.com/wire_sizes.html http://www.electrical-designer-guide.com/electrical-wire-size.html
