Wire Area Size in DCAClab Circuit Simulator & Burning Effect by Current:

What you see in DCAClab UI

In the DCAClab Circuit Simulator, the wire uses a Wire Properties of DCAClab panel where you can configure:

AWG (American Wire Gauge) size
Wire Color
Show Ampere (Enable / Disable current display)

The AWG dropdown includes the following sizes and ampares:

30 (0.05 mm²) (1 - 2.2 A)
28 (0.08 mm²) (1 - 2.8 A)
26 (0.13 mm²) (1 - 3.5 A)
24 (0.21 mm²) (1 - 4.4 A)
22 (0.33 mm²) (1 - 5.6 A)
20 (0.52 mm²) (1 - 7.1 A)
18 (0.82 mm²) (1 - 8.9 A)
16 (1.31 mm²) (1 - 11.3 A)
14 (2.08 mm²) (1 - 14.2 A)
12 (3.31 mm²) (1 - 17.9 A)
10 (5.26 mm²) (1 - 22.5 A)

Why wires burn in DCAClab

Wire burning happens when excessive current flows through a wire that cannot dissipate heat fast enough.

Resistance of a wire:

R = ρ × L / A

Power converted into heat:

P = I² × R

Where:

R = Resistance (Ohm)

ρ = Resistivity of copper = 1.68 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m

L = Length of wire (meter)

A = Cross-sectional area (m²)

I = Current (Ampere)

More current → more heat → insulation melts → wire burns.

Practical Calculation Examples

Example 1: AWG 30 (0.05 mm²)

Area conversion:

0.05 mm² = 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ m²

Resistance per meter:

R = (1.68 × 10⁻⁸) / (5.0 × 10⁻⁸) = 0.336 Ohm/m

Power dissipation:

At 1A:

P = 1² × 0.336 = 0.336 W per meter

At 2.5 A:

P = 2.5² × 0.336 = 6.25 × 0.336 = 2.10 W per meter

Result: The Wire (0.05 mm²) is burned through current (2.5 A).

Example 2: AWG 10 (5.26 mm²)

Area conversion:

5.26 mm² = 5.26 × 10⁻⁶ m²

Resistance per meter:

R = (1.68 × 10⁻⁸) / (5.26 × 10⁻⁶) = 0.00319 Ohm/m

At 20A:

P = 20² × 0.00319 = 400 × 0.00319 = 2.28 W per meter

Result: The Wire (5.26 mm²) won’t be burned through current (20 A).

Resistance Per Meter of the all wires:

30 (0.05 mm²) ➝ 0.337 Ω/m
28 (0.08 mm²) ➝ 0.212 Ω/m
26 (0.13 mm²) ➝ 0.133 Ω/m
24 (0.21 mm²) ➝ 0.084 Ω/m
22 (0.33 mm²) ➝ 0.053 Ω/m
20 (0.52 mm²) ➝ 0.033 Ω/m
18 (0.82 mm²) ➝ 0.021 Ω/m
16 (1.31 mm²) ➝ 0.013 Ω/m
14 (2.08 mm²) ➝ 0.008 Ω/m
12 (3.31 mm²) ➝ 0.005 Ω/m
10 (5.26 mm²) ➝ 0.003 Ω/m

How to Test Burning in DCAClab

Select the wire.
Open Wire Properties panel.
Choose AWG size.
Enable Show Ampere.
Apply voltage source.
Gradually increase current.
Observe.

Wire Burning Issues:

Wire color change
Heating indicator
Burning animation effect

Why Thin Wires Burn Faster

Smaller cross-sectional area
Higher resistance
Higher resistance + High current = Excessive heat
Heat exceeds insulation tolerance → Wire burns

Practical Demo Scenario

Wire: AWG 30

Length: 0.5 meter

Voltage: 5V

Resistance:

R = 0.336 × 0.5 = 0.168 Ohm

Current if no load:

I = V / R = 5 / 0.168 = 29.7 A

Result: Instant wire burn

Solution:

Add series resistor
OR use thicker wire such as AWG 16 or below

Best Practice for DCAClab

Always use resistor or proper load
Avoid direct short circuits
Monitor Ampere display
Keep current below 80% of safe limit
Use thicker wire for high current circuits

DCAClab wire simulation realistically models:

AWG size vs Resistance
Current flow visualization
Thermal burning behavior
Real-time Ampere monitoring

Understanding the relationship between AWG, current, resistance, and power helps you design safer and more accurate circuit simulations in DCAClab.