The figures and sizes of cables and outlets on hardware shop labels can baffle someone who isn’t an electrician. Nonetheless, knowing how many amps a wire can accept and transport is critical. But do you know Can You Connect 18 Gauge Wire To 14 Gauge? The wires are electrical conductors that act as channels for current to go to the outlets or electrical fixtures you want to install.
Failure to evaluate the capacity of cables can result in negative consequences such as overheating of the wires, which can lead to fires. An 18-gauge wire can carry a 16-amp current. It has a small diameter and is typically used for low voltage lighting.
Can You Connect 18 Gauge Wire To 14 Gauge?
An overload cannot be caused by the wire gauge alone. In and of itself, changing wire gauges in the same circuit will not present an issue. The problem will arise because the circuit’s overcurrent protection device has too great capacity for the lowest gauge wire downstream.
With a few exceptions, branch circuits in Canada/USA 120/240 Volt house wiring will include 15 Amp overcurrent protection, requiring the usage of at least #14 copper wire. It would be dangerous and illegal to use a #18 wire on that circuit.
How Many Amps Can An 18-Gauge Wire Handle At 12 Volts?
The amount of amps an 18-gauge wire can handle at 12 volts is determined by the wire’s length. The lower the current amperage, the longer the wire.
You can see that the best wire to use is determined by the distance between the power source and the electrical gadget or outlet rather than the power draw.
An 18-gauge wire, for example, can withstand five amps at 12 volts across a distance of 7.3 feet. It can also take 15 amps at 12 volts when 2.4 feet long. As a result, using 18-gauge wire at low currents is relatively safe.
Can 18-Gauge Wire Handle 120V?
Yes, 120 volts may be run through an 18-gauge wire. It depends, however, on what the wire is used to link. As a result, an 18-gauge wire cannot be used to connect a doorbell to 120 volts. At 48 volts and below, safety will be assessed. It also depends on where you want the wire to go. It is incompatible with any permanent wiring or connections within walls.
When establishing, rewiring, or extending a circuit, ensure the wire conductors meet the amperage rate. Larger wires must be fitted to ensure that they do not overheat and create fires when a higher voltage is applied.
The correct wire gauge must also be compatible with the circuit breaker. It’s crucial to remember that the kind and number of electronic devices connected to the circuit impact the amperage of the conductor.
As a result, adhering to local electrical rules or ordinances in your geographic region would be beneficial. These will ensure a secure electrical connection, controlled power flow, and a well-maintained circuit system in your home.
Another important consideration when choosing gauge wires is the fuse. The wire gauge must correspond to the fuse size. Like a circuit breaker, a fuse is a protection device that prevents an electrical circuit from being overloaded.
A fuse protects the wiring and electrical equipment by breaking the circuit when too much current runs through the conductors, causing overheating or melting of the wires. The fuse is built of a metal that melts quickly. As a result, if the current flow through the fuse is overloaded, the wire warms up, melts, and breaks the circuit.
Can You Use A Ten Gauge Wire With A 14 Gauge Wire?
Ten gauge wire is generally rated for 30 amps, but 14 gauge is only rated for 15 amps. You could combine the two wires, but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, as the saying goes. That is to say; the entire system would only be capable of handling 15 amps. I’m not sure why you’d want to do this, especially since ten gauge wire is fairly expensive, especially when compared to 14 gauge, and there’s no purpose.
18-Gauge Wire Uses
Because an 18-gauge wire is thinner, it is commonly assumed that it cannot support a large number of volts. This assumption isn’t correct.
The voltage conveyed through a wire is not limited by its gauge. An 18-gauge wire can be rated from 12 to 1000 volts depending on the Insulation.
The gauge of the wire is primarily used to control the amount of current it carries from the power source, while the thickness of the Insulation limits the voltage. Insulation prevents the transmission of heat or electricity from one conductor to another by separating them from non-conductive materials.
The qualities of the non-conductive substances inside the insulated wire or cable make them resistant to electric current. Furthermore, the non-conductive materials safeguard the wire and cable by encasing them. Insulation shields wires from the elements while also shielding the surroundings from the wires.
For example, it shields the cables from foreign elements such as water, which can corrode them and raise their resistance to current, causing heat to build up, which is unsuitable for the system and can result in fires.
On the other hand, Insulation protects the environment by preventing current from flowing out of the wire to areas it isn’t supposed to travel, such as when someone touches a ‘bare wire,’ causing damage. Rubber and plastic insulators, often known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are the most commonly used insulators on cables today.
How Is Thick 18-Gauge Wire In Inches?
18-gauge wire is roughly 0.0403′′ thick inches, according to the AWG measurement standard. This is approximately 1.024mm thick. As a result, it is one of the thinnest wires used for in-house wiring, and because it uses low voltage, it is relatively safe.
Conclusion
So, Can You Connect 18 Gauge Wire To 14 Gauge? When working on home wiring projects, you must examine the type of wire used with the circuit at the right amps and voltage. One of the most common gauges of wire used in electrical wiring is 18 gauge.
The number of amps this type of wire can carry at 12 volts is determined by the length of wire utilized. You can run 120 volts via an 18 gauge wire, but it depends on the accessory you’re powering and how well the cables are insulated. As a result, 18-gauge wire is quite safe for house wiring.