Common Gauge Reference AWG/B&S Gauge Area (mm) Strand Numbers/Size

3mm 17 1.13 16/0.3

4mm 15 1.81 26/0.3
5mm 13 2.9 41/0.3
6mm 11 4.59 65/0.3
8B&S 8 7.91 112/0.3
6B&S 6 13.56 192/0.3
3B&S 3 25.72 364/0.3
2B&S 2 32.15 455/0.3
1B&S 1 39.55 560/0.3
0B&S 0 49.2 700/0.3
00B&S 00 64.9 910/0.3
000B&S 000 85 1204/0.3
Wire Gauge Conversion Table
Wire Gauge Explained?
The term wire gauge refers to the thickness of a wire. Wire gauge can be used to determine electrical resistance
and the current handling capability of the wire. There are two major standards for describing wire gauge, Metric Wire
Gauge (MWG) and American Wire Gauge (AWG). B&S is another commonly used measure of wire gauge, B&S means
Brown & Sharpe and B&S is equal to AWG.
Metric Wire Gauge is used outside of the US. Metric Wire Gauge is quoted using its cross sectional area in mm to
describe the wire thickness.
American Wire Gauge is most commonly used in the US. The AWG is determined via the cross sectional area of the
conductor, the same as MWG however AWG is described using a list of gauge numbers. AWG gauge numbers work in
the opposite direction to MWG descrpitions, with the smallest numbers representing the largest diameter wires.
B&S is commonly used for thicker wires in Australia. B&S follows the same gauge descriptions as AWG and is simply
another way of explaining the wire gauge. AWG = B&S.
AWG/B&S - Small gauge number for large wire cross sectional area - smaller the gauge/larger the wire.
MWG - Small gauge number for small wire cross section area, described in mm - smaller the gauge/smaller the wire.
Copyright 2012 Redarc Electronics Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Common Redarc Installations
Type of
Installation
Total cable
length (m)
Cont. Current
Draw (A)
Required Cross
Sectional Area
Recommended Cable
Gauge*
SBI12 under bonnet 2 60 8mm 8B&S
SBI12 under bonnet with override 2 100 + 13mm 2B&S
BCDC1220 under bonnet 2 20 2.7mm 6mm auto
BCDC1220 in rear of vehicle 6 20 4mm 8B&S
BCDC1225 under bonnet 2 25 3.4mm 8B&S
BCDC1225 in camper trailer 10 25 17mm 4B&S
BCDC1240 under bonnet 2 40 5.5mm 6B&S
BCDC1240 in rear of vehicle 6 40 16mm 4B&S
*Note: The recommended cable size may not actually reect the required cable cross sectional area.
How to Calculate Voltage Drop or Cable Size

l = Total Length of cable
T = Temperature of
wire (not shroud)
n = Number of
individual strands
of wire
d = Diameter
of wire
strands
Cross Sectional Area (cable size)
V
d
=
l G I G 0.017
A
A =
pd
2
4
Gn
Voltage drop (at 25C)
Cable Cross Section
Cross Sectional Area (cable size)
Voltage drop (other temperatures)
A =
l G I G 0.017
V
d
V
d
=
lGIG0.017
A
G(1+0.004G(T-25))
A = Cross Sectional
Area
V
d
= Voltage Drop
I = Current Draw
Want an easier way to work out Voltage Drop or required Cable Size?
www.redarc.com.au/handy-hints/calculator/
25
20
15
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.8
70
50
35
25
16
10
6
4
2.5
1.5
1
0.75
50
40
30
20
15
5
10
8
6
4
3
2
25
20
15
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.8
120
95
70
50
35
25
16
10
6
4
2.5
1.5
150
100
80
60
50
15
40
30
20
10
8
6
1
0.75
0.5
5
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
15
10
5
3
2/0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
20 0.5
18
700
600
500
400
300
200
150
100
80
60
40
50
20
30
80
60
50
40
30
20
15
10
5
3
5/0
4/0
3/0
2/0
0
2
4
6
8
10
14
12
4000
3000
2000
1500
1000
800
600
500
400
300
150
200
16
20
18
100
100
mF
t
m
m
2
A
W
G
/
B
&
S
A
m
p
s
W
a
t
t
s
mF
t
m
m
2
A
W
G
/
B
&
S
A
m
p
s
W
a
t
t
s
12V 24V
Required Wire Gauge Chart
The below diagram will advise the minimum required wire gauge for a given cable length and the current draw or
wattage. Simply draw a line from the required cable length (meters or feet), to the required current draw or wattage
gure. Where the line passes through the gauge column will indicate the required wire gauge.
Gauge chart supplied by Ashdown-Ingram
The example shows
a BCDC1220 install
with a total cable
length of 3 metres.
The chart suggests
a 4mm cross
sectional area to
handle the 20A
maximum current
draw.