Wire gauges

Anything electric, AC or DC

Wire gauges

Postby Jados » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:50 am

Hey everyone,

I'm currently at the point of wiring my 12VDC and cannot seem to find anything on what gauge of wire to use for the wire to fuse box connection. I've been looking for awhile now but have no success.
Thank you for your time.
User avatar
Jados
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 16
Images: 2
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2017 5:35 am

Re: Wire gauges

Postby Dale M. » Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:13 am

Basically wire gauge is related to the"load" (amperage) it will carry... If you have something at end of wire and it only draws 1 amp you can use small conductor like 16 gauge,,,,IF you are are connecting battery to fuse box you need a heavier gauge the can carry the sum total of all the device at the end of every fused circuit... So if all the devices total 20 amps then you need a larger gauge like maybe 10 or 12 gauge... There are charts that give give the amperage a conductor can safely carry, determined by wire gauge and distance from power source (fuse panel/battery) to device...

Its also ok to use larger wire gauge for any "run" then the exact match per chart... IN telecommunications industry where I worked for years the rule was "when in doubt run next size larger"....

Also it is ok to use one size wire (gauge) for all runs in TD as long as the size used meets minimum specification for largest device system powers.... Sometimes its simpler to use one size wire to complete all runs than trying to size each run for the power requirements for end device...

This is but one example of many wire gauge/amperage charts...

Image

Many more to be found here...

http://lmgtfy.com/?t=i&q=wire+amperage+chart

This should get you started... Only other thin you really need to know is what the current rating in either amps or watts the device requires that you are powering...

Dale
Lives his life vicariously through his own self.

Any statement made by me are strictly my own opinion.
You are free to ignore anything I say if you do not agree.

Image
User avatar
Dale M.
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2693
Images: 18
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:50 pm
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite National Park

Re: Wire gauges

Postby dancam » Wed Mar 01, 2017 2:24 pm

Google search for a voltage drop calculator. Keep it under 3%.
A watts to amps calculator is handy as well.
Keep in mind an inverter is only 85-90% efficiant if you use one. To if you want to run 1000 watts output through your inverter you need to wire it for 1100-1200watts at whatever distance.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Top


Return to Electrical Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests