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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

wire guage vs. amperage

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mark h

09-05-2005 19:50:53




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Guys, anyone know where to find a guide to how much amperage each size of wire (10ga., 12ga., 14ga., ect.) can handle at 12 volts DC? I'm rewiring a few tractors, want to be safe but don't wan't to have the whole sysetem done with 10 guage. I know length will come into play. I'm interested 12 volt DC information only, PLEASE no 110 AC info, I've found plenty of that.




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T_Bone

09-05-2005 23:33:45




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 Re: Chart Wire Table in reply to mark h, 09-05-2005 19:50:53  
Hi Mark,

Here you go.

This website is a great source of info but just watch your CC charges if you buy anything from them. Out of two orders, I had CC charges more than my orginal invoice so I don't buy from them any more.

T_Bone



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buickanddeere

09-05-2005 20:55:53




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 Re: wire guage vs. amperage in reply to mark h, 09-05-2005 19:50:53  
When using light weight wire VD becomes a problem. Your alternator will be making 13.8 at the output terminal but your battery maybe seeing 12V to 13V while taking a heavy charge. This can be overcome with a three wire alternator with the voltage sensing wire ran right out to the battery. I was just measuring the lamp voltage on my son"s garden tractor. She was making 14.0V at the starter-generator output terminal. However the votage drop left only 12.4V at the lights. That 16 and smaller gauge wire is best left for inside radios etc. Use the extra flex copper wire with a thick abrasion resistant cover.

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NC Wayne

09-05-2005 20:33:31




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 Re: wire guage vs. amperage in reply to mark h, 09-05-2005 19:50:53  
Hey Mark, pick you up a copy of the Pocket Refference by Thomas J Glover. I've got the Third edition from 2003 so I'd assume any printed since then will have the same info plus some. It seems to get thicker with each printing. You should be able to get one online from Mcmaster Carr, Grainger, etc. It's a really usefull refference for other things also so it's a good investment. It has a section devoted to automotive wire sizes and the allowable amperages-vs- lengths of a run. I can tell you it has nothing to do with the NEC guidelines. For instance with 14ga you can go up to 10' and still carry 36 amps with a max length of 15'at 24 amps with the NEC the max on any 14 ga circuit is 15--- here 20ga is good for 105 amps at 1'and 10amps at 10'. At the larger end of the chart 10 ga will do 913 amps at 1' and 91 at 10' with a max of 46 amps at 20'. Basically except for the charging system you could just about wire the whole thing except for the charging system with 14, 16, and 18 ga. If you'll look at the way most of them are done from the factory the majority of the wiring is 16ga or smaller. Hope this helps and good luck with the wiring project.

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John T

09-05-2005 20:05:37




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 Re: wire guage vs. amperage in reply to mark h, 09-05-2005 19:50:53  
Mark, as I suspect you may have already discovered, the actual rating (if you look at the NEC) depends on things like the type of insulation, whether the conductors are in free air or enclosed in a raceway, and if enclosed how many etc etc etc.

While it may be slight overkill, when wiring tractors, I still go with 10 Gauge for 30 amps, 12 Gauge for 20 amps, and 14 Gauge for 16 amps and I seldom use less than 16 Gauge just for the physical strength of the wire.

John T Nordhoff, retired electrical engineer in Indiana

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