What gauge wire is specified for the personnel ground device?

What gauge wire is specified for the personnel ground device?

• A. #18 standard copper insulated wire
• B. #22 standard copper insulated wire
• C. #16 standard copper insulated wire
• D. #20 standard copper insulated wire

Answer: (D)

When working on avionics, you want a ground path that safely removes static charge from you quickly without making the ground cord bulky or hard to handle. A 20 AWG copper insulated wire hits that balance: it’s small and flexible enough to use as a personnel ground device, yet it has enough conductivity to provide a reliable, low–impedance path for static discharge and any incidental current, meeting typical safety expectations in a maintenance environment. Using a thicker wire like 16 or 18 would add unnecessary bulk, while a thinner option like 22 would have higher resistance and could slow discharge or fail to meet the specified safety requirements. So 20 AWG is the standard that best fits both practicality and the needed grounding performance.

When working on avionics, you want a ground path that safely removes static charge from you quickly without making the ground cord bulky or hard to handle. A 20 AWG copper insulated wire hits that balance: it’s small and flexible enough to use as a personnel ground device, yet it has enough conductivity to provide a reliable, low–impedance path for static discharge and any incidental current, meeting typical safety expectations in a maintenance environment. Using a thicker wire like 16 or 18 would add unnecessary bulk, while a thinner option like 22 would have higher resistance and could slow discharge or fail to meet the specified safety requirements. So 20 AWG is the standard that best fits both practicality and the needed grounding performance.