On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Rocket J
Squirrel<camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
> 8 gauge wire has the ampacity to handle 20A. It's rated for 23A carrying
> current, and fuses (melts, pretty much) at 472 amps. Chart here:
>
> http://www.interfacebus.com/Copper_Wire_AWG_SIze.html
>
> An 8 foot run of 8 gauge wire will have .005 ohm of resistance. At 20 amps
> this will result in 0.1 volt less voltage getting to your lamps. Not
> noticeable.
>
> So, 8 gauge can handle the job without getting hot 20 amps over 8 feet
> will result in only 2 watts of heating.

Ok, now I feel foolish.

Are the wiring charts I just emailed to Don/list (shown below)
incorrect, or am I just using them incorrectly?

Bowing and deferring to the truly electrically knowledgeable,

Neil.

Neil wrote:

This one shows #8 good to 150 amps:

http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/WireCapacityChart.htm

This chart shows how ampicity of a wire decreases as length increases

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/12-volt-wire-gauge-amps.htm

It shows #8 wire is good up to 150 amps BUT that's up to max. 10' run
(round trip)

--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines