Automotive wiring are comprised of many wire that convey electrical power and signal to different component of a car. The many wire that are used for different electrical task use different wire gauge. Using the wrong wire gauge for a specific task can result in the wire overheat or a fuse blowing.
The chart provide helps to ensure that you do not make such mistake when selecting the appropriate wire gauge for a particular task. The wire gauge of a wire refer to the thickness of the wire. The thicker the wire, the more electrical current that it can carry.
Choose the Right Wire Size and Fuse for Your Car
Thicker wires will create less heat and maintain a steadier voltage. Thicker wires is needed for electrical components that require high draw of electrical current. Thin wires are use for components that draw less current.
Using thin wires for high-draw electrical components will result in the thin wire overheating. The chart display the various wire gauges that is suitable for different electrical load. The length of the wire is just as important as the thickness of the wire.
A thin wire of short length will not overheat when an electrical load is place upon it. A thin wire of long length, however, could result in a voltage drop. When the wire is too long for the thickness of the wire, a voltage drop will occur.
Such a voltage drop can result in the component not function as it should. The chart displays wire gauge that are suitable for different distance. Many people has experienced the issue of electrical components dimming when they should be at full brightness.
Such a voltage drop occur when the wire is too thin for the length of the wire. Fuses is used to protect the wire from overheating caused by excess electrical current. Fuses are not use to protect the electrical device.
The fuse should be match to the capacity of the wire, not the electrical requirement of the device. If you match the fuse to the capacity of the wire, the fuse will blow before the wire overheat. The chart also demonstrate the different fuse rating for the various wire gauges.
Electrical insulation for the wire protect the wire from damage. The type of insulation that is used in the wire must match the environment in which the wire is locate. Standard PVC insulation is used for interior wire of the vehicle.
PVC insulation is too susceptibility to heat for engine bay or near the exhaust system of the vehicle. Other type of insulation, such as cross-linked polyethylene and silicone insulation, can handle higher levels of heat. Tinned copper insulation is use in environments that are exposed to moisture.
The type of insulation for the wire should match the location of the wire to prevent insulation failure. Color coding for wire help to identify the different circuit of a vehicle. The color coding for wires follow a pattern for the different electrical components that different companies manufacture.
Red wire indicate electrical power that is constant from the battery. Black wire color indicate a ground. Other color indicate switched circuit from the ignition switch.
Knowing the color coding allow someone to trace the circuits by color. Tracing circuits by color can aid in a quick diagnosis of electrical problems. Many car that have audio system upgrade reveal the mistake that was made when wiring the car.
The amplifier for car audio system draw a heavy current of electricity. Using an amplifier that draw heavy current through a wire that is too thin for the electrical current that it will carry will result in the amplifier blowing the fuse or overheating the wire. The chart demonstrate the difference between the wire gauge for a head unit to that of a subwoofers and amplifiers.
The same principle apply to the installation of dual battery or a winch. If you are upgrading the electrical component of a car, you must ensure that the existing wire are adequate for the new electrical load. If you are replacing the halogen headlight with high-output LED or HID headlight, the existing wiring could become a weak link in the electrical system of the car.
In such a case, it would be necessary to use a thicker wire gauge. Other instance that require a check of the wire gauge include the installation of a trailer harness or outlet for electrical accessories. The chart can be use to determine whether the existing wiring is adequate for the component or if you should use a thicker wire gauge.
To avoid any electrical problem with your vehicle, you should first determine the electrical load that will be place upon the wire. Based off that electrical load, you can select the wire gauge and fuse that will be able to carry that load. The chart can be use to visually determine the wire gauge and the fuse load without having to perform the calculations.
Following these step will allow you to maintain the electrical component of your car with confidence.
