Calculadora de Calibre de Cable
Calculadora gratuita de calibre de cable. Ingrese AWG o mm², longitud del cable, corriente y material para calcular resistencia, caída de tensión y amperaje.
Calcule la resistencia del cable, caída de tensión y amperaje para tamaños AWG/mm².
Wire gauge determines electrical conductor diameter or cross-section. This calculator converts between American Wire Gauge (AWG) and metric millimetres squared (mm²), calculating resistance, voltage drop, power loss, and ampacity.
What is Wire Gauge?
The AWG (American Wire Gauge) system and metric mm² both measure conductor size. Lower AWG numbers indicate thicker wires. Selection affects circuit safety, efficiency, and compliance with electrical codes.
Key Parameters
- Size Unit: AWG (North American) or mm² (metric international standard)
- Wire Size: Conductor diameter or cross-section
- Wire Length: Distance conductor spans (one-way)
- Current: Steady-state electrical current in amperes
- Material: Copper (lower resistance) or aluminum (lightweight)
- Frequency: DC (direct) or AC at 50/60 Hz
Physics
Resistance: R = ρL/A where ρ is resistivity, L is length, A is cross-section.
Voltage drop: V = IR
Power loss: P = I²R (dominant heating mechanism)
AC adds ~5% penalty due to skin effect — current concentrates on conductor surface at high frequencies.
How to Use
- Select AWG or mm² units
- Enter wire gauge or cross-section
- Specify one-way conductor length
- Enter continuous current in amperes
- Choose material (copper/aluminum)
- Select frequency (DC/AC 50/60 Hz)
- Review calculated results
Example
For a 12 AWG copper conductor carrying 15 A over 25 m at 60 Hz AC:
- Resistance: ~0.207 Ω
- Voltage drop: ~3.1 V
- Power loss: ~2.3 W
- Safe ampacity: >20 A ✓
FAQ
Q: Difference between AWG and mm²? A: AWG (American) and mm² (metric) measure the same thing — cross-sectional area — using different scales. Both determine conductor properties.
Q: Why does aluminum require larger sizes? A: Aluminum has ~60% higher resistivity than copper. For equivalent ampacity, use 1.5–2× cross-section.
Q: What is skin effect? A: At high AC frequencies, current crowds toward the conductor surface, increasing effective resistance 5–15%.
Q: How do I avoid voltage drop problems? A: Keep voltage drop ≤3% (branch circuits) or ≤5% (overall). Larger wire reduces both voltage drop and power loss.
Q: Can I use one wire for return? A: In AC systems, return current uses a separate conductor (neutral/return/ground). Measure length one-way; calculator accounts for this.