enginEErjon posted:Two tidbits that are often overlooked when dealing with wire gauge is that the charts you find on the internet are typically generated based on a target voltage drop, or the type of wire insulation.
For example, the NEC (code that defines electrical wiring for US homes/industries/etc) states that 14AWG wire is rated for 15 Amps at a given temperature and a given wire length (300 feet in most cases). There is also a consideration for the number of conductors (or wires) that are stuffed into a small area ( like a 0.5" conduit).
When in comes to train wiring, an often overlooked but very import aspect is the quality of the connections/splices that are used. A bad splice (one with high resistance) can have more impact on train wiring than 16AWG wire vs 14 AWG wire.
Long story short, a 14AWG wire can handle more than 15 amps for a short distances (less than 300 feet). And wires that have heat resistive insulation can carry higher currents than those with low cost plastic insulation.
To the original poster comment, 14AWG is a measure of size. Which wire you ultimately choose should be based on how you plan to use it, not just purely the size gauge.
Is the capacity of the wire the same for 120V AC as it is for 24V AC? 15 amps at 300 feet for either, 24v or 120v??
