18awg current rating

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / General Discussion / 18awg current rating (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

kaffeene

Member - Posts: 43

Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: April 27, 2004 at 4:43 PM / IP Logged

Typically how much current could 18g wire carry??

Also how much current does a typical cigarette lighter draw to heat the coils??

Teken

Gold - Posts: 1,492

Joined: August 04, 2002

Location: Aruba

Posted: April 27, 2004 at 4:48 PM / IP Logged

15-24 amps can be carried depending upon the insulation being used to shield the copper wire.

The lighter will draw from 5-10 amps for short durations.

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

Teken

Gold - Posts: 1,492

Joined: August 04, 2002

Location: Aruba

Posted: April 27, 2004 at 4:52 PM / IP Logged

POLYETHYLENE, NEOPRENE, POLYURETHANE

POLYVINYLCHLORIDE, rated at 80 'C will carry 15 amps.

KAPTON TEFLON SILICONE will carry the extreme of 24 amps.

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

kaffeene

Member - Posts: 43

Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: April 27, 2004 at 5:00 PM / IP Logged

Thanks.. I basically wanted to hook up 5 l.e.d.'s , dome light and a cigarette lighter to a 12V constant. I was thinking of using my 12V constant that is used to provide memory to my radio and other such things (which I will no longer need to power the radio memory). Its fused at 10A. I wanted to run an 18 g wire to run to the dome light but wanted to make sure it was protected on the 10A fuse.

Teken

Gold - Posts: 1,492

Joined: August 04, 2002

Location: Aruba

Posted: April 28, 2004 at 3:20 PM / IP Logged

If this is for only short durations than what you intend to use is fine. But if the circuit is intended for long durations and you live in a very hot climate.

Than you will want to increase the wire guage to 14-16 guage. The reason is that all copper cable insulation is rated based on a ambient temperature, which affects the current load the wire can carry prior to saturation / burning.

That is why you will see the KAPTON TEFLON SILICONE material in engine compartments, opposed to simple

POLYURETHANE insulation as is the case for simple hook-up wire.

Either use a larger wire guage, or spend the extra money for higher quality cables which are protected with the proper insulation / dielectric material.

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

18awg current rating

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.