If you double the cable size, how many times will the current rating increase?

When you double the size of a cable, you are effectively increasing its cross-sectional area, which has a direct impact on its current-carrying capacity. The relationship between the cable size and the current rating can be determined using the formula for electrical current density.

The current-carrying capacity of a conductor is proportional to its cross-sectional area. If the size of the cable is doubled, the cross-sectional area increases by a factor of four, since area is proportional to the square of the diameter (or radius).

Thus, if you double the diameter of a conductor, the increase in the area would be calculated as follows:

• New area = pi * (d * 2)^2

• This simplifies to = pi * 4 * d^2,

which shows that the new area is four times the original area.

Hence, when the size is doubled, the current rating increases fourfold. This understanding is crucial for ensuring safety and performance when selecting cable sizes for specific electrical applications.