http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge US household current is 110V, 60Hz and typically 15 or 20 amp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge US household current is 110V, 60Hz and typically 15 or 20 amps on a circuit. 16 gauge is approximately equivalent to a 1.5mm^2 cross-section solid wire, or to 30/0.25 (which I assume means 30 0.25 mm^2 strands).