These are some of the common factors which can be affected by your choice of wire gauge, material, and length. As the mass of the conductive metal is increased with its diameter and length.Īluminum wires tend to cost way less than copper. The thicker and longer the wire, the more it will cost. When comparing huge loops or loops with extended lead-in lengths, the difference in performance is immediately visible. The reality is that wire gauge has an impact on inductance loop performance, which has been extensively proven in the traffic business. This minimizes the heat which is generated. On the other hand, a shorted wire means less resistance is provided by the wire. This means that it becomes harder for electricity to pass through it. The longer a wire, the more resistant it becomes. If the quantity of power carried is minimal or the wire is not very long, losses in smaller wires remain low. Larger wires offer lower resistance and can carry more power with fewer losses. The line loss in a wire is determined by the wire length, diameter, and current flowing through it. Thus copper will face fewer voltage drops than aluminum. Copper is way more conductive than aluminum. As electricity has to travel a longer distance, it gets weaker with time. The longer the wire, the more voltage drop the circuit will face. This heat generation is dependent on a few factors. When current flows through a conductor, heat energy is generated in the conductor. I will discuss some of the effects of wire gauge and length on the circuit below: Heat Generation Such as voltage drops, heat generation, etc. There are several factors that can be affected by the gauge of the wire and its length. How Does the Wire Gauge and Length Affect the Circuit? But over short distances and high amperages, it should not matter much. But it is also less conductive than copper. Given that the sub panel is not very distant from the main panel, it will not generate much heat.Īluminum is also lighter than copper. Using a #2 AWG aluminum wire will ensure the proper flow of electricity from the main panel to the sub panel. However, if you wanted to transfer 50-amps at 150 feet, a thinner wire would suffice. The appropriate wire gauge for a sub panel dealing with 100-amps is #2 AWG for aluminum cables. Let’s take a look at the chart below which goes deeper into the gauge requirements.Īmperage Ratings VS Aluminum Wire Gauge Chart (in AWG) CurrentĪs can be seen from the above panel, as the amperage increases, so does the thickness of the aluminum wire. But for a 100-amp subpanel, #2 AWG aluminum wires are required. The answer will vary based on the amperage, material, and length of the cable. What Gauge Wire Should You Use for a Sub Panel? It could result in the wire melting down and even in some worst cases, fire hazards. Using a thinner wire than the recommended gauge is highly advised against. For example, what size wire is needed to run a 500 feet power supply? Since the distance is very long, you would need a very thick wire. If you intend to transfer electricity over a greater distance, you need a thicker wire. We can see that #0 is the thickest gauge and #36 is the thinnest gauge on the calculator. In the above diagram (Fig 1), we can see a calculator for the wire gauges in AWG.
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