Size of wire

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Bigdog78
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Size of wire

#137759

Post by Bigdog78 »

I am running my power wire to the battery for my SWP General Lee. What size of wire is needed?
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linx

#137778

Post by linx »

Fine strand 12 awg.
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Bigdog78
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#137780

Post by Bigdog78 »

Thanks
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GarnerZ
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#140938

Post by GarnerZ »

i was suggested to run Fine strand 10 guage and i did, but post up on how the 12 guage works!!!, im sure itll still get all the juice it needs
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DX_MONKEY

#140943

Post by DX_MONKEY »

Hi guy, 10 certainly won't hurt. With wire size, bigger is better. You may wish to add an amp later. If you do, you'll already be wired for it. If a 1-400 amp is in your future, then go ahead and make it 8 ga. and be ready.

The only drawback to running a wire larger than what is needed is the cost of the bigger wire. That shouldn't be a big deal as you're only talking a piece of wire 8-12 feet long for a mobile application.


good luck
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slugger
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#180124

Post by slugger »

I have some left over wiring from when they wired my garage for electric and I am wondering if that is too thick to use?
it is 14ga solid copper wire, the three strand white black and bare copper. the wire reads
" type NM-E 14-2 N/G CIRTEX-A (UL) 600V 8242 / 1762"

All 3 strands are one solid copper wire, do I need to use braided wire or is the solid wire OK?

another question I have is can I/ should I run separate wires for the amp and radio? right now the radio is wired for the cigarette lighter plug and the hot wire is spliced to feed both the radio and the amp and the ground is separate for the amp and radio but I am thinking I should run wires for each of them separate. (is that correct or necessary?)

thanks in advance.
slugger
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PRO151

#180126

Post by PRO151 »

Oh no, don't use romex wiring on the vehicle. Uncool to the max. Vibration is another problem when you use solid wire on a vehicle. Stranded wire will flex and move to a certain extent where solid wire will not.
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firefighter
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#180128

Post by firefighter »

slugger wrote:I have some left over wiring from when they wired my garage for electric and I am wondering if that is too thick to use?
it is 14ga solid copper wire, the three strand white black and bare copper. the wire reads
" type NM-E 14-2 N/G CIRTEX-A (UL) 600V 8242 / 1762"

All 3 strands are one solid copper wire, do I need to use braided wire or is the solid wire OK?

another question I have is can I/ should I run separate wires for the amp and radio? right now the radio is wired for the cigarette lighter plug and the hot wire is spliced to feed both the radio and the amp and the ground is separate for the amp and radio but I am thinking I should run wires for each of them separate. (is that correct or necessary?)

thanks in advance.
slugger
your lighter plug probably wont handle running both...I would suggest running 8 gauge wire and power both from it...depending on what size amp you have...
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rayray1963

#180131

Post by rayray1963 »

A quick and simple solution would be go to Wally World and get the Amp wiring kit they sell and two disturbution block. One for the hot side's of the radio and the amp and the other for both grounds. Using what ever size fuse you need to each device. The kit comes with 6GA wire and it would be big enough to handle any future upgrade you may do.

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