What standard is used to measure electrical wire diameter?

The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the standard used to measure the diameter of electrical wires. This system provides a numerical designation that corresponds to the wire's diameter: the larger the gauge number, the smaller the wire diameter. This method is especially common in North America for indicating the thickness of electrical conductors, and it helps in ensuring compatibility and safety in electrical installations.

AWG is widely used because it provides clear guidelines for electricians and engineers to select appropriate wire sizes based on current-carrying capacity, electrical resistance, and overall safety when designing electrical systems. The AWG system also accounts for various materials, allowing for comparative evaluations between different types of conductors.

Other standards like ISO, USAW, and IEC are related to various specifications and protocols within the electrical and electronics fields but do not specifically address wire diameter measurement in the same context as AWG. This makes AWG the most relevant and accurate choice for this particular question.