![]() You have to pull several feet of wire through walls and conduits. This is important because electrical installations are usually rigorous. The material tends to stand the test of time because it has better tensile strength than aluminum. This explains the interest copper attracts. Have you looked at the NEC’s tables? They show the ampacities associated with various wire sizes, and they always emphasize the difference in amps between copper and aluminum.Īluminum conductors will carry fewer amps than copper. But many contractors flock to copper because it has superior conductivity. 4-Gauge Wire VS Material (Aluminum VS Copper) – Does It Affect Amps?Īluminum stands out because it is cheaper and lighter than copper. In that same sense, the gauge reveals the volume of electricity a conductor can transmit. The diameter of a pipe affects the amount of water it can carry. The gauge is similar to the diameter of a water pipe. Therefore, if the insulation of a 4AWG conductor concerns you, look at the voltage.īut if you want to find the ampacity, the gauge should be your only concern. You don’t want the insulation to break down because it has to contend with more voltage than it was meant to withstand. You only introduce the voltage in conversations that involve the insulation quality. The voltage doesn’t care about the amperage. 4-Gauge Wire VS Voltage – Does It Affect Amp? Voltage Additionally, the gauge has a resistance of 0.1608. Some locations measure wire size in mm2.ĤAWG wire has a cross-section of 21.2mm2 and a diameter of 10+mm. Naturally, 4AWG aluminum can accommodate fewer amps at that temperature rating.ĭon’t expect every country to use AWG. ![]() 4-gauge copper can withstand 85 amps at 75 degrees C. If you raise the temperature rating, the ampacity will change accordingly. There’s a reason why so many people prefer copper to aluminum. What if you prefer aluminum at 60 degrees C? 4AWG will tolerate 55 amps of electricity, which proves that aluminum is less conductive than copper. But that applies to copper conductors at 60 degrees C. ![]() Of course, as was noted above, the suitability of 4AWG will depend mainly on the ampacity. But you cannot afford to apply a stingy attitude to electrical wires. People avoid higher gauges because they are more expensive. Therefore, if a particular application requires 4AWG, you should use 4AWG. The heat will accumulate because of the resistance in the conductors, and if it goes unchecked, the insulation will melt. However, 6AWG is more likely to overheat in the process. The objective of using higher gauges is to accommodate heavy-duty appliances.ĦAWG can carry as much electricity as 4AWG. Therefore, as you might have guessed, 4AWG is exceptionally thick, which is why you rarely see the gauge in residential settings. You see them on the thinnest lines, which is counterintuitive because people in other fields typically associate higher numbers with greater thickness. The thickest wires have the smallest numbers. And because the gauge affects the wire’s ampacity, you must figure out the ampacity before determining whether or not 4AWG is appropriate for you. Many manufacturers use the American Wire Gauge standard because it is the simplest means of identifying the wire size. Therefore, you don’t have to calculate this information. Fortunately, the manufacturer prints the size on the jacket. If you have aluminum (or copper-clad aluminum), it can carry 55A at 60 degrees C, 65A at 75 degrees C, and 75A at 90 degrees C.Įvery time you go wire shopping, the retailer will ask you to specify the wire size because it matters. How Many Amps Can 4 Gauge Wire Handle?ĤAWG copper wire can handle 70A at 60 degrees C, 85A at 75 degrees C, and 95A at 90 degrees C. Although, it helps to understand what they are and what you can expect from the wire size, just in case you ever need it. People don’t use wires that thick, not in residential settings. Don’t feel bad if you’ve never seen 4AWG wire.
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