I've come across some wire that is probably 30 years old and is marked
14 gauge. The minimum gauge I want snaking around the house is 12 gauge, so I was about to pull it out when I noticed that the copper is about as thick as new 12 gauge (and thicker than new 14 gauge). Is the copper thinner now because of improvements in the manufacturing process, or something? Is the wire rated by thickness or by current carrying capacity? If it is current carrying capacity, then are they using thinner wire because newer copper is a better conductor? This isn't the plastic insulation I'm talking about, it's about the copper itself.- posted
18 years ago