[Public-List] Wire gauge for mast lights

[Michael Connolly]

I agree with Dave. I had a trailer with LED lights which I needed to repair. The original LED wiring harness was made up at the factory. When I attempted to strip and use crimp-on connectors the wire inside the insulation was so thin that the crimp-on didn't work. Even when I folded over the wire so the crimp-on would catch the wire just broke at the edge of the crimp-on. Damn those folks who will save a buck anywhere they can.
Michael

> On April 10, 2019 at 2:57 PM "David A. Bardsley via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> 
> 
>     Hi all!
>     Something to consider is the on-line calculators are great for
>     determining the __minimum__ size conductor for a specified voltage
>     drop. Another factor to consider is mechanical strength.
>     For many LED lighting application 18awg or smaller is perfectly
>     acceptable but I've found anything much smaller than 16awg very flimsy
>     and too easily ripped or torn (maybe I'm too much of a neanderthal) for
>     my liking.
>     IMHO any wiring smaller than 16awg should be considered carefully with
>     an eye to "what ifs", like "what if in three years I may want to
>     reroute that wire involving a bit of pulling".
>     Dave
>     Ginseng #574
>     On Apr 10, 2019 12:22, Kristian Larson via Public-List
>     <public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> 
>     Hi gang,
>     I thought I’d pipe in with one of my favourite electrical apps. Blue
>     Sea
>     Circuit Wizard.
>     It’s free and calculates all that stuff for you.
>     I find it really handy. I could do the math but it gives you all the
>     specs
>     for the whole circuit given more factors than I would probably
>     calculate
>     for myself like wire insulation temp rating and wire bundle size
>     etc.
> 
>     Cheers
>     Kristian
>     SV Mara Jr.
>     #127
> 
>     On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 6:47 AM Michael Nikolich via Public-List <
>     public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
>     > Christian,
>     > > The mast lighting wire in Skybird's mast is 14 AWG. I haven't
>     done any > math to see if that is appropriate or overkill - the mast is down
>     so I just > looked inside at what was printed on the wire. The wiring was
>     done by the > rigging company that prepped the mast for use after I bent the old
>     one in > 2013, so I didn't select the size. At the time all my lights were > incandescent, so the riggers presumedly would have sized the wire
>     based on > those higher current draws.
>     > > Mike
>     >
>     > > Mike Nikolich > s/v SKYBIRD > Alberg 30 #550 > mike.nikolich550 at gmail.com mailto:mike.nikolich550 at gmail.com
>     >
>     > > On Apr 5, 2019, at 12:18 PM, Jonathan Bresler via Public-List < > public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
>     > > Christian,
>     > > Using the BlueSea wire size calculator on my phone > with inputs of 12V, 1/2A, 90' of wire (36' mast + 9' to get to the
>     battery, > both ways, 100' might be better), > 3% drop, 60C temps (lowest allowed), Not in engine room ( ;) 2
>     wires in > bundle, turned on for 10 hours, > and terminated on a fuse > results in 18AWG.
>     > > BUT increasing the current to 1Amp gets 14AWG.
>     > > Appears that the limiting factor is the voltage drop.
>     > > Would suggest going larger rather than smaller wire.
>     > > Jonathan
>     > > On Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 1:17 AM Christian Douglas via Public-List < > public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
>     > > > I need to rewire my mast lighting. I have an anchor and windex
>     light at > the > > top and a steaming/deck combo at the spreaders. All are LED and
>     each > draws > > less than 0.5 amps. Seems that 16 gauge wire should be
>     sufficient to keep > > me under 3% drop, even when overestimating the length of the
>     longest run. > > Does that sound right? > > > > Christian > > Kittiwake #76 > > _______________________________________________ > > These businesses support your Association: > > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html > > Please support them. > > _______________________________________________ > > Public-List mailing list > > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org mailto:Public-List at lists.alberg30.org > > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org > >
>     >
>     > > -- > Jonathan M Bresler > S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262 > Annapolis/Eastport MD > _______________________________________________ > These businesses support your Association: > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html > Please support them. > _______________________________________________ > Public-List mailing list > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org mailto:Public-List at lists.alberg30.org > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
>     > > _______________________________________________ > These businesses support your Association: > http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html > Please support them. > _______________________________________________ > Public-List mailing list > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org mailto:Public-List at lists.alberg30.org > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
>     >
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