How do you decide what size of electrical wire do you need?

To determine what gauge wire you need, consider the carrying capacity and the amount of current the wire needs to conduct (measured in amperage or amps). Wire gauge is directly related to how many amps you need to run through it. The distance you need the wire to go can also impact the gauge of wire you need.

How do you size a building wire?





Divide the voltage running through the cable by your target current. If, for instance, 120 volts will act on the cable, and you want 30 amps to run through it: 120 / 30 = 4. This is your target resistance, measured in ohms. 30,000 x 1.724 x 10^-8 = 0.0005172 ohm sq.

What type of wire is commonly used in building wiring installation?

NM Cable

1. NM Cable. The most common type of home electrical wiring is the NM cable, also known as the Romex cable, after the most popular electrical wiring brand name. The NM cables contain three or more individual conductors, wrapped together in a sheathing, which is a flexible plastic jacket.

What are the factors that must be considered to select the system of wiring for an electrical installation?

Some common factors to be considered while choosing a particular Electrical Wiring System are:

  • Cost of the Wiring System.
  • Type of Wires / Cables used.
  • Quality of the Wires.
  • Type of load (light, HVAC, motors etc.)
  • Safety of the Wiring System.
  • Possibility of future modifications / extensions.
  • Life of installation.

What is 6mm wire used for?





The Best Electrical Twin & Earth Grey – 6mm is a standard house wiring cable with a grey PVC outer sheath. This type of cable is mainly used for sub mains applications.

How much current can 1.5 sq mm wire carry?

The maximum current carrying capacity of a 1.5 sqmm Cu wire is approximately 20A.

How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?

You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit. That number drops to 50 feet if you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit.

What are the 3 types of wires?

Three types of wire used are :

  • live wire ( Red colour)
  • neutral wire(Black colour)
  • earth wire (Green colour)


How many amps will 12 2 wire carry?

Maximum Breaker Size is 30 amps. You can use a 20 amp circuit breaker with 12/2 Romex as 12/2 wire is rated for 20 amps.

How do you choose a wire for a system?

Some common factors to be considered while choosing a particular Electrical Wiring System are:

  1. Cost of the Wiring System.
  2. Type of Wires / Cables used.
  3. Quality of the Wires.
  4. Type of load (light, HVAC, motors etc.)
  5. Safety of the Wiring System.
  6. Possibility of future modifications / extensions.
  7. Life of installation.

What type of electrical wiring is used in commercial building?



Metal-clad cable (type MC) per NEC 330 is one of the more commonly used cable types in commercial construction. MC cable is a set of conductors assembled within a metallic sheath of either steel or aluminum interlocking armor where the sheath is not used as a ground path.

How selection of cables are made for house wiring?

Cable size selection is based on three main factors:

  1. Current carrying capacity.
  2. Voltage regulation.
  3. Short circuit rating.

Why is cable sizing important?

One of the most important aspects of designing and building any part of a vehicle electrical system is determining the correct size and type of cable to use for each circuit. Too small a cable size and you’ll run the risk of generating heat in the cable; too large and you’ll be wasting money on copper you don’t need.

How many amps can 1.5 mm cable take?



Cable Size Ratings Tables in Amps

Cable size Rating in Amps
1.5mm 20
2.5mm 27
4mm 37
6mm 47

How many amps can 3mm wire carry?

Cable Size Chart

Auto Size Nom Area mm² Amp Rating
3mm 1.13 20
4mm 1.84 28
5mm 2.90 37
6mm 4.59 48