What size wire gauge??

Gixxer750

Founding Member
Feb 3, 2002
789
0
17
Saint John NB, Canada
I am wiring my driving lights up to one of my switches on my UPR Ash tray switch panel in my 87 GT. What size wire gauge should I use and what size fuse??

Right now I keep blowing 30amp fuses but I think the 14 gaguge wire is too small.

Thanks
 
Remember your electrical equations now,

Watts = Volts X Amps

For example, if you are running two H3 bulbs rated at 55 watts a piece,

110 w/ 12 v = 9.167 a

Therefore, you should run a 10A fuse....

As for the wire size,

0-10A
Up to 4'(16 Gauge)
4' to 7'(14 Gauge)
7' to 10'(14 Gauge )
10' to 13'(12 Gauge )

10 - 20A
Up to 4'(14 Gauge)
4' to 7'(12 Gauge)
7' to 10'(12 Gauge)
10' to 13'(10 Gauge)

20 - 35
Up to 4'(12 Gauge)
4' to 7'(10 Gauge)
7' to 10'(8 Gauge)
10' to 13'(8 Gauge)
 
You should run those lights off of a relay. You size your fuse slightly higher than the current draw of the device. If the lights draw 9 amps, I would run no larger than a 15 amp fuse. For a motor, it is a little different. For a 9 amp draw motor I would run a slightly larger fuse for startup current. Wire gauge is dependent on the distance. A 10 gauge wire would work from a relay to the battery and to the lights. Might be too small if the bat is in the trunk!