With wire awg, a larger number means a smaller wire. What is the proper convention for making comparisons between wire awg? For example if you you say it a wire needs to be larger than 12awg, is that more or less copper? Should the word larger/smaller be avoided and lower/higher used and clarification be asked when they are used?
Electronic – Convention for describing larger or smaller wire awg
awgwire
Best Answer
I see the point of confusion but have never given it much thought. Lower/higher is a LOT more confusing than larger/smaller.
If someone said "larger/smaller than 12AWG", to me that would mean more/less copper, so a numerically lower/higher AWG. I probably think this way since "larger" and "smaller" have physicality to them; A wire can be physically larger or smaller. In short, "AWG" is synonymous with "size" or "diameter".
If they said a "higher/lower AWG", that would give me pause unless the context was clear. "The current is too high, you need a wire gauge." it really doesn't matter what the relative adjective is. You know what it is trying to say. But I don't think I've had anyone communicate AWG to me using this method.
But you probably should just say wire/conductor diameter.