Best for: Extension cords, lamp cords, doorbells, thermostat wiring.
| Conductor Size (mm²) | Rating in open air (clipped) | Rating buried in insulation | Typical Circuit Breaker | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1.0 mm² | 12 Amps | 8 Amps | 6A or 10A (Lighting) | | 1.5 mm² | 16 Amps | 10 Amps | 10A or 16A | | 2.5 mm² | 24 Amps | 14 Amps | 16A or 20A (Outlets) | | 4.0 mm² | 32 Amps | 18 Amps | 20A or 25A | | 6.0 mm² | 41 Amps | 23 Amps | 32A (Cooker/Oven) | | 10 mm² | 57 Amps | 32 Amps | 40A or 45A | electric cable sizes
Cables are primarily sized by their or American Wire Gauge (AWG) , which dictates how much current they can safely carry—a property known as ampacity . Understanding Common Electric Cable Sizes Best for: Extension cords, lamp cords, doorbells, thermostat