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10-12-2020, 08:20 PM
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#1
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Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 77 Beachcomber
Hilton Beach
Posts: 41
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12 volt wiring size
What gauge copper wire should i use to wire the 12volt system in my fiberglass rv lighting system.
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10-12-2020, 08:53 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Kenneth
Trailer: Scamp
Wisconsin
Posts: 1,989
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Basic lighting
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cac
What gauge copper wire should i use to wire the 12volt system in my fiberglass rv lighting system.
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Basic lighting can run on 16 AWG and if you are using LEDs that's over kill.
I use 14 AWG just because you never know when you may add something to the line and it's stronger.
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10-12-2020, 09:24 PM
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#3
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Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 77 Beachcomber
Hilton Beach
Posts: 41
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Thanks much!
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10-13-2020, 09:36 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Tim
Trailer: '88 Scamp 16, layout 4
North Florida
Posts: 1,547
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I bought, and used, both 12 & 16 Gauge wire in running new or extended circuits in my Scamp. The 12 is for circuits that I might plug an accessory plug into. The 16 for LED lighting. Truth be told, the 16 probably would be plenty for everything but I tend to overdo sometimes.
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10-13-2020, 09:39 AM
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#5
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Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 77 Beachcomber
Hilton Beach
Posts: 41
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Thanks for the insight
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10-13-2020, 09:56 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Steven
Trailer: '79 Boler
on Ontario
Posts: 264
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These responses are correct. It's all about the load that the wire will carry. If you look at the 12v wire used on your car starter it's very heavy gauge as compared to the wire feeding a light bulb. Both are 12 volt demands but the amperage is much greater on the starter.
Find out what the load will be and pick accordingly.
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10-13-2020, 02:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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#14 AWG wire is readily available because it is a standard size building wire and the cost is basically the same as #16 wire
Voltage drop is a concern but also is mechanical strength especially when subject to vibration .
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10-13-2020, 04:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Kenneth
Trailer: Scamp
Wisconsin
Posts: 1,989
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Stranded wire only
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cac
What gauge copper wire should i use to wire the 12volt system in my fiberglass rv lighting system.
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Stranded should be used in mobile applications, solid is for non mobile applications. Stranded wire is flexible, where solid core wire can bend, but not over and over.
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10-14-2020, 04:37 PM
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#9
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Member
Name: Paul
Trailer: Scamp
California
Posts: 69
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I have this table in my Scamp electrical folder. It seems to be a great resource... Gotta love some of the Chinese lights that come with 22g wire and a 10a fuse...
Quote:
Originally Posted by AC0GV
Basic lighting can run on 16 AWG and if you are using LEDs that's over kill.
I use 14 AWG just because you never know when you may add something to the line and it's stronger.
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10-14-2020, 04:48 PM
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#10
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Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 77 Beachcomber
Hilton Beach
Posts: 41
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Oops. Dont see the table attachment
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10-15-2020, 01:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,641
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This what I use. Read the description and you will find the covering is superior to any vehicle wiring. Being stranded and 12 Gauge it will power anything you connect to it. As an additional step, i run it inside that coragated flexamle plastic conduti just to be extra safe.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-2...oll/1000992064
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10-15-2020, 05:27 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Charlie
Trailer: 2014 Lil Snoozy
North Carolina
Posts: 789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AC0GV
Stranded should be used in mobile applications, solid is for non mobile applications. Stranded wire is flexible, where solid core wire can bend, but not over and over.
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Why would it bend after installation? I notice that most if not all manufacturers use copper tubing for gas connections. How is that any different.
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10-17-2020, 10:43 AM
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#14
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Member
Name: Andy
Trailer: Scamp 16'
North Carolina
Posts: 64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by charlsara
Why would it bend after installation? I notice that most if not all manufacturers use copper tubing for gas connections. How is that any different.
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What is called "Work hardening." If you have a piece of wire moving (wiggling) during transit, the copper wire can actually break. On my install, as I will have some higher amp items going in, I ran a 6ga wire pair from the battery to a fuse block under the bunks. From that point, I can run an appropriate wire for lights, the stereo, and the ham radio. Most of my wiring is 14 ga stranded wire, it is small and easy to conceal. My wife hates to see wires, so to make her happy, all is routed so as to be unseen. I have found that a couple of reading lights and some brighter lights around the Kitchen prep area are more than enough. For outside, all mine are solar charged except for the security lights. Those are motion activated lights that run off of 3 A batteries. Life is a month or so. Snagged those from a plant I shut down. One on each side will alert me if someone or something is wandering around outside.
Derswede
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10-17-2020, 11:22 AM
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#15
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Member
Trailer: Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 93
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Don't forget the fuses
Remember the fuses are sized to protect the wiring. If an appliance or load fails (shorts) the fuse should be sized to blow before the wiring burns up. Do not want an electrical fire hidden some where in the walls or behind a cabinet somewhere. I use 20 amp for 12 gauge & 15 amp for 14 gauge. Probably over conservative.
My $.02 worth.
Dennis.
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10-17-2020, 11:32 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 1,153
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cac
What gauge copper wire should i use to wire the 12volt system in my fiberglass rv lighting system.
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Well that depends on the current that would be carried. Looks like most trailers use 18 gage. Might go up in size if you can. Sure don't want to have to fix that in the field or do it again.
But make sure you use stranded wire AND not the stranded wire used for house wiring. It still is not designed for a lot of vibrations. Use wire that you can get from an auto store.
And I also solder all of my connections and then put heat shrink tubing over them.
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10-17-2020, 07:52 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Charlie
Trailer: 2014 Lil Snoozy
North Carolina
Posts: 789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Derswede
What is called "Work hardening." If you have a piece of wire moving (wiggling) during transit, the copper wire can actually break. On my install, as I will have some higher amp items going in, I ran a 6ga wire pair from the battery to a fuse block under the bunks. From that point, I can run an appropriate wire for lights, the stereo, and the ham radio. Most of my wiring is 14 ga stranded wire, it is small and easy to conceal. My wife hates to see wires, so to make her happy, all is routed so as to be unseen. I have found that a couple of reading lights and some brighter lights around the Kitchen prep area are more than enough. For outside, all mine are solar charged except for the security lights. Those are motion activated lights that run off of 3 A batteries. Life is a month or so. Snagged those from a plant I shut down. One on each side will alert me if someone or something is wandering around outside.
Derswede
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I have used the stranded wire for most of mine. I did use some romex to add an extra outlet. I can’t see how it can move if it is fastened down.
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