: Used for heavy-duty winches and starter motors. 4. Factors That Influence Cable Choice
In Australia, we use the metric system for cross-sectional area (mm²). A common mistake is thinking "thicker wire is always better." While thicker wire reduces resistance, it is more expensive and harder to terminate. cable sizes australia
| Conductor Size (mm²) | Typical Current Rating (Clip-on) | Common Australian Applications | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 10 Amps | Lighting circuits (rarely used now; most use 1.5mm) | | 1.5 mm² | 15 Amps | Standard lighting circuits, smoke alarms. | | 2.5 mm² | 20-25 Amps | General Power Outlets (10A GPOs). Standard home power circuit. | | 4.0 mm² | 32 Amps | Dedicated circuits: Ovens, cooktops, large air conditioners (up to 7kW). | | 6.0 mm² | 40-50 Amps | Instantaneous hot water, induction cooktops, sub-mains to a shed (short run). | | 10 mm² | 65 Amps | Small sub-mains (garage/granny flat), large commercial ovens. | | 16 mm² | 85 Amps | Main switchboard upgrades, EV chargers (high power), large sub-mains. | : Used for heavy-duty winches and starter motors