AWG Wire Gauges

Thread Starter

tcgood1

Joined Jan 23, 2006
1
Hi - I am relatively new to electricity and was wondering if there is a problem using 16-18 gauge wire in a cicuit that is mostly anywhere between 20-28 gauge.

Also is there a problem if a series circuit has different size gauges throughout the cicuit? For instance, the circuit only needs 22 gauge but then connects to 18 and 16 gauge?

Thanks!
 

chesart1

Joined Jan 23, 2006
269
Hi,

The wire size does not matter in most circuits as long as the sizes support the circuit current. You could find more information at powerstream.com on the internet.

John
 

n9xv

Joined Jan 18, 2005
329
As long as you going to a bigger size and not a smaller size your fine. How big/small depending on the current of course.
 

thingmaker3

Joined May 16, 2005
5,083
I've only run across one application where switching to a larger wire proved detrimental. A surveillance camera manufacturer had saved a little money by specifying AWG -vs- run length as a current-limiting means. It took hours for the vendor rep to convince me he wasn't joking.
 
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