wire and amps

[Andy in Co.]

How many amps will a 100 watt Kc light take? I am guessing 7-8.
How many amps can 10,12,14,16 guage wire safely handle?

 

[tlman]

Power(watts)=volts x amps so a 100w blub will require 8.3a at 12v.

For wire gauge information check out the following write up from Blue-Sea systems:

http://www.bluesea.com/circuit.htm

Notice that you need to compensate for the length of the conductor if you get into a voltage drop situation, but that is only a problem if you have long wire feeds.

 

[xjjunkie]

a single 100 watt kc light with a 12 volt source will produce 8.33 amps. if you supply that same light with 13 volts it will give you 7.69 amps. as far as the wire size goes :


10-amps @ 10 ft of wire you need 16 ga
10-amps @ 15 ft 14 ga
10-amps @ 20 ft 12 ga
10-amps @ 30 ft 10 ga

16 ga wire has a resistance of .0047 per ft
14 ga .0028 per ft
12 ga .0018 per ft
10 ga .0011 per ft

also remember that the longer the wire is the voltage drop will be greater. (amps x ohms per ft x length of wire = voltage drop)




hope this helps

scot