DC Wire Gauge (AWG) & Voltage Drop Calculator
Thin wires over long cable runs cause voltage drop, resulting in flickering LED strips, restarting CCTV cameras, and unstable Wi-Fi routers. Calculate round-trip loss and find the right AWG gauge in seconds.
Circuit Parameters
For a maximum 3% voltage drop at 12V 5A over 5m, use 16 AWG or thicker.
Copper Wire Gauge (AWG) Reference & Ampacity Chart
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Resistance (Ω / meter) | Max DC Ampacity | Common Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 AWG | 2.588 mm | 0.00328 Ω/m | 30 A | High-power 12V/24V solar, 200W+ amps |
| 12 AWG | 2.053 mm | 0.00521 Ω/m | 20 A | High-power 12V/24V solar, 200W+ amps |
| 14 AWG | 1.628 mm | 0.00828 Ω/m | 15 A | LED strip mains, 3D printers, 60W+ |
| 16 AWG | 1.291 mm | 0.01317 Ω/m | 10 A | LED strip mains, 3D printers, 60W+ |
| 18 AWG | 1.024 mm | 0.02095 Ω/m | 7 A | CCTV cameras, standard router cables |
| 20 AWG | 0.812 mm | 0.03330 Ω/m | 5 A | CCTV cameras, standard router cables |
| 22 AWG | 0.644 mm | 0.05296 Ω/m | 3 A | Low-power sensors, USB 2.0 data/power |
| 24 AWG | 0.511 mm | 0.08422 Ω/m | 2 A | Low-power sensors, USB 2.0 data/power |
| 26 AWG | 0.405 mm | 0.13390 Ω/m | 1.3 A | Low-power sensors, USB 2.0 data/power |
| 28 AWG | 0.321 mm | 0.21290 Ω/m | 0.8 A | Low-power sensors, USB 2.0 data/power |
Check complete adapter compatibility
Verify voltage drop compensation, amperage headroom, polarity, and connector sizing before powering remote equipment.
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