26AWG Wire

Wire size plays a vital role in the performance of wire and cable. Let us help you categorize the various wire sizes to help you understand your own cable shopping needs. In this article, we will cover one of the most popular wire sizes on the market today–26AWG Wire.

What you need to know about conductor?

The wire is also often referred to as “wire”; it is mainly used as a cable material to transmit electrical energy or thermal conductivity. Our standard wires are made of copper, aluminum, silver, gold, and other materials because they have electrical conductivity.

As for the conductive principle of the wire: for example, the copper wire itself has a large number of free movement of electrons for directional movement; this time, as long as we give the wired electricity or heating so that its temperature becomes high, it will be found that these electrons began to do movement in accordance with the direction of the electric field, which is generated by the current.

Different wires are available in various lengths, with different cross sections and weights, so choose the appropriate wire for the actual application.

How does AWG affect performance?

Before starting this article, it is vital to grasp the concept of AWG (American Wire Gauge). You can find more in-depth information here: AWG: What is it?

To quickly understand this, AWG size and cable size are inversely proportional to each other; the higher the AWG size number, the thinner the cable. Thus, a 28AWG cable will be thinner than a 24AWG cable.

When we talk about the AWG of a cable, we are referring to the conductors (wires) inside the cable. The cable conductor’s thickness and diameter determine the cable’s AWG size. Larger gauge numbered cables will have thinner wires. Due to this property, these types of cables are usually stranded cables. This makes them more flexible, ideal for short runs, and can be made into patch cords.

Smaller gauge numbered cables are usually solid cables with thicker conductors inside. The more copper used in these cables, the more suitable they are for long runs. You will often find smaller gauge numbered cables with sheath types such as riser, outdoor, and booster. These cables have certain flame retardant materials that make them suitable for each location.

What is 26AWG Wire?

We often see the word “26AWG” marked on wires, so what does the number “26” in front of it mean? The larger the AWG number, the higher the grade of the hole and the wire has to pass through, and the smaller the diameter of the wire. This AWG size is often found in stranded cables, and it is an excellent choice for short cable runs. This cable can help you create patch cords in your home or business as they can also be shielded and stranded together, and the shielding helps to protect your cables from EMI.

Important information on conductors

Different values of AWG conductors have different diameters, areas, and weights, for example.

A wire represents 22AWG with a diameter of 0.643 mm, a cross-section of 0.3256 sq ms, and a weight of 2.895 kg. A wire represents 24AWG with a diameter of 0.511 mm, a cross-section of 0.2047 sq ms, and a weight of 1.820 kg. The 26AWG refers to a wire with a diameter of 0.404 mm and a cross-sectional area of 0.1281 square milliseconds.

The AWG standard also specifies that the rated current and the maximum current through which the conductor can be operated are different for different AWG values, which can be referred to in the AWG comparison table.

Comparison of the three cable sizes

24AWG Wire, 26AWG Wire, and 28AWG Wire are the most popular wire sizes today, and they all have specific functions.

The 24AWG cable is the most versatile of these as it will be made with more copper, making it more suitable for longer distances. With this cable, you will also not experience much crosstalk or insertion loss over longer distances.

26AWG cable is an excellent choice for short runs and for making patch cords. 26AWG is usually shielded, which can help if you are installing in an area with EMI.

The 28AWG is the most flexible compared to the 24AWG and 26AWG. It will have the most miniature conductor among the three and ideally should be used in areas where you want to save space or install a patch panel. Over longer distances, this cable will have more attenuation and increased insertion loss.

Current for different wire sizes

Current is measured in amperage, and each wire gauge has a maximum safe carrying capacity. For standard non-metallic (NM) cables, these amperage and wire gauge capacities can help you calculate the wire size you need.

These ratings are for standard NM copper sheathed cable, but in some cases, these amperage ratings will vary. For example, some homes have aluminum wiring with its own amperage carrying capacity. Aluminum wiring was once widely used, but as it was found that aluminum had a greater expansion curve under load, it often loosened wire connections and sometimes caused electrical fires. This is not to say that you are necessarily at risk if you have aluminum wiring, as these connections may work forever if not overloaded. However, evaluating and replacing them with copper wires may be a good idea.

Where to buy 26AWG wire?

Delightfire has maintained its wire and cable for over a decade, insisting on excellent quality based on the market and using it to provide customers with high-quality wire and cable, including 26AWG wire. If you are busy with a wire and cable project, please contact us or submit a quote request.