I am installing some windshield mount lights and rear facing lights. I bought a 6 block fused panel to wire everything into for neatness (rather than using in-line fuses)...the panel then has one wire going out to the battery.

I am wondering what guage wire I should use for that main wire to the battery. Each fuse will prob only be about 15amps, and I am only going to be using two slotts initially, and maybe another 2 later on...any ideas??

Thanks
J

 

Just getting ready to run the same deal... I bought the painless wiring harness with 7 fuses. 3 constant power and 4 ignition only. I am not sure what the gauge of the wire is though.
This is good reading... https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-electrical-lighting-sound-systems-13/switched-power-inside-37917/

 

use 12 or 14 gauge wire. That will handle the load well. I have Hella 500s and I ran 14 gauge stranded copper to them and they are fine. 14 gauge is good for 15 amps 120v 12 is good for 20 amps 120v.

 

I would have thought a larger wire would be needed...to clarify this wire is going to a fuse block that has 6 outlets...each outlet can use up to a 30 amp fuse but I will prob only be using 3-4 outlets at about 15-20amps each...

Anybody know if 12 guage will be ok??

 

I don't think there is a problem with going "too thick". Too thin, yes. But I'm no eletrician.

 

Go with the 12 ga. wire. It doesn't cost much more and you can be confident that it will hold up. 14 ga would work but hey, for the money, go 12

 

dude... you need more than 12gu for a 6 gang fuse block. If each one of the 6 could carry a 30 amp load. I would buy no less than an 8. I personally have a 2. You can buy them pre made in many different lenths.

I run 12 guage for every 2 lights.

 

Ok, I've heard everything from 14awg to 2awg...

I got 6awg wire...

Could going too thick cause a problem??

Again, this is going to a 6 outlet fuse box with only 3-4 being used at 15-20amps each...

Thanks alot!!

 

you can never be too thick when it comes to wire. There are charts telling you what you need for wiring needs. It depends on length of wire run and the power you will be running. Anyone who tells you that you can run 3 or 4 sets of 100+watt lights on 12 gauge wire doesn't know what they are talking about. That is a great way to cause a fire. When running wire. Decide what you actually need by calculating the power use. Then figure in at least 25% over. Even running it to the max recomended power will still cause problems. If the wire is not big enough. You will loose power in the run causing the lights to not be as bright. See.. there is power loss in wiring. the smaller the wire the more resistance it has. More resistance to flow means more heat. heat is wasted energy. So lots of wasted energy in the wire means less effective lighting. You can actually see a difference in 200w of lights running on 14 gauge wire and 12. You can also measure a voltage drop.

Anywho... for what it's worth. I do have a degree in electrical engr.

here is a quick chart. wire amps on left. wire size on top. max wire legth found in the corrisponding box.

just scroll down to the 12 v section.
http://www.windsun.com/Hardware/Wire_Table.htm

 

Ok, thanks for the info...

I just finished up...I ran about 10 inches of 6awg wire from the battery to a new fuse box and then ran 2 sets of lights off of the fuse box using the recomended/included wiring...each fuse is only 15amps. I only plan on running one more set of lights to the fuse box and maybe a CB radio...

Thanks!!