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Trying to find the AWG of a wire without seeing it

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littlebill:
I am trying to determine the  "average" awg of a wire run without being able to see the entire wire.

is a 4 wire resistance test the only way to determine this, or is it not possible? is it possible to determine length as well?

please be kind.. I am new at this

ledtester:
I often determine AWG by putting it into a wire stripper and seeing which of the notches work:



The correct notch is the smallest one that doesn't nick the wire when you close the jaws.

Can you tell us more about your situation? If you are considering a 4-wire measurement it seems you must have access to the two ends and the ends are close to each other.

Also, are we talking solid or stranded? And why do you say "average"? Isn't the wire all the same throughout the run?

littlebill:
The wire as stated is unable to be seen through its entire run, i have access to the end and the beginning, it is expected to have splices, and i don't like to assume things such as consistent wire gauge through the run. the wire will be stranded

ledtester:

And what are you going to do with the average?

If you want to know what the resistance of the run is, then a 4-wire measurement will tell you that.

If you want to know how much current you can safely pass through the run, then you want to know what the minimum gauge is along the run -- i.e. the weakest link.

littlebill:

--- Quote from: ledtester on August 18, 2019, 01:53:40 am ---

If you want to know how much current you can safely pass through the run, then you want to know what the minimum gauge is along the run -- i.e. the weakest link.

--- End quote ---

agreed but if i can't see it, how would i determine what the minimum gauge is in the run? and my issue is voltage drop, not current

based on my reading you have to know the length of the wire to do the 4 wire test to determine awg, but i am open to suggestion i may have another way to determine what i need to know, but i would like to still know if its possible with the above conditions

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