[Public-List] Wire gauge for mast lights
Kris Coward
kris at melon.org
Wed Apr 10 13:50:03 PDT 2019
I'f folded wire over (sometimes multiple times) in order to get it as
large as a connector expects, many more times than I care to admit. I
generally only use wires smaller than 16ga when I need to attach them to
some other red-sized wire in a butt connector (and even then, did you
know how well you can just use "mismatched" spade connectors and cover
over the joint with heatshrink tubing?)
-K
On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 03:08:00PM -0400, Michael Connolly via Public-List wrote:
> 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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--
Kris Coward http://unripe.melon.org/
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