AWG wire properties

This data set contains information on various wires available for both indoor and outdoor use.  This table contains such information as cost, standard retail lengths available, sheathing types, etc.

DATA COLUMNS

 The following is an explanation of the wire attributes provided in this data set.
 

CONTENTS

ALLOWABLE AMPACITY
CONDUCTOR MATERIAL
COST
GAUGE
GROUNDED
INDOOR/OUTDOOR
LENGTH
NUMBER OF CONDUCTORS
CABLE TYPES
STRANDED OR SOLID
VOLTAGE 

ALLOWABLE AMPACITY

The allowable ampacity is the ampere capacity, the maximum amount of electrical current a conductor or device can carry before sustaining immediate or progressive deterioration.  Ampacity standards are defined by the National Electrical Safety Codes.

Typical circuits in home construction are 15 amp, 20 amp, and 30 amp circuits.

CONDUCTOR MATERIAL

Material of which conductors are made, copper being the most common material

Copper , Aluminum

COST

The cost shown is an estimated cost based on recent web-based queries of major retailers of building supplies.

GAUGE

Based on AWG

GROUNDED

Yes / No -  copper grounding wire is provided

INDOOR OUTDOOR

Manufactured for standard use either indoors or outdoors

LENGTH

50 ft, 100 ft, 250 ft - standard lengths

NUMBER OF CONDUCTORS

Number of conductors contained in the wire: 2 - usually white and black, 3 - usually white, black and red

CABLE TYPES

NM-B (nonmetallic-sheathed cable) - may be used for both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations at temperatures not to exceed 90C. Ampacity limited to that for 60C conductors as specified in the National Electrical Code 1. NM-B cable is primarily used in residential wiring as branch circuits for outlets, switches, and other loads. NM-B cable may be run in air voids of masonry block or tile walls where such walls are not subject to excessive moisture or dampness.

    Copper conductors are annealed (soft) copper and UL listed
     NM-B has two, three and four conductors and available with two neutrals, construction designed for easier pulling

MC (Armored electrical cable) - MC Lite Cable can be used for feeder and service power distribution projects in commercial and multi-residential buildings. You can also use this cable as a power, control, signal and lighting circuit.

    For feeder and service power distribution in commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-residential buildings
     Use in power, lighting, control and signal circuits as well as cable tray and approved raceway installations
     For indoor and outdoor use
     Can be fished or embedded in plaster for concealed or exposed installations
     Use in wet locations up to 75 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius in dry locations or 194 degrees Fahrenheit
     Made of soft-drawn copper Type THHN/THWN conductors
     Conductors are cabled together and wrapped with a binder tape bearing the print legend
     Aluminum interlocking armor jackets

UF-B (Underground Feeder Cable) - Underground Feeder Cable is designed to be directly buried into the ground as a non-metallic sheathed cable. Jacketed in insulated PVC, this cable is resistant to sunlight for durability. This cable is UL listed.

URD (Service Entry Electrical Cable) - URD can be used for secondary distribution, street light applications and underground service up to 600-Volts. The cable's conductors feature vulcanized interlinked polyethylene insulation. Design helps allow for cleaner stripping, more uniform sealant disbursement in the cable and great shrink-back performance.

SER Wire features XLP aluminum conductors and sunlight-resistant PVC jacketing. It allows easy polarity identification. XLP aluminum conductors.

STRANDED OR SOLID

Each conductor is either composed of a single solid wire or is composed of multiple strands

VOLTAGE

This specifies a maximum allowable voltage

 

REFERENCE

[1] Ampacity

Source: Wikipedia

URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampacity

Public License:  CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

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