Litz Wire The term “litz wire” is derived from the German word litzendraht, meaning “woven wire.” Generally defined, it is a wire constructed of individually film-insulated wires bunched or braided together in a uniform pattern of twists and length of lay. The multistrand configuration minimizes the power losses otherwise encountered in a solid conductor due to the “skin effect,” or the tendency of radio frequency current to be concentrated at the surface of the conductor. In order to counteract this effect, it is necessary to increase the amount of surface area without appreciably increasing the size of the conductor. It is also essential to position each individual strand in the litz construction in a uniform pattern, moving from the center to the outside and back in a given length. Even properly constructed litz wires will exhibit some skin effect due to the limitations of stranding. Wires intended for higher frequency ranges require more strands of a finer gauge size than litz wires of equal cross-sectional area, but composed of fewer and larger strands. Polyurethane and Polyurethane Nylon are the films most often used for insulating individual strands because of their low electrical losses and their solderability. Other insulations shown on pages 2 and 3 can also be used. Litz wires are generally further insulated with a single or double wrap or serving of a textile — typically nylon — but are also available unserved. The data that follows covers a broad range of sizes but is not intended to represent all possible constructions available. Inquire as to particular litz wire constructions and allow us to provide you with wire to meet your specifications. NUMBER OF STRANDS SIZE (AWG) CIRCULAR MILS NEAREST AWG EQUIV. (CIR. MILS) NOMINAL 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 16 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 119.07 158.76 198.45 238.14 277.83 317.52 357.21 396.90 595.35 793.80 75.00 100.00 125.00 150.00 175.00 200.00 225.00 250.00 375.00 500.00 625.00 750.00 1000.00 1250.00 1500.00 48.00 64.00 80.00 96.00 112.00 128.00 144.00 160.00 240.00 320.00 400.00 480.00 640.00 800.00 960.00 291/2 28 27 261/2 251/2 25 241/2 24 221/2 21 31 30 29 28 271/2 27 261/2 26 241/2 23 22 211/2 20 19 181/2 33 32 31 30 291/2 29 281/2 28 261/2 25 24 231/2 22 21 201/2 SERVED UNSERVED RESISTANCE HEAVY POLYURETHANE SINGLE POLYURETHANE (OHMS PER 1000 FT. AT 20°C) MEAN O.D. NOMINAL NOMINAL 87.10 65.33 52.26 43.55 37.33 32.66 29.03 26.13 17.42 13.07 138.27 103.70 82.96 69.13 59.26 51.85 46.09 41.48 27.65 20.74 16.59 13.83 10.37 8.30 6.91 216.07 162.05 129.64 108.03 92.60 81.03 72.02 64.82 43.21 32.41 25.93 21.61 16.21 12.96 10.80 .014 .016 .018 .020 .021 .023 .024 .026 .031 .036 .011 .013 .015 .016 .017 .018 .019 .021 .025 .029 .032 .035 .041 .046 .050 .009 .010 .012 .013 .014 .015 .016 .016 .020 .023 .026 .029 .033 .037 .040 (INCHES) FEET PER POUND 2680 2010 1608 1340 1148 1005 893 804 536 402 4230 3173 2538 2115 1813 1586 1410 1269 846 635 508 423 317 254 212 6748 5061 4048 3374 2892 2530 2249 2024 1350 1012 810 675 506 405 337 POUNDS PER 1000 FT. .373 .498 .622 .746 .871 .995 1.12 1.24 1.87 2.49 .236 .315 .394 .473 .552 .631 .709 .788 1.18 1.58 1.97 2.36 3.16 3.94 4.72 .148 .198 .247 .296 .346 .395 .445 .494 .741 .988 1.24 1.48 1.98 2.47 2.97 MEAN O.D. (INCHES) NOMINAL .015 .017 .019 .021 .023 .025 .026 .027 .034 .039 .012 .014 .016 .017 .018 .020 .021 .022 .027 .031 .035 .038 .044 .049 .054 .010 .011 .013 .014 .015 .016 .017 .018 .022 .025 .028 .031 .036 .040 .044 FEET PER POUND 2627 1970 1576 1313 1126 985 876 788 525 394 4151 3113 2491 2076 1779 1557 1384 1245 830 623 498 415 311 249 208 6549 4912 3929 3274 2807 2456 2183 1965 1310 982 786 655 491 393 327 POUNDS PER 1000 FT. .381 .508 .635 .762 .888 1.02 1.14 1.27 1.91 2.54 .241 .321 .401 .482 .562 .642 .723 .803 1.21 1.61 2.01 2.41 3.22 4.02 4.81 .135 .204 .255 .305 .356 .407 .458 .509 .763 1.02 1.27 1.53 2.04 2.55 3.06 SINGLE NYLON — SINGE POLY FEET MEAN O.D. POUNDS PER PER (INCHES) 1000 FT. POUND NOMINAL .016 .018 .020 .022 .024 .025 .027 .028 .034 .038 .013 .015 .017 .018 .019 .021 .022 .023 .027 .031 .035 .038 .043 .048 .052 .011 .013 .014 .015 .016 .017 .018 .019 .022 .025 .028 .031 .035 .039 .043 2495 1889 1523 1277 1097 963 856 772 517 389 3875 2941 2370 1982 1706 1499 1337 1208 809 611 490 409 308 248 208 6080 4606 3716 3121 2681 2363 2105 1901 1284 969 778 649 489 392 328 .401 .529 .657 .783 .912 1.04 1.17 1.30 1.93 2.57 .258 .340 .422 .505 .586 .667 .748 .828 1.24 1.64 2.04 2.44 3.25 4.03 4.81 .164 .217 .269 .320 .373 .423 .475 .526 .779 1.03 1.29 1.54 2.04 2.55 3.05 MWS Wire Industries, 31200 Cedar Valley Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • Phone: 818-991-8553 • Fax: 818-706-0911 • www.mwswire.com Print Revision May 2016 NUMBER OF STRANDS SIZE (AWG) CIRCULAR MILS NEAREST AWG EQUIV. (CIR. MILS) 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 28.83 38.44 48.05 57.66 67.27 76.88 86.49 96.10 144.15 192.20 240.25 288.30 384.40 480.50 576.60 720.75 961.00 1201.25 1441.50 1681.75 23.52 31.36 39.20 47.04 54.88 62.72 70.56 78.40 117.60 156.80 196.00 235.20 313.60 392.00 470.40 588.00 784.00 980.00 1176.00 1372.00 (OHMS PER 1000 FT. AT 20°C) NOMINAL NOMINAL 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 RESISTANCE 351/2 34 33 321/2 32 31 301/2 30 281/2 27 26 251/2 241/2 231/2 221/2 211/2 201/2 191/2 181/2 18 36 35 34 33 321/2 32 311/2 31 291/2 28 27 261/2 25 24 231/2 221/2 21 20 191/2 181/2 359.73 269.80 215.84 179.87 154.17 134.90 119.91 107.92 71.95 53.96 43.17 35.97 26.98 21.58 17.99 14.39 10.79 8.63 7.19 6.17 441.00 330.75 264.60 220.50 189.00 156.38 147.00 132.30 88.20 66.15 52.92 44.10 33.08 26.46 22.05 17.64 13.23 10.58 8.82 7.56 UNSERVED HEAVY POLYURETHANE SINGLE POLYURETHANE MEAN O.D. MEAN O.D. POUNDS POUNDS FEET FEET (INCHES) (INCHES) PER PER PER PER 1000 FT. 1000 FT. POUND POUND NOMINAL NOMINAL .007 .008 .009 .010 .011 .011 .012 .013 .016 .018 .020 .022 .026 .029 .031 .035 .040 .045 .050 .054 .006 .007 .008 .009 .010 .010 .011 .011 .014 .016 .018 .020 .023 .025 .028 .031 .036 .040 .044 .047 10650 7987 6390 5325 4564 3994 3550 3195 2130 1597 1278 1065 799 639 532 426 319 256 213 183 13495 10122 8097 6748 5784 5061 4498 4049 2699 2024 1619 1350 1012 810 675 540 405 342 270 231 .0939 .125 .157 .188 .219 .250 .282 .313 .470 .626 .783 .939 1.25 1.57 1.88 2.35 3.14 3.91 4.70 5.46 .0741 .0990 .124 .148 .173 .198 .222 .247 .371 .494 .618 .741 .988 1.24 1.48 1.85 2.47 3.09 3.70 4.33 .008 .009 .010 .011 .012 .012 .013 .014 .017 .020 .022 .024 .028 .031 .034 .038 .044 .049 .054 .058 .007 .008 .009 .010 .010 .011 .012 .012 .015 .018 .020 .022 .025 .028 .030 .034 .039 .044 .048 .052 10449 7837 6270 5225 4478 3919 3483 3135 2090 1567 1254 1045 784 627 523 418 313 251 209 179 13228 9921 7937 6614 5669 4960 4409 3968 2646 1984 1587 1323 992 794 661 529 397 317 265 227 .0957 .128 .160 .191 .223 .255 .287 .319 .478 .638 .797 .957 1.28 1.60 1.91 2.39 3.20 3.98 4.79 5.59 .0756 .108 .126 .151 .176 .202 .227 .252 .378 .504 .630 .756 1.01 1.26 1.51 1.89 2.52 3.15 3.77 4.41 SERVED SINGLE NYLON — SINGE POLY FEET POUNDS MEAN O.D. PER PER (INCHES) POUND 1000 FT. NOMINAL .009 .010 .011 .012 .013 .014 .014 .015 .018 .020 .022 .024 .028 .031 .034 .037 .043 .047 .052 .056 .008 .009 .010 .011 .012 .012 .013 .014 .016 .018 .020 .022 .025 .028 .030 .033 .038 .042 .046 .050 9276 7108 5757 4824 4162 3662 3273 2955 1994 1508 1215 1020 767 615 513 412 310 250 209 180 11551 8867 7198 6066 5235 4600 4111 3717 2515 1899 1528 1283 970 778 649 521 392 315 264 226 .108 .141 .174 .207 .240 .273 .306 .338 .502 .663 .823 .980 1.30 1.63 1.95 2.43 3.23 4.00 4.78 5.56 .0866 .113 .139 .165 .191 .217 .243 .269 .398 .527 .654 .779 1.03 1.29 1.54 1.92 2.55 3.17 3.79 4.42 MWS Wire Industries, 31200 Cedar Valley Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • Phone: 818-991-8553 • Fax: 818-706-0911 • www.mwswire.com Print Revision May 2016 17 Litz Wire NUMBER OF STRANDS SIZE (AWG) CIRCULAR MILS NEAREST AWG EQUIV. (CIR. MILS) 18 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 45 45 45 45 45 18.75 25.00 31.25 37.50 43.75 50.00 56.25 62.50 93.75 125.00 156.25 187.50 250.00 312.50 375.00 468.75 625.00 781.25 937.50 1093.75 14.52 19.36 24.20 29.04 48.40 96.80 145.20 290.40 484.00 726.00 12.00 16.00 20.00 24.00 28.00 32.00 36.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 160.00 200.00 240.00 300.00 400.00 500.00 600.00 700.00 9.30 12.40 15.50 18.60 31.00 (OHMS PER 1000 FT. AT 20°C) NOMINAL NOMINAL 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 3 4 5 6 10 20 30 60 100 150 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 3 4 5 6 10 RESISTANCE 371/2 36 35 341/2 331/2 33 321/2 32 301/2 29 28 271/2 26 25 241/2 231/2 22 21 201/2 191/2 381/2 37 36 351/2 33 30 281/2 251/2 23 211/2 39 38 37 36 351/2 35 341/2 34 321/2 31 30 29 28 27 261/2 251/2 24 23 221/2 211/2 401/2 39 38 371/2 35 553.00 414.75 3321.80 276.50 237.00 207.38 184.33 165.90 110.60 82.95 66.36 55.30 41.48 33.18 27.65 22.12 16.59 13.27 11.06 9.48 714.33 535.75 428.60 357.17 214.30 107.15 71.43 35.72 21.43 14.29 864.33 648.25 518.60 432.17 370.43 324.13 288.10 259.30 172.87 129.65 103.72 86.43 64.83 51.86 43.22 34.57 25.93 20.74 17.29 14.82 1116.00 837.00 669.60 558.00 334.80 UNSERVED HEAVY POLYURETHANE SINGLE POLYURETHANE MEAN O.D. MEAN O.D. POUNDS POUNDS FEET FEET (INCHES) (INCHES) PER PER PER PER 1000 FT. 1000 FT. POUND POUND NOMINAL NOMINAL .006 .007 .007 .008 .009 .009 .010 .010 .013 .015 .016 .018 .021 .023 .025 .028 .032 .036 .040 .043 .005 .006 .007 .007 .009 .013 .016 .022 .029 .035 .004 .005 .006 .006 .007 .007 .008 .008 .010 .011 .013 .014 .016 .018 .020 .022 .025 .028 .031 .034 .0040 .0045 .0050 .0055 .0070 17129 12847 10277 8564 7341 6423 5710 5139 3426 2569 2055 1713 1285 1028 856 685 514 411 343 294 21533 16150 12920 10767 6460 3230 2153 1077 646 431 27034 20276 16221 13517 11586 10138 9011 8110 5407 4055 3244 2703 2028 1622 1352 1081 811 649 541 463 34500 25875 20700 17250 10350 .0584 .0778 .0973 .117 .136 .156 .175 .195 .292 .389 .487 .584 .778 .973 1.17 1.46 1.95 2.43 2.92 3.40 .0464 .0619 .0774 .0929 .155 .310 .464 .929 1.55 2.32 .0370 .0493 .0616 .0740 .0863 .0986 .111 .123 .185 .247 .308 .370 .493 .617 .740 .925 1.23 1.54 1.85 2.16 .0290 .0386 .0483 .0580 .0966 .006 .007 .008 .009 .009 .010 .010 .011 .013 .016 .017 .019 .022 .025 .027 .030 .035 .039 .042 .046 .005 .006 .007 .008 .010 .014 .017 .024 .031 .038 .005 .006 .007 .007 .008 .008 .009 .009 .011 .013 .014 .016 .018 .020 .022 .025 .029 .032 .035 .038 .0045 .0050 .0055 .0060 .0080 16750 12563 10050 8375 7179 6281 5583 5025 3350 2513 2010 1675 1256 1005 838 670 503 402 335 287 20964 15723 12579 10482 6289 3145 2096 1048 629 419 26247 19685 15748 13123 11249 9843 8749 7874 5349 3937 3150 2625 1969 1575 1312 1050 787 630 525 450 33033 24775 19820 16517 9910 .0597 .0796 .0995 .119 .139 .159 .179 .199 .299 .398 .498 .597 .796 .995 1.19 1.49 1.99 2.49 2.99 3.48 .0477 .0636 .0795 .0954 .159 .318 .477 .954 1.59 2.39 .0381 .0508 .0635 .0762 .0889 .102 .114 .127 .191 .254 .317 .381 .508 .635 .762 .952 1.27 1.59 1.90 2.22 .0303 .0404 .0505 .0605 .101 SERVED SINGLE NYLON — SINGE POLY FEET POUNDS MEAN O.D. PER PER (INCHES) POUND 1000 FT. NOMINAL .008 .009 .009 .010 .011 .011 .012 .012 .015 .017 .018 .020 .023 .025 .027 .030 .035 .038 .042 .045 .007 .008 .009 .009 .011 .015 .018 .025 .031 .038 .007 .007 .008 .008 .009 .009 .010 .010 .012 .014 .015 .016 .018 .020 .022 .024 .028 .031 .033 .036 .0060 .0065 .0070 .0075 .0095 14354 11048 8992 7596 6570 5794 5168 4671 3166 2399 1928 1615 1223 985 822 659 496 398 333 286 17614 13598 11072 9378 5814 2991 2015 1032 621 417 21303 16748 13691 11598 10057 8891 7966 7218 4910 3722 3007 2519 1904 1533 1286 1036 779 624 522 448 26358 20803 17056 14455 9056 .0697 .0905 .111 .132 .152 .173 .193 .214 .316 .417 .519 .619 .818 1.02 1.22 1.52 2.02 2.51 3.00 3.50 .0568 .0735 .0903 .107 .172 .334 .496 .969 1.61 2.40 .0469 .0597 .0730 .0862 .0994 .112 .126 .139 .204 .269 .333 .397 .525 .652 .778 .965 1.28 1.60 1.92 2.23 .0379 .0481 .0586 .0692 .110 MWS Wire Industries, 31200 Cedar Valley Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • Phone: 818-991-8553 • Fax: 818-706-0911 • www.mwswire.com Print Revision May 2016 Litz Wire NUMBER OF STRANDS SIZE (AWG) CIRCULAR MILS NEAREST AWG EQUIV. (CIR. MILS) 45 45 45 45 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 62.00 93.00 186.00 310.00 465.00 7.41 9.88 12.35 14.82 17.29 19.76 22.23 24.70 37.05 49.40 61.75 74.10 98.80 123.50 148.20 185.25 247.00 308.75 370.50 432.25 5.88 7.84 9.80 11.76 19.60 39.20 58.80 117.60 196.00 294.00 4.62 6.16 7.70 9.24 10.78 12.32 13.86 15.40 23.10 30.80 38.50 46.20 61.60 77.00 92.40 115.50 154.00 192.50 231.00 269.50 (OHMS PER 1000 FT. AT 20°C) NOMINAL NOMINAL 20 30 60 100 150 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 3 4 5 6 10 20 30 60 100 150 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 75 100 125 150 175 RESISTANCE 32 30 271/2 25 231/2 41 40 39 381/2 371/2 37 361/2 36 34 33 32 311/2 30 29 281/2 271/2 26 25 241/2 231/2 421/2 41 40 39 37 34 321/2 291/2 27 251/2 43 42 41 40 391/2 39 381/2 38 361/2 35 34 331/2 32 31 301/2 291/2 28 27 261/2 251/2 167.40 111.60 55.80 33.48 22.32 1402.23 1051.75 841.40 701.16 601.00 525.87 467.40 420.70 280.46 210.35 168.28 140.22 105.18 84.14 70.12 56.09 42.07 33.66 28.05 24.04 1763.67 1322.75 1058.20 881.83 529.10 264.55 176.37 88.18 52.91 35.27 2248.33 1686.25 1349.00 1124.16 963.57 843.13 749.44 674.50 449.66 337.25 269.80 224.83 168.63 134.90 112.42 89.93 67.45 53.96 44.96 38.54 UNSERVED HEAVY POLYURETHANE SINGLE POLYURETHANE MEAN O.D. MEAN O.D. POUNDS POUNDS FEET FEET (INCHES) (INCHES) PER PER PER PER 1000 FT. 1000 FT. POUND POUND NOMINAL NOMINAL .010 .012 .017 .022 .027 .0035 .0040 .0045 .0050 .0055 .0055 .0060 .0065 .0080 .0090 .010 .011 .013 .014 .016 .017 .020 .022 .025 .026 .0030 .0035 .0040 .0045 .0060 .0080 .010 .014 .018 .022 .0030 .0030 .0035 .0040 .0045 .0045 .0050 .0050 .0065 .0070 .0080 .0090 .010 .011 .013 .014 .016 .018 .020 .021 5175 3450 1725 1035 690 43367 32525 26020 21683 18586 16263 14456 13010 8673 6505 5204 4337 3253 2602 2168 1735 1301 1041 867 743 54100 40575 32460 27050 16230 8115 5410 2705 1623 1082 68333 51250 41000 34167 29286 25625 22778 20500 13667 10250 8200 6833 5125 4100 3417 2733 2050 1640 1367 1171 .193 .290 .580 .966 1.45 .0231 .0307 .0384 .0461 .0538 .0615 .0692 .0769 .115 .154 .192 .231 .307 .384 .461 .576 .769 .961 1.15 1.35 .0185 .0246 .0308 .0370 .0616 .123 .185 .370 .616 .924 .0146 .0195 .0244 .0293 .0341 .0390 .0439 .0488 .0732 .0976 .122 .146 .195 .244 .293 .366 .488 .610 .732 .854 .011 .014 .019 .025 .030 .0040 .0045 .0050 .0055 .0060 .0065 .0070 .0075 .0090 .010 .011 .012 .014 .016 .018 .020 .023 .025 .028 .030 .0035 .0040 .0045 .0050 .0065 .0090 .011 .016 .021 .025 .0030 .0035 .0040 .0045 .0045 .0050 .0055 .0060 .0070 .0080 .0090 .010 .011 .013 .014 .016 .018 .020 .022 .024 4955 3303 1652 991 661 41267 30950 24760 20633 17686 15475 13756 12380 8253 6190 4952 4127 3095 2476 2063 1651 1238 990 825 707 51533 38650 30920 25767 15460 7730 5153 2577 1546 1031 65567 49175 39340 32783 28100 24588 21856 19670 13113 9835 7868 6557 4918 3934 3278 2623 1967 1574 1311 1124 .202 .303 .605 1.01 1.51 .0242 .0323 .0404 .0485 .0565 .0646 .0727 .0808 .121 .162 .202 .242 .323 .404 .485 .606 .808 1.01 1.21 1.41 .0194 .0259 .0323 .0388 .0647 .129 .194 .388 .647 .970 .0153 .0203 .0254 .0305 .0356 .0407 .0458 .0508 .0763 .102 .127 .153 .203 .254 .305 .381 .508 .635 .763 .890 SERVED SINGLE NYLON — SINGE POLY FEET POUNDS MEAN O.D. PER PER (INCHES) POUND 1000 FT. NOMINAL .012 .014 .019 .024 .029 .0055 .0060 .0065 .0070 .0075 .0080 .0080 .0085 .010 .011 .012 .013 .015 .016 .018 .020 .022 .025 .027 .029 .0055 .0060 .0065 .0065 .0080 .010 .012 .016 .021 .025 .0050 .0055 .0060 .0060 .0065 .0070 .0070 .0075 .0085 .0095 .010 .011 .012 .014 .015 .016 .018 .020 .022 .024 4704 3188 1627 992 664 31224 24686 20842 17780 15500 13709 12316 11188 7684 5861 4730 3972 3016 2430 2031 1634 1239 997 832 714 35976 30228 25188 21558 13681 7214 4896 2521 1532 1037 43938 34901 29561 26069 22989 20525 18564 16892 11685 8969 7282 6136 4659 3760 3157 2547 1923 1548 1297 1118 .213 .314 .614 1.01 1.51 .0320 .0405 .0480 .0562 .0645 .0729 .0812 .0894 .130 .171 .211 .252 .332 .412 .492 .612 .807 1.00 1.20 1.40 .0278 .0331 .0397 .0464 .0731 .139 .204 .397 .653 .964 .0228 .0287 .0338 .0384 .0435 .0487 .0539 .0592 .0856 .111 .137 .163 .215 .266 .317 .393 .520 .646 .771 .894 MWS Wire Industries, 31200 Cedar Valley Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91362 • Phone: 818-991-8553 • Fax: 818-706-0911 • www.mwswire.com Print Revision May 2016 19