12 volt wire size

[rustytoolss]

What size wire are you guys using to operate your interior/exterior of trailer 12 volt LED lights and 12 volt cigarette lighter sockets (for power source needs) ?
Not asking about brake/turn light wire size.

[Aguyfromohio]

Here is a wire size calculator.
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html

[friz]

I prefer this one. It tells you if a wire size is recommended. Not just the voltage drop.

https://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator-_ep_41.html

[yrock87]

I used 18 gauge, but I only have 4x LED lights on that circuit, each drawing .2 amps. I used 22 gauge for my fender marker lights, each of those LEDs was like .1 amps and there are only two one each leg. don't undersize for future use, but I also see no need to use 00gauge for an LED that pulls almost no amps

[dancam]

Depends entirely on how much power your led's consume and how far away from the source they are. You can have led's from 0.1 to 500 watts. Its all load and distance, nobodys the same.
For the cig lighter you typically want it rated for 15amps. So figure out what you need for your distance for 15amps.

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[friz]

Be sure the fuse that protects each circuit is light enough to blow before the wire turns into a hot knife.

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[mustangcats]

I used 12 gauge throughout my trailer. From the converter to the battery I used 8 gauge. No point in using a thinner wire that may not handle the load.

[bdosborn]

I used 12 gauge throughout my trailer. From the converter to the battery I used 8 gauge. No point in using a thinner wire that may not handle the load.

That's the sure fire way to do it, assuming none of your loads are over 20A. A #12 wire is good for 20A and a teardrop isn't big enough for voltage drop to be an issue. A #8 is good for 40A so you should good to go unless you have an inverter.

Bruce

[mustangcats]

That's the sure fire way to do it, assuming none of your loads are over 20A. A #12 wire is good for 20A and a teardrop isn't big enough for voltage drop to be an issue. A #8 is good for 40A so you should good to go unless you have an inverter.

Bruce

Shouldn't be a problem since almost every 12 volt item/socket is on a separate circuit. I tend to overdo things when it comes to electrical wiring. And no, I do not have an inverter.

[yrock87]

I just realized you asked about the cigarette outlet too. I used 10 gauge for that one. I wanted to be able to pull 30 amps.

I used 10 guage or 18 guage for everything in my trailer. I have a single circuit for cabin lights, a separate circuit for kitchen lights, a circuit for the fantastic and a circuit each for cigarette outlets in the cabin and galley. 10 gauge for the outlets and 18 gauge for everything else. currently 5 am fuses for the lights and 20 amp fuses for the outlets.

To me, using wire that is bigger than in needs to be is A. wasteful, especially when you have a "right size" on hand. but more importantly it is B. harder to run. 10 gauge wire starts to get to be a bit of a pain in small confines.

[dancam]

I just realized you asked about the cigarette outlet too. I used 10 gauge for that one. I wanted to be able to pull 30 amps.

I used 10 guage or 18 guage for everything in my trailer. I have a single circuit for cabin lights, a separate circuit for kitchen lights, a circuit for the fantastic and a circuit each for cigarette outlets in the cabin and galley. 10 gauge for the outlets and 18 gauge for everything else. currently 5 am fuses for the lights and 20 amp fuses for the outlets.

To me, using wire that is bigger than in needs to be is A. wasteful, especially when you have a "right size" on hand. but more importantly it is B. harder to run. 10 gauge wire starts to get to be a bit of a pain in small confines.

Do you have a link to what cigarette outlet you bought? Most i have found are rated to a max of 15amps and will not handle even that for more than 10min or so. Their sort of rated for 15amps for as long as it takes to heat up a cigerette lighter... 30amps through one would take a well built outlet.

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[yrock87]

I just realized you asked about the cigarette outlet too. I used 10 gauge for that one. I wanted to be able to pull 30 amps.

I used 10 guage or 18 guage for everything in my trailer. I have a single circuit for cabin lights, a separate circuit for kitchen lights, a circuit for the fantastic and a circuit each for cigarette outlets in the cabin and galley. 10 gauge for the outlets and 18 gauge for everything else. currently 5 am fuses for the lights and 20 amp fuses for the outlets.

To me, using wire that is bigger than in needs to be is A. wasteful, especially when you have a "right size" on hand. but more importantly it is B. harder to run. 10 gauge wire starts to get to be a bit of a pain in small confines.

Do you have a link to what cigarette outlet you bought? Most i have found are rated to a max of 15amps and will not handle even that for more than 10min or so. Their sort of rated for 15amps for as long as it takes to heat up a cigerette lighter... 30amps through one would take a well built outlet.

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key word being "wanted". I ended up with a 20 amp outlet from amazon. not sure which one, but here were several. I ran the wire expecting to be able to push 30 amps, then found that cig outlets top out at 20. I also found that most 12 volt appliances top out at 15 amp fuses with 12-13 amp draw. I planned 30 amps expecting hair dryers and such to draw 20+, but they draw 12-13...

[dancam]

I just realized you asked about the cigarette outlet too. I used 10 gauge for that one. I wanted to be able to pull 30 amps.

I used 10 guage or 18 guage for everything in my trailer. I have a single circuit for cabin lights, a separate circuit for kitchen lights, a circuit for the fantastic and a circuit each for cigarette outlets in the cabin and galley. 10 gauge for the outlets and 18 gauge for everything else. currently 5 am fuses for the lights and 20 amp fuses for the outlets.

To me, using wire that is bigger than in needs to be is A. wasteful, especially when you have a "right size" on hand. but more importantly it is B. harder to run. 10 gauge wire starts to get to be a bit of a pain in small confines.

Do you have a link to what cigarette outlet you bought? Most i have found are rated to a max of 15amps and will not handle even that for more than 10min or so. Their sort of rated for 15amps for as long as it takes to heat up a cigerette lighter... 30amps through one would take a well built outlet.

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key word being "wanted". I ended up with a 20 amp outlet from amazon. not sure which one, but here were several. I ran the wire expecting to be able to push 30 amps, then found that cig outlets top out at 20. I also found that most 12 volt appliances top out at 15 amp fuses with 12-13 amp draw. I planned 30 amps expecting hair dryers and such to draw 20+, but they draw 12-13...

Interesting. I didnt know 12v hair dryers existed, now i know something new
I quickly looked at ebay and saw one for $20 and one for $150. The cheap one takes 15 amps at 14.4 volts (18@12v) and more expensive one didnt say. So buyer beware!
Just an fyi some outlets in vehicles are fused for 15amps but the wire isnt sized big enough. After frequent use of a 12v tire pump in my car the wire from the fusebox to outlet melted the insulation, melted the insulation of other wires in the harness and started a fire. Looked it up online and it seems more common.

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