The 16 AWG wire can accommodate an appliance with a higher wattage (power) than an 18 AWG wire. 16AWG has less power loss, so is better for speaker wires or extension cords, unless the load is small and the wire needs to be hidden.
Is 14 AWG better than 18AWG?
A light-duty 18 AWG power cord is good for about 5 amps. That's OK for a PC with up to a 600 watt power supply. A 14 AWG power cord is good for 15 amps. That's more than you need unless you have an 1800 watt power supply and, again, you're actually using it.
How many amps is 18AWG good for?
Maximum Current For 18AWG Wire The current is measured in amps. An 18-gauge wire can handle 16 amps.
What is an 18 AWG extension cord?
Gauge is a numerical rating of copper wire diameter and is identified by an American Wire Gauge (AWG) number. For example, an 18 AWG cord may only be rated for 5 to 7 amperes (amps) of load at a length of up to 25 feet. To get the same load rating with a 50-foot cord, the cord must have larger, 16 AWG wire.
How many amps can 18AWG handle?
An 18 AWG can hold up to 16 amps but that is with high temperature insulation (THHN) for standard TW wet insulation it is more like 12 or so amps and will not meet the 15 amp breaker requirements. Normally 14 AWG for a 15 amp and 12 AWG for a 20 amp breaker is standard.
What is 18 gauge wire rated for?
AWG gauge Conductor Diameter Inches Maximum amps for power transmission
--------- ------------------------- -----------------------------------
18 0.0403 2.3
19 0.0359 1.8
20 0.032 1.5
21 0.0285 1.2
Which is bigger 16 AWG or 18 AWG?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. It pertains to the diameter of the wire. The lower the AWG, the more current capacity it can carry. The 16 AWG wire can accommodate an appliance with a higher wattage (power) than an 18 AWG wire.
Is higher or lower AWG better?
A wire with a smaller gauge (larger diameter) can carry more power than one with a larger gauge. In general, a lower AWG number is better than higher AWG. Therefore, it is important that the current carrying capacity of a wire or circuit be considered. Larger wire uses more metal and is, therefore, more expensive.
What is bigger 14 AWG or 16 AWG?
The size of the wire in diameter. 14awg is larger in size than 16awg. The smaller the number the larger the diameter of wire. Larger wire is capable of handling more power with less resistance which helps to get clearer sound.
Is 14 or 18 gauge speaker wire better?
The rule of thumb when utilizing different gauges of speaker wire is: The longer the run is from your audio amplifier to the speakers the lower the gauge as it relates to the amount of ohms be put out by your audio device. The manual states that up to 20 ft an 18 gauge wire is fine with 16 and 14 gauge for longer runs.