Wire length, amp, awg calc

[AtomSoft]

Ive seen and read quite a few sites now and all state i should be able to get away with 1a @120v on a 20awg . The length will be no more that 5 inches.

How would i go about calculating the thinnest safest wire to use?

120v AC, Approx 1A , Max 6inch long wire.

Thats what i need to wire but the enclosure is pretty small so im looking for safest smallest wire. Most likely copper not aluminum.

Any help would be great.

 

[MikeMl]

Look here

or at the attached file.

Smaller wires are here

Even better, has fusing current.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

For 1A you can go stupidly small; but for 120 or 240 supplies it is matter of adequate insulation and more importantly how it is protected, rather than physically smallest wire.

For safety regulations there must be a fuse beforehand that will blow without the wiring heating dangerously in case of a fault; that fuse defines what wire you can use.

If you have a 1A fuse on the supply connection then you could easily go down to 24AWG (0.2mm^2), that's rated 3.5A

We use 0.5mm^2 routinely as both single core and YY multicore in industrial machines, for low current circuits at up to 240V. That has a nominal rating of 9A in open air.

 

[AtomSoft]

Thanks guys. I will look into all of this. Been busy on a few projects but want to make sure this is as safe as possible.

 

[Ian Rogers]

Also depends on resistance in the cable, but at 1/2 a foot, I doubt it matters... 28 awg will work, but I always work in a big safety factor.. I agree with rjenkinsonGB... 24AWG.

**Question.... Is AWG the same as SWG... We tend to use Standard Wire Gauge over here...

 

[gophert]

Question.... Is AWG the same as SWG... We tend to use Standard Wire Gauge over here...

They are dangerously close but not the same.

https://bulkwire.com/help/wire-gauge-awg-reference-table

 

[atferrari]

They are dangerously close but not the same.

https://bulkwire.com/help/wire-gauge-awg-reference-table

How to take that expression?

 

[gophert]

How to take that expression?

Close enough to be easily confused but different enough to create dangerous situations.