What gauge wire should I use for 12V DC?

01/11/2022

What gauge wire should I use for 12V DC?

12V Wire Size Chart

Length (Feet): 5 Amp 12V Wire (60W): 25 Amp 12V Wire (300W):
15 Ft 16 AWG 8 AWG
20 Ft 14 AWG 8 AWG
25 Ft 14 AWG 6 AWG
30 Ft 12 AWG 6 AWG

What size wire do I need for 30 amp DC?

Maximum current (amps) in a 12V electrical circuit vs. size (AWG) and length of wire.

American Wire Gauge (#AWG)
Length (feet) Maximum Current (amps)
20 14 10
25 14 8
30 12 8

How many amps can 6mm DC cable take?

Cable Size Chart

Auto Size Nom Area mm² Amp Rating
3mm 1.13 20
4mm 1.84 28
5mm 2.90 37
6mm 4.59 48

How many amps can 18 gauge wire handle 12v?

Wire Amperage Capacity Chart

Recommended Length and Amperage for Automotive Wire while maintaining a 2% or less voltage drop at 12 volts
Automotive Wire Size 5 Amps 15 Amps
18 Gauge Wire (AWG) 7.3 ft 2.4 ft
16 Gauge Wire (AWG) 11.5 ft 3.8 ft
14 Gauge Wire (AWG) 18.4 ft 6.1 ft

How many DC amps can 18 gauge wire handle?

A conservative estimate for several feet of 18 gauge wire is 16 Amps. If you have only 12 gauge wire, the 18 gauge wire can handle more than 16 Amps.

Is solid wire better for DC?

In general, solid cables are better electrical conductors and provide superior, stable electrical characteristics over a wider range of frequencies. They’re also considered more rugged and less likely to be affected by vibration or susceptible to corrosion, since they have less surface area than stranded conductors.

What is DC power cable?

A DC connector (or DC plug, for one common type of connector) is an electrical connector for supplying direct current (DC) power.

How much DC current can 2.5 mm cable carry?

Cable ratings table

Area DC Ampacity (A)
1.5 mm2 1.5 12
4 mm auto 1.84 14
14 AWG 2.1 15
2.5 mm2 2.5 16

How far can 24vdc travel?

24V AC Power Drop / Max Cable Distance Chart

24 AWG 20 AWG
10 VA (417mA) 103 feet 286 feet
20 VA (833mA) 52 feet 142 feet
30 VA (1,250mA) 34 feet 95 feet
40 VA (1,667mA) 26 feet 71 feet

What kind of wire is best for DC current?

DC Power: In DC power current travels through the whole of a wire. Size of the conductor and material (AC and DC power): Electricity travels more easily in highly conductive elements like copper, silver or gold, the less conductive the material, the larger the diameter has to be to carry the same current load.

Can I use AC wire for DC?

You can definitely use it. Please consider the resistance of the cable. The ohmic losses will reduce the 24 V supply voltage to a lower level at the remote end. If the resistance is 5 ohms for example, in total ohmic losses will be twice the 5 ohms multiplied by the DC current.

How much current can 18 AWG carry at 12V?

Wire Amperage Capacity Chart

Recommended Length and Amperage for Automotive Wire while maintaining a 2% or less voltage drop at 12 volts
Automotive Wire Size 5 Amps 20 Amps
18 Gauge Wire (AWG) 7.3 ft 1.8 ft
16 Gauge Wire (AWG) 11.5 ft 2.9 ft
14 Gauge Wire (AWG) 18.4 ft 4.6 ft