What Wire Size For 50 Amp Range? (Must Know This) 2023

Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:25 pm

Deciding the range wire size for a 50 amp circuit to use for your home appliances can be tricky if you don’t have foreknowledge about electrical appliances.

However, many household appliances have their voltage and current rating, making it easier to know the particular range wire size required.

This article highlights the necessary information for 50-amp range wire size appliances and other essential things about wire sizes and ratings.

The standard wire rating for a 50-amp range is 6-gauge, based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system. According to the AWG standard for 50-amp range wire size circuits, the appropriate sizes for both Aluminum and Copper are 4-gauge and 6-gauge, respectively. So, using anything less than this will cause avoidable damages.

What Size Wire Do I Need for a 50 Amp Range?

The required wire size for a 50 amp range appliance is 4.115mm or 0.162 inches, rated as 6-gauge.

When measuring the thickness of a wire, only the conductor, which is at the core of the cable, is measured and rated as the size of the cable.

The smaller the AWG number, the thicker the conductor at the core of a cable.

The difference between an electrical wire and a conductor is that while a wire is insulated with a rubber sheath, a conductor is just the conducting metal.

The thickness of a wire can be of great importance because it is very reliable and, depending on the type of material, durable.

But it also has some disadvantages of difficulty running it through the ducts. In addition, the thickness of the wire makes it less flexible and stiff and, in the case of copper, heavy.

Cable measurements are usually a deciding factor when choosing the correct wire for electrical installations in the house.

The rating is helpful in deciding the cable most appropriate for a particular appliance by measuring the current flowing through the cable.

Many appliances come with their voltage and current rating, indicating the current amount they consume.

For a 50-range amp wire breaker, many appliances in the house can be connected to it, especially those with a high power consumption rate.

Appliances like cookers, water heaters, washing machines, and electric dryers, which draw a lot of currents, require a 50-amp range wire size cable.

What Size Aluminum Wire for 50 Amp Range?

When using an aluminum core cable, the required wire size for a 50 amp range appliance is a 4-gauge or 5.189mm wire, according to the American Wire Standard (AWS).

Some cables are made with copper or aluminum core, which have a heat-resistant limit.

For different reasons, one can be substituted for another, especially when the installation cost is considered.

Aluminum core cables are considerably more flexible, lightweight, and cheaper than copper core cables.

The cost, weight, and flexibility of aluminum cables make them affordable and easier to work with, but they do not have high heat resistance.

For many people working on a budget, aluminum wires are the ideal choice but compared to copper, and it is less reliable.

What Size Copper Wire for 50 Amp Range?

The standard 50 Amp range wire size of copper cable for an equal range circuit breaker is 6-gauge. The rating of every wire is usually indicated on the outer sheath of the cables.

But there are some cases where the cables do not have any indications; in such situations, you can use a digital clamp meter.

When it comes to reliability, copper wires are more reliable than aluminum wires which is why many households prefer to use them in their circuits.

In addition, copper cables have higher heat resistance than aluminum wires, making them more durable.

However, they’re more expensive and heavier, so for a very thick copper wire, it’ll be more challenging to pass through the ducts than flexible aluminum wires.

The rating of wires is done by comparing the current consumption of the particular appliance to the current flow capacity of the wire.

Then, the rating is obtained based on the measurement of the wire’s tensile strength, heat resistance, conductivity, and other factors.

Passing more than the required current through low-rated cables can lead to electrical hazards like melting appliances or, in worse cases, electrical fire.

In cases where you use the wrong wires for higher-rated appliances, some electrical hazards like overheating and fire can occur.

And in milder cases, damage to the device or the cable is melting due to overheating.

This is why it is advisable to always check the rating on your home appliances before making any connections.

And in situations where you cannot correctly interpret the instructions, consult an electrician.

Takeaway

All electrical appliances have their voltage and current rating depending on their power consumption.

This rating varies from one appliance to another, depending on the components they’re made of.

Some appliances consume more power than others and, therefore, require a higher- rating of amp wire breakers and corresponding range wire size to carry the current it consumes without causing any damage.