RE: OT :cable amp ratings - answers to wrong questions

["Crabb, David" <David.Crabb@Ceridian.com>]

This question I have always wondered. 

Why do they decrease the size of the load permitted the higher the number
goes?

I would think it would be simple to say.. the larger number.. the more it
can handle./

I mean.. following this example.

#10 = 30 Amps
#8 = 40 Amps
#6 = 55 Amps

so you only have 4 and 2 left before you get to about 75 amps.  
unless you start going .75   .5   .25 ...   but that is silly.

It seems it would be nice and simple to say.. "hey a 5 guage is 1 Amp.   10
is 2

or hey.. how about this!  the guage wire <for copper> is X guage for X
amps..?
thats nice and easy.

The only thing i can think of is that at some point.. somone said.. hey.. a
#10 <being 1/10 of an inch diameter? can hold.. X amps..   1/6 of an inch
can hold 55 amps.. etc.    
of course I dont know this.. but its the only thing i can think of.

> >
> >First of all, she's wrong - #8 IS rated for 40 amps! 30 amps 
> >is #10 wire.
> >#6 is rated for 55 amps.
> >