What does the acronym AWG, as defined by the CEC, mean?

In the electrical trade we always hear different terms used differently- whether it’s on a blueprint or spoken by a supervisor on a building site, we all use a wide variety of terms that are “loose.” This flexibility of terms, typically, does not allow for accuracy. The end result is miscommunication and problems which is what we all are trying to avoid.

One of the most common misunderstandings based on terminology has to do with the spoken word “grounded”. On the job, typically, grounded is intended to mean “bonded to ground” or “bonded” or “bonding.” This will be a subject of a more sophisticated issue in a future blog- something we all have to look forward to.

Having said that, today, I would like to start with something foundational, in order to explain the entire idea of terminology accuracy using the example of a seemingly simple exam question.

The following question is one of the more classic electrical exam testing questions that people continually get wrong.

What does the acronym AWG, as defined by the CEC, mean?

a) American Wire Gauge

b) Brown and Sharpe Wire Gauge

c) sizes as applied to non-ferrous sheet metal

d) all of the above

At first glance it looks easy enough, and if you're a logical person it looks like a simple, straightforward answer choice. And that, of course, is the problem in the electrical industry - if it looks too easy, for example on a blueprint, you might be missing something for your estimate. So, let’s take a look at this question and analyze it.

The question itself is very short and like all things in the electrical industry the information is very dense - each word counts.

What does the acronym AWG, as defined by the CEC, mean?

The question is telling you to go to the Canadian Electrical Code and check for the answer. This means Measure Twice Cut Once.

The presumption is, of course, that answer choice

a) American Wire Gauge

is the correct answer.

In reality it is a skillful deception because the answer is so obvious that it is too obvious.

So, the key would be to drop our presumptions and double check in the CEC, as the question is asking us to do, even though we cannot see how or why the letters AWG could possibly mean:

b) Brown and Sharpe Wire Gauge

or

c) sizes as applied to non-ferrous sheet metal

Well, we drop our presumptions and go to check the Code and what do we find? That the actual best answer choice to the question is:

d) all of the above In conclusion, never assume anything, especially terminology, in the electrical trade.

Marvin Rosenberg is an authority and creator of electrical exam preparation. He is a Red Seal Endorsed Master Electrician who has worked for more than 30 years in the electrical trade in the residential, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors.

The experience of working as an Electrical Service Inspector as well as a Master Electrician Examiner led Marvin to start teaching journeypersons and apprentices exam preparation. He is the electrical course developer and advisor in the Centre for Continuous Learning and teaches in the Electrical Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades program at George Brown College in Toronto.

Marvin continues to enjoy teaching Pre-exam courses for Construction and Maintenance Electrician, Domestic and Rural Electrician, as well as Master Electrician.