2026-02-14 09:51 UTC
Replies (2)
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@becomethewaifu@tech.lgbt 2026-02-14 17:37
@tkalvas @tilton I mean, for residential we really only have 3 different current ratings, 4 if you have really big stuff that needs a 12kw circuit: 15A, 20A, and 30A. Those are white, yellow, and orange cables by "informal standard" (aka "someone started doing it and everyone else copied the good idea") so not all that much risk of accidentally mathing with the "gauge" number. Though recently they've added a bunch of new colors for multi-hot cables (split-phase 240v, switched-leg, 3-way switch travelers, etc) that I haven't bothered to learn yet. (Since I haven't done much electrical in the last few years, so haven't needed to learn...) The only situation you'd really need to do math with wires in American electrical is commercial/industrial/Chicago stuff for conduit fill, and there are tables and "rules of thumb" readily available for most common pipe sizes. (So you only need to use the tables if you're anywhere close to max-fill. Chicago requires pipe in residential "for fire reasons")
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@ingram@mastodon.social 2026-02-17 09:17
@tkalvas @becomethewaifu @tilton The civilised world uses mm² for wire cross section, from appliance flex through to high voltage power lines. The US uses AWG for little stuff and "kcmil" for the big stuff. A "kcmil" is the area equivalent to one thousand wires a thousandth of an inch in diameter (kilo circular mils). Also called MCM because some people prefer roman numbers. Is there a more horrid unit?