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Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472190 01/02/06 08:47 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina B BCSVT OP CEG\'er
OP BCSVT CEG\'er B Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina	Whats the calculation to see how many watts a certain gauge wire can hold? I'm trying to figure out what gauge wire is needed to carry 350ish watts 10 feet (max). Thanks! David The greatest stealth car ever... CSVT 1998 2.5L V6 MTX KKM intake with BAT pipe Magnaflow resonator other Audio enhancements

Re: Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472191 01/02/06 09:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 699 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada K KyleH Veteran CEG\'er
KyleH Veteran CEG\'er K Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 699 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada	Calculate maximum current required (current = power/voltage) and look up the gauge required in a table. My Cars 1999 Silver Frost SVT - 80,000km #2603/2760 Aug. 10, 1999. 1996 Mercury Mystique LS V6 MTX - retired @ 323,151km. 1995 Ford Contour V6 MTX-sold @ 214,000km

Re: Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472192 01/02/06 09:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,100 San Antonio/Austin, TX R Ray_dup1 Addicted CEG\'er
Ray_dup1 Addicted CEG\'er R Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,100 San Antonio/Austin, TX	Now, to calculate your required size MAIN power wire, you need the following: Wire Gauge? (AWG) Length of Wire? Feet Total Amplifier Power? Watts Amplifier Efficiency? % Charging System Voltage? Volts Assuming you are using a class AB amp (50-60% efficiency of power), a steady battery voltage of 13.8V, a wire length of ten feet, and total power at 350W (50-60% eff.) you would have the following: Resistance/foot: 0.000629 Ohms Total Resistance: 0.006292 Ohms Voltage Drop: 0.266 Volts (well below the accepted half volt drop maximum.) Current Flow: 42.3 Amps Circular Mils: 16483 (Keep at > 300 per foot of wire per amp) Power Drawn From Charging System: 583 Watts total. check out this calculator.. enter wattages for up to 4 amps, their effeciency, and system voltages, etc.. it calculates everything else.. the yellow text is calculations. System Design Assistant '99 CSVT - Silver #222/276 In a constant state of blow-off euphoria. Originally posted by Kremitthefrog: I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.

Re: Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472193 01/03/06 01:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina B BCSVT OP CEG\'er
OP BCSVT CEG\'er B Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina	I'm trying to use those calculators but I dont' know if I'm reading them right or using them right. Basically i want to know how many watts a 10 gauge wire can care 10 feet from a roughly 13 volt source. And i guess how many an 8 gauge can carry ets. The amp would have a maximum draw of around 350 @ 12 volts (i guess thats how to say it) so i'm wondering if the current 10 gauge wire in a car can support that amp. David oh and it's a class D amp Last edited by BCSVT; 01/03/06 01:35 AM. The greatest stealth car ever... CSVT 1998 2.5L V6 MTX KKM intake with BAT pipe Magnaflow resonator other Audio enhancements

Re: Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472194 01/03/06 03:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,100 San Antonio/Austin, TX R Ray_dup1 Addicted CEG\'er
Ray_dup1 Addicted CEG\'er R Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,100 San Antonio/Austin, TX	Having entered a 13volt source, 10 foot main wire, and 350W's on the top amp (clicking Class D to select that class) and hitting enter.. I get that the minimum wire gauge would be 10awg. Switching to 8AWG would be recommended at somewhere around the 525-550W range (when leaving ALL of the other variables the same.) '99 CSVT - Silver #222/276 In a constant state of blow-off euphoria. Originally posted by Kremitthefrog: I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.

Re: Wattage Carrying Capacity of a Wire? #1472195 01/03/06 04:05 AM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina B BCSVT OP CEG\'er
OP BCSVT CEG\'er B Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 143 Charlotte, North Carolina	oh ok, i see it now, awsome. Thanks for the help! The greatest stealth car ever... CSVT 1998 2.5L V6 MTX KKM intake with BAT pipe Magnaflow resonator other Audio enhancements

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