How to Identify the Gauge of an Electrical Wire
Gauge sizes in the United States are determined by the American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard. Adapted from the Brown and Sharpe wire gauge standard, the AWG was adopted in 1857. The steel industry has its own standard for gauging iron or steel wire, but electrical wire is always made of copper. The larger the diameter of the wire the more current it can hold. Determining the right size of wire for a project is a critical step in deciding current loads and safety criteria. The higher the gauge number the smaller the diameter of the wire.
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Instructions
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Shut off the power to the wire if it is connected to a live circuit.
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Use wire strippers to expose the wire. Place the wire into one of the wire stripper's holes and clamp down on the handle to cut the insulation. When placing the wire into the hole make sure the hole is just a little smaller than the wire; otherwise, you may cut the wire in two. Pull the strippers away from your body, still gripping the handles, and the insulation should slide right off the wire.
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Place the wire into one of the holes in the wire strippers or a wire gauge to find out the gauge of the wire. The wire should fit in the hole snugly. A gap indicates the wire diameter is a smaller size, and you should try the next size down.
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Write the number down so you remember what it was. This is especially important when you are working with several wires, or when you have to research the wiring currents for a project.
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Tips & Warnings
Always be careful when working with wires connected to a power source. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker when working in high-voltage environments.
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