The data wire gauge of a heavy cable is 18 AWG.

• A. 18 AWG
• B. 16 AWG
• C. 20 AWG
• D. 22 AWG

Answer: (A)

The data wires in the heavy NMEA 2000 cable are 18 AWG because this size provides the right balance of low resistance and practical flexibility for the CAN bus data signals over typical marine network lengths. An 18 AWG conductor keeps voltage drop and signal loss within acceptable levels while keeping the cable manageable in size and cost. Using a thinner wire (like 20 or 22 AWG) would increase resistance and degrade signal integrity, especially on longer runs, while a thicker wire (like 16 AWG) would add unnecessary weight and cost without substantial benefit for the data path. So 18 AWG is the standard choice for the heavy data conductors.