Alternating Current

Don't worry this is not a conspiracy

Important Stuff

Always need Hot (Red, Black, Other Color), Neutral (White) and Ground (Conduit, Green, Hopefully not another color)

Gauges of wire should be something you understand

Why gauge matters:

R= (ρ×L)/A

R is the resistance.

ρ (rho) is the resistivity of the material. L is the length of the wire. A is the cross-sectional area of the wire.

Lower Resistance: Thicker wires have a larger cross-sectional area (A), which leads to lower resistance. This is important because lower resistance means less energy loss as heat and more efficient power transmission.

Voltage Drop: Over long distances, the resistance of the wire can cause a significant voltage drop. Using a thicker wire reduces this voltage drop, ensuring that the electrical devices at the end of the line receive sufficient voltage to operate effectively.

Power Loss: Power loss in a wire due to resistance is given by P = I^2 x R I is the current. By reducing the resistance with a thicker wire, the power loss over the distance is also reduced. This is especially important for long-distance power transmission.

Heating Effect: Higher resistance wires can heat up more when a current passes through them. This can be a safety hazard and also affects the efficiency of the wire. A thicker wire, with its lower resistance, will heat up less for the same current.

Handling Higher Currents: Thicker wires can handle more current without overheating. This is crucial for applications that require high current over long distances.

Cybertruck

They understood this concept, which is why they went with a 48 volt design instead of the standard 12 volt design which should be a think of the past considering that all cars are using more and more electrical components, requiring thicker wire and less sustinable as the copper required to do so is detrimental to the world as a whole.

In summary, using a thicker gauge wire for longer distances helps in reducing resistance, minimizing voltage drop and power loss, reducing the heating effect, and enabling the transmission of higher currents safely and efficiently.