12 or 14 gauge wire

Answer 1

ref: http://www.okonite.com/engineering/nec-ampacity-tables.html

generally see the latest NEC (National Electrical Code) standard but from the tables with assumed temperatures, the rating for 14ga copper is 15 amps (120V).

Answer 2

Number 14 AWG copper wire is an American electrical conductor.

It was the most common wire size for normal residential use. However, the current National Electric Code requirement is for 12 AWG.

AWG is an acronym for American Wire Gage, also known as Brown & Sharp Wire Gage. It was created in 1857 and is used to describe the ampacity of non ferrous, electric conductors. It is based on the cross sectional area of solid, round, wire. It is also valid for stranded conductors having having the same total cross sectional area. It does not allow for skin effect and is valid for direct current or alternating currents of 60 HZ or less. It is used principally in the U.S. and Canada.

The number 14 specifies a particular cross sectional area. The larger the number, the smaller the area and the less current carrying capacity. That means that 12 AWG can safely carry more current than 14AWG. In conversation about wire size the size is normally referred to as number 12 or simply 12. For specification purposes the format 12 AWG is always used.

The ability of the conductor to pass current safely is a function of current only, not power. Power is what makes electric devices work. Any electric device that produces primarily heat is a power hog.

Power is equal to the product of volts times amps. Therefore the ability of a conductor to provide power increases as the size of the conductor increases, OR if the size of the conductor remains the same the power transmitted can be increased by increasing the voltage.

Electric conductors sold in the U.S. are normally insulated to withstand 600 volts. They can provide various levels of power depending on the voltage applied.

14 AWG wire is rated at 20 amps in a 60 degree centigrade ambient temperature. The National Electric Code derates it for safety's sake. However, for demonstration purposes we can use the 20 amp rating and see that at 110 VAC (volts alternating current) it will carry 110 X 20= 2200 watts, at 220 VAC it will carry 4400 watts, and at 440VAC it will carry 8800. To be precise AC power is measured in volt-amps reactive, or vars, not watts. They are not the same. However for the purposes of answering the question they are close enough for government work.

Answer 3

Any voltage you want. The wire itself would be rated for current (amps).

The insulation on the wire would be rated for volts (e.g., 1000 volts or less) as well as the limit of the temperature expected to be generated by the amps in the wire (e.g., 90 C).

Answer 4

Yes these are wire sizes, #12 for 20 amps, #14 for 15 amps.

Answer 5

14 gauge is 0.0641 inches or 1.63mm in diameter.

Answer 6

A #14 copper wire with an insulation factor of 60, 75 or 90 degree C is rated for 15 amps. W = A x V.