| Property |
Value |
| Gauge 8 Diameter (in) |
0.1285 in |
| Gauge 8 Diameter (mm) |
3.264 mm |
| Gauge 8 Turns of Wire (per inch) |
7.78 turns/in |
| Gauge 8 Turns of Wire (per cm) |
3.06 turns/cm |
| Gauge 8 Cross-Sectional Area (kcmil) |
16.5 kcmil |
| Gauge 8 Cross-Sectional Area (mm²) |
8.37 mm² |
| Copper Resistance (Ω/km or mΩ/m) |
2.061 mΩ/m |
| Copper Resistance (Ω/kft or mΩ/ft) |
0.6282 mΩ/ft |
| NEC Copper Wire Ampacity (60°C) |
40 A |
| NEC Copper Wire Ampacity (75°C) |
50 A |
| NEC Copper Wire Ampacity (90°C) |
55 A |
| Fusing Current (10 s) |
472.0 A |
| Fusing Current (1 s) |
2500.0 A |
| Fusing Current (32 ms) |
14000.0 A |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About 8 AWG Wire
What does AWG stand for?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge, a standardized system for measuring wire sizes. The smaller the AWG number, the larger the wire diameter.
How does 8 AWG compare to 7 AWG?
8 AWG wire is smaller than 7 AWG, with a diameter of 3.264 mm compared to 3.665 mm for 7 AWG. It has the same ampacity (55 A at 90°C) but a smaller cross-sectional area and higher resistance.
What applications are suitable for 8 AWG wire?
8 AWG wire is typically used for lower-current applications, such as lighting circuits, small equipment, or control wiring, with an ampacity of up to 55 A at 90°C.
What happens if the fusing current is exceeded?
If the fusing current is exceeded (e.g., 472 A for 10 seconds in 8 AWG), the wire will overheat and melt, potentially causing a fire hazard or circuit failure.
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