Wire Size Specifications
Wire Size Specifications
Table: UL486E
Assigned maximum
ampere rating
Wire size
AWG or
kcmil
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
1/0
2/0
3/0
4/0
250
300
350
400
500
600
700
750
800
900
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2
mm
A
0.05
0.08
0.13
0.20
0.32
0.52
0.82
1.3
2.1
3.3
5.3
8.4
13.3
21.2
26.6
33.6
42.4
53.5
67.4
85.0
107
127
152
177
203
253
304
355
380
405
456
507
633
760
887
1010
0.5
0.8
1
2
3
5
7
10
15
20
30
50
65
85
100
115
130
150
175
200
230
255
285
310
335
380
420
460
475
490
520
545
590
625
650
665
Amperage versus Wire Size
Table: UL486E – Assigned maximum ampere
rating versus wire size for copper conductors.
Values are for not more than three conductors
in raceway or cable (reference: National
Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70-1999).
Wire Size and Cross-sectional Area
Approximate relationship between conductors
of cross-sectional areas in mm2 and AWG sizes
as used in North America (reference: IEC 998-1).
Cross-sectional area
mm3
0.5
0.75
1.0
1.5
2.5
4
6
10
16
25
35
Wire size AWG
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
1
Wire Size Specifications
Definitions
Unprepared Conductor:
A conductor which has been cut and the insulation of which has been removed for insertion into
a terminal. The conductor end is bare.
Prepared Conductor:
A conductor, the strands of which are soldered or tinned, or the end of which is fitted with a
cable lug, eyelet, quick-connect, ring terminal, spade terminal, or similar component, prior to
insertion into the terminal.
Factory Wiring Terminal:
A terminal intended in the end application to be connected under controlled conditions, usually
at a manufacturer’s location. Such terminations shall use prepared or unprepared conductors.
Field Wiring Terminal:
A terminal to which wiring connections are made in the field and that is subjected to the
requirements of a terminal for field wiring as specified in the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70.
Such terminations shall accept unprepared conductors.
2