Wiring and circuits
Wire gauge
Wire gauge is a number for wire thickness. In the American system, a smaller number means a thicker wire.
In American Wire Gauge (AWG) sizing, a smaller number is a thicker wire, so 10 AWG is thicker than 14 AWG. Southwire lists NM-B cable in 14 AWG through 10 AWG as solid wire and larger sizes as stranded.
Thicker wire carries more current, so gauge sets ampacity. Larger conductors also have less resistance, which lowers voltage drop, Southwire notes. Wire must match its breaker, and a wrong size is a fire risk. A licensed electrician chooses it. See the home electrical safety checklist.
Related terms
Sources
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