maddog
Here he comes to save the day!
There are a couple factors to consider when running a wire for something. Ignoring this will most definatly lead to blown fuses, smoked wires and more.
The problem is ohlms law. It is a mathamatical equation between Volts Amps and Resistance.
If you use too small of wire (resistance), the voltage drops at the appliance, say the headlight. The amperage draw of the headlight increases to compensate (its mathmatical). This melts wires, blows fuses and generally causes problems. Use a bigger wire, problem solved.
This resistance thing also applies to connections, rusty grounds, and corrosion on the copper wire itself. It must be clean ( on the surface of the wire) to carry the current without voltage drop.
Factors to consider
1. the amperage draw
2. the voltage (most likely 12v dc here at RRR)
3. the distance to the appliance AND back to the battery.
using the handy calculator linked below, you can make sure you use a wire big enough to do the job with out problems.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
fill in the blanks and press calculate. The idea is to have less than 10% voltage drop, 3% is better. If the voltage drop is too high, go back and change to a bigger wire gage.
Electrical things come with a measured amount of smoke in them. If you let the smoke out, you have to get another one.
Sparks are good and fire is our friend.
Please feel free to add to this. I am a rooky.
The problem is ohlms law. It is a mathamatical equation between Volts Amps and Resistance.
If you use too small of wire (resistance), the voltage drops at the appliance, say the headlight. The amperage draw of the headlight increases to compensate (its mathmatical). This melts wires, blows fuses and generally causes problems. Use a bigger wire, problem solved.
This resistance thing also applies to connections, rusty grounds, and corrosion on the copper wire itself. It must be clean ( on the surface of the wire) to carry the current without voltage drop.
Factors to consider
1. the amperage draw
2. the voltage (most likely 12v dc here at RRR)
3. the distance to the appliance AND back to the battery.
using the handy calculator linked below, you can make sure you use a wire big enough to do the job with out problems.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
fill in the blanks and press calculate. The idea is to have less than 10% voltage drop, 3% is better. If the voltage drop is too high, go back and change to a bigger wire gage.
Electrical things come with a measured amount of smoke in them. If you let the smoke out, you have to get another one.
Sparks are good and fire is our friend.
Please feel free to add to this. I am a rooky.