Wire Size?

[jkim780]

On Wire size, can anyone tell me what does MCM stand for? (example:600MCM). I know that we use AWG(American Wire Gage) up to 4/0 wire size and Kcmil above 4/0. But every wire manufacturers uses MCM instead of Kcmil. Is MCM same as Kcmil?

[ November 07, 2003, 11:23 AM: Message edited by: jkim780 ]

 

[steve66]

Re: Wire Size?

Yes, kcmil stands for 1000 circular mills. In this case, the k is the standard scientific abreviation for 1000. MCM also stands for 1000 circular mills, with CM being an abbreviation for circular mills, and the first M being a less standard abbreviation for 1000.

I'm not sure how M first got used as standing for 1000. It may be part of the British system of units (feet, pounds, ect). However the bad part is that in scientific notation, M stands for one million or 1,000,000.

 

[roger]

Re: Wire Size?

Steve, M is the roman number 1000, so it goes wayyyy back.

Roger

 

[charlie b]

Re: Wire Size?

It might not go that far back. The french word "mille" translates to "one thousand."

Pierre: C'est vrai, n'est-ce pas?

 

[jkim780]

Re: Wire Size?

Thank you guys.

 

[bthielen]

Re: Wire Size?

The french word "mille" translates to "one thousand."

Notice the capitol M rather than lower case. "mille" is lower case because it is used numerically to represent a fraction of ONE such as milli-volt, milli-meter, etc. The capitol M represents Mega which represents million such as Mega-ohm, Mega-watt, Mega-bit, etc. I can understan the confusion because MCM is also the Roman numeral 1900 so one must separate the first M from the CM to obtain One Thousand Circular Mils.

The mystery continues.

Bob

 

[ty]

Re: Wire Size?

So a 1900 box could be an MCM box.

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Wire Size?

Originally posted by ty:
So a 1900 box could be an MCM box.

Exactly. And 20 cases of them would be 500 MCM

 

[pierre]

Re: Wire Size?

Charlie
I am not french, and I can barely speak english , its a story how I received my name.

Pierre

 

[charlie b]

Re: Wire Size?

Sorry, Pierre. I had you confused with Marc, the "French Electrician." But I don't speak French either.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Wire Size?

Pierre: C'est vrai, n'est-ce pas?

Charlie ,, you are close enough but i am full french and the quote say " it is true or it is not ?? " this is very common french slang word.

the mille is one thousand and french numbers words never use uppercase at all.

and that ok i know it sometime can confuse with someone else name there too


merci, marc