AWG 6 carrying 50 A — 1.29 V over 10 m
13.302 mm² of copper, 0.00129 Ω per metre. Carrying 50 A, a ten-metre run there and back loses 1.29 V.
You need thicker wire · Current it handles 49.5A
- Diameter
- 4.115 mm
- Cross-section
- 13.302 mm²
- Resistance per metre
- 0.00129 Ω
- Current it handles
- 49.5 A
- Drop over 10 m
- 1.29 V
- Heat per metre
- 3.23 W
Length within 3%
Lose the same 0.36 V and it is 3% of a 12 V system but 0.16% of a 230 V one. That is why car wiring looks so thick, and why a long 12 V light run dims at the far end. This page works out the length that stays under 3% for each voltage separately.
- car 12 V2.8 m
- truck 24 V5.6 m
- North America 120 V27.8 m
- Europe 230 V53.4 m
The match in the other family
The United States names wire by AWG number; most of the world names it by cross-section in mm². The two never line up exactly, so each page shows the nearest match by area. When substituting, err toward the thicker one.
6mm²6mm²Nearby cells
Same gauge, other currents
Same current, other gauges
How to read this
- The length is the distance from source to device. The return trip is already counted.
- Figures are for copper. Aluminium of the same size has about 1.6 times the resistance.
- The "current it handles" is a cautious estimate. Real installations follow the local code table.
- A wire running hot and a lamp dimming at the far end are two different problems. Pick a gauge that answers both.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can AWG 6 carry 50 A?
No. This gauge tops out around 49.5 A, so step up to something thicker.
Q. How far can I run it?
The drop stays under 3% for 53.4 m at 230 V, 27.8 m at 120 V, or 2.8 m at 12 V.
Q. How many mm² is AWG 6?
13.302 mm², from a diameter of 4.115 mm. The nearest size in the other family is 6mm².
Q. How hot does the wire get?
Every metre turns 3.23 W into heat. Over ten metres that is a 32.3 W heater left running.