How to Use This Calculator
This tool provides essential physical and electrical data for engineers, electricians, and DIY enthusiasts working with aluminum cabling. Follow these steps:
- Select Size: Choose your wire gauge from the dropdown menu (ranges from 4/0 large conductors to 36 AWG fine wire).
- View Diameter: Instantly see the wire thickness in both millimeters (mm) and inches.
- Check Resistance: Review the electrical resistance (Ohms per kilometer), a critical factor for calculating voltage drop in long cable runs.
- Copy Data: Use the "Copy" button to save the specs to your clipboard for your project notes or BOM (Bill of Materials).
Why Aluminum Resistance Matters?
Aluminum has approximately 61% of the conductivity of copper by volume. This means for the same wire gauge, aluminum will have higher electrical resistance. When sizing cables for service entrances (like 200 Amp panels), electricians typically upsizing the aluminum cable (e.g., using 4/0 Al instead of 2/0 Cu) to compensate for this resistance and prevent excessive voltage drop.