[Mobile-Portable] What Gauge Wire?
D C *Mac* Macdonald
k2gkk at hotmail.com
Tue Dec 4 22:13:41 EST 2007
Sorry to "reply" to my own email, but I just used the
voltage drop site and made a calculation of what I
expect may be a typical installation with RF deck
mounted under the rear seat or even farther back.
I assumed 12V, a power cable length of 15 feet
(it WILL add up quickly), 25 Amps and #6 AWG
coductors.
Total voltage drop would be .36 Volts. Not a problem
for some rigs, but it might be marginal with the IC-7K.
If tend to be O/C as I do, you may wish to go with #4.
That would result in a voltage drop of .228 V.
73 - Mac, K2GKK/5
Oklahoma City, OK
> From: k2gkk at hotmail.com
> To: mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: RE: [Mobile-Portable] What Gauge Wire?
> Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 19:46:32 -0600
>
> I don't have tables readily available and can't confirm
> the data below. HOWEVER, many times the voltage
> drop is given for a certain number of Amps in ONE wire.
> You have to double that to get the drop in both wires,
> plus and minus.
>
> As for me, I'd use #6 at the smallest.
>
>
> 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5
> Oklahoma City, OK
>
>
>
> Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 19:30:06 -0500
> From: doc at kd4e.com To: mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net
> mailto:mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net
>
> Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] What Gauge Wire?
>
> Thanks, very helpful! Will also save that site!
>
> Question: What is the result when one parallels two wires?
> e.g. If one parallels two #10 wires is the result a current
> handling capacity of #8 or #5 or ???
>
> Using the calculator at: http://nooutage.com/vdrop.htm,
> I calculate a good cable would be #8 with just under 1/2
> volt drop.
>
> I am assuming you are running about 20 amps with the
> HF rig, 15 for the VHF rig and other accessories mentioned.
> That gives an estimated current draw of about 35 amps.
> At 12 volts, #8 wire for 8 feet will be about .432 volts
> dropped.
>
> On the other hand, #6 wire will give you a drop of about
> .276 volts. On the other side of the equation is # 10 wire
> with a voltage drop of about .7 volts. Since #10 is rated at
> 30 amps, I suspect you will want at least a #8 or larger wire.
>
>
I hope this helps.
>
> Buck N4PGW
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