How Many Amps Can a 10 Gauge Wire Handle

12 Volt Wiring Estimate Requirements at specific Amps to length for Automotive Electrical Systems   …

Wire uses the measurement of gauge to determine the size of the wire. The larger the wire, the smaller the approximate number. To find the required wire gauge for a specific awarding, yous must know the current depict of the accessory on the excursion and the full wire length between the accompaniment and the power source. More current draw (higher amperage) requires a larger wire gauge to safely ability the accessory.

Automotive Voltage is not 12 Volts

Automotive wiring is not exactly 12 volt. The actual resting voltage of a fully charged, 6-cell automotive lead acid battery is about 12.seven volts or about two.1 volts per cell. 6.4 volts for a 6-volt lead-acrid battery. Older batteries will probably show a lower voltage. When the vehicle is running, the alternator volition increment the automotive voltage up to most 13.eight volts. 13.8 volts is a better value to apply for wire approximate calculations though information technology will generally consequence in about the aforementioned gauge as 12 volts.

Resistance = Voltage Drop

With cablevision length comes resistance.  All wire has inherent resistance and the longer the wire, the greater the resistance and the greater the voltage drib over the length of wire.  For that reason, it is of import to factor in the length of wire when determining the wire guess.  A 3-foot wire length will take less resistance than a 20-foot wire and therefore a longer length of wire may require an increase in the wire estimate to provide acceptable voltage to the accessory.  Installing too pocket-sized a wire approximate decreases performance and may create a potential safety take chances.  Alternately using an oversized wire judge does not have a downside and may provide better functioning of the accessory, however, overkill in itself has the downside of wasted coin and valuable space. Just when choosing between ii potential estimate sizes in the gray surface area of estimated gauge calculations or references, information technology'southward ever meliorate to go with the larger guess.

Choosing the Wire Gauge

To choose an acceptable wire guess, determine the amp draw (amperage) that the wire circuit will carry.  Then measure the distance that the wire will travel (length) including the length of the return to ground (the basis wire running to the chassis or back to a basis cake or battery.  Using these two numbers, Amps and length, locate the nearest gauge value in the chart below.  For 6 volt automotive systems typically a wire approximate 2 sizes larger than what is shown should be used.

Amps @ 13.8 Volts	LENGTH OF WIRE American Wire Gauge (AWG)
	0-4 ft.	4-seven ft.	7-x ft.	10-13 ft.	13-xvi ft.	sixteen-19 ft.	19-22 ft.
0-10	16-ga.	16-ga.	14-ga.	xiv-ga.	12-ga.	10-ga.	10-ga.
10 – 15	fourteen-ga.	fourteen-ga.	14-ga.	12-ga.	x-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.
15 -20	12-ga.	12-ga.	12-ga.	12-ga.	10-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.
20-35	12-ga.	ten-ga.	10-ga.	x-ga.	10-ga.	viii-ga.	8-ga.
35-50	10-ga.	10-ga.	x-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.	half-dozen or 4-ga.
50-65	10-ga.	ten-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.	6 or iv-ga.	half dozen or four-ga.	4-ga.
65-85	x-ga.	8-ga.	8-ga.	6 or 4-ga.	six or four-ga.	4-ga.	iv-ga.
85-105	8-ga.	8-ga.	6 or four-ga.	4-ga.	4-ga.	4-ga.	4-ga.
105-125	viii-ga.	eight-ga.	half-dozen or 4-ga.	iv-ga.	4-ga.	iv-ga.	ii-ga.
125-150	eight-ga.	6 or 4-ga.	4-ga.	4-ga.	ii-ga.	2-ga.	ii-ga.
150-200	half-dozen or four-ga.	4-ga.	iv-ga.	2-ga.	2-ga.	1/0-ga.	1/0-ga.
200-250	4-ga.	4-ga.	two-ga.	2-ga.	1/0-ga.	1/0-ga.	one/0-ga.
250-300	4-ga.	two-ga.	2-ga.	ane/0-ga.	1/0-ga.	1/0-ga.	2/0-ga.

What is the difference betwixt SWG and AWG wire approximate systems?
SWG and AWG are wire gauge systems used to correspond the thickness of the wire. Different numbering systems are used depending on the type of metal. Non-ferrous metals (not containing atomic number 26) use American Wire Approximate Organisation or AWG.    Ferrous metals mostly use Standard Wire Gauge (SWG).

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Source: https://www.offroaders.com/technical/12-volt-wiring-tech-gauge-to-amps/

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