Wire Gauge Calculator

Wire gauge calculations

Wire diameter calculations

The n gauge wire diameter dn in inches (in) is equal to 0.005in times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n, divided by 39:

dn (in) = 0.005 in × 92(36-n)/39

The n gauge wire diameter dn in millimeters (mm) is equal to 0.127mm times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n, divided by 39:

dn (mm) = 0.127 mm × 92(36-n)/39

Wire cross sectional area calculations

The n gauge wire’s cross sercional area An in kilo-circular mils (kcmil) is equal to 1000 times the square wire diameter d in inches (in):

An (kcmil) = 1000×dn2 = 0.025 in2 × 92(36-n)/19.5

The n gauge wire’s cross sercional area An in square inches (in2) is equal to pi divided by 4 times the square wire diameter d in inches (in):

An (in2) = (π/4)×dn2 = 0.000019635 in2 × 92(36-n)/19.5

The n gauge wire’s cross sercional area An in square millimeters (mm2) is equal to pi divided by 4 times the square wire diameter d in millimeters (mm):

An (mm2) = (π/4)×dn2 = 0.012668 mm2 × 92(36-n)/19.5

Wire resistance calculations

Resistivity (ρ(Ω·m))

  • copper: 1.72e-8,
  • aluminum: 2.82e-8,
  • carbon Steel: 1.0e-7,
  • electrical Steel: 5.0e-7,
  • gold: 2.44e-7,
  • nichrome: 1.10e-6,
  • nickel: 6.99e-7,
  • silver: 1.59e-8

 

The n gauge wire resistance R in ohms per kilofeet (Ω/kft) is equal to 0.3048×1000000000 times the wire’s resistivity ρ in ohm-meters (Ω·m) divided by 25.42 times the cross sectional area An in square inches (in2):

R(Ω/kft) = 0.3048 × 109 × ρ(Ω·m) / (25.42 × An (in2))

The n gauge wire resistance R in ohms per kilometer (Ω/km) is equal to 1000000000 times the wire’s resistivity ρ in ohm-meters (Ω·m) divided by the cross sectional area An in square millimeters (mm2):

R(Ω/km) = 109 × ρ(Ω·m) / An (mm2)

Note:

  • Diameter and cross sectional area do not include the insulation.
  • Results may change with real wires: different resistivity of material and number of strands in wire
  •  20°C or @ 68°F

 

 

 

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